Question

Many of the constitutional provisions they praised were intended precisely to dampen democratic "excesses."The articles, written in the spirit both of propaganda and of logical argument, probably had little influence on public opinion of the day.

Answer 1

The Constitution contains provisions like Article I, Section 9 to prevent democratic excesses and safeguard liberty, reflecting the framers' experience with British rule. Debate over federal power and the need for a Bill of Rights was central to the conflict between Federalists and Anti-Federalists, with media playing a key role in influencing public opinion.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Constitutional provisions praised for tempering democratic "excesses" were deeply rooted in the historical context of abuses by British governance and the intention to create a balanced republican government. The Constitution's Article I, Section 9 was specifically designed to limit the powers of Congress by prohibiting bills of attainder, ex post facto laws, and restricting its ability to suspend the writ of habeas corpus.

These protections were seen as safeguards against the encroachment of absolute power, representing a distrust in concentrated authority that was spurred by the experiences under colonial rule. On the other side of the debate, the Anti-Federalists feared that the proposed government had too much power and lacked adequate checks, a concern that drove their demand for a Bill of Rights. The role of media and political writings such as the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers is noteworthy, demonstrating the high value placed on free expression as a mechanism to inform and shape public opinion.