Why did the antifederalists believe that the convention had violated congress's original instructions and how did the federalists respond?

Answer 1

one of the early criticisms of the constitution was that the delegates had secretly developed a plan of government that went beyond their instructions. the anti federalists argued that the delegates had done far more than proposing amendments to fix the problems with the Articles of Confederation's delegates had created a new system of government. this concern was exemplified in a letter written by "A Republican federalist" to the members of Massachusetts state convention. He stated that " that the original design of forming the convention has not been carried into effect." Therefore. since the delegates acted in violation of their instructions," ....they ceased to be a federal convention, and had no more right to propose to then United States the new form of government, than the equal number of gentlemen ..."

The Federalists did not grant the point to the Antifederalists. James Madison spent all of the fortieth essays in the federalist series to explain how the convention had actually done its work within the context of the instructions from congress.