Multiple founding fathers expressed concern over abuses of liberty. For instance, James Madison declared, “Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty as well as the abuses of power.” Benjamin Franklin was blunter when a woman outside the convention hall asked him, “What have you given us in there?” He replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.” These statements reflect a concern that public liberty might endanger private liberty. Carefully analyze this concern. Why might some Americans take this view? How did the final Constitution reflect this concern? Think back to the idea of a virtuous citizenry that all the founding fathers believed was essential. Make sure to cover the Constitutional Convention, the debates which followed the drafting of the Constitution (Federalist and Anti-Federalist papers), talk about the founder’s attitudes toward political parties, and of self-interest.