The Federalist Papers is the outstanding American contribution to the literature on constitutional democracy and federalism, a classic of Western political thought. It is a primary text concerning the interpretation of the American Constitution and an insight into the framer’s intent in the constitution.
Although Hamilton carefully outlined the contents of the Federalist papers at the end of the first essay, in reality, he strayed a bit from his original proposition. In the end, the work of primarily Madison and Hamilton can be divided into two principle parts; the first discussing the defects of the present government, the Articles of Confederation , and the second discussing the new constitutions different components, the legislature, executive, and judicial branches.
The Federalist was written in order to secure the ratification of a constitution providing for a more perfect union. Throughout the papers, the idea of the more perfect union occupies a front stage. On first glance, this might be the primary purpose of the papers but indeed, the Federalist Papers are concerned with much more. “Union” and the “safety and welfare of the parts of which it is composed” are depicted as inseparable, and the Union appears as a means to achieve the safety and welfare of its parts. In general, then, the Federalists discuses federalism as a means to achieve free government in peace and security as well as the nonexistence of federalism under the Articles of Confederation and its achievement under the Constitution.
The federalists deal with not only the practical, but also the theoretical, something that distinguishes this from other works. In a letter to his nephew Thomas Mann Randolph, Thomas Jefferson distinguished the federalist from the theoretical writings of Locke when he writes, after discussing Locke’s philosophy: “Descending from theory to practice, there can be no better book than The Federalist.” The authors, however, never considered their work a mere treatise on governmental practice. In their essays, a distinction between theory and practice is often drawn. “Theoretical reasoning must be qualified by the lessons of practice,” Madison writes, and he also states that the Philadelphia Convention “must have been compelled to sacrifice theoretical prosperity to the force of extraneous consideration.”
Five basic themes can be discerned from the words of Hamilton, Madison, and Jay, including federalism, checks and balances, separated powers, pluralism, and representation. Although they deal with different parts of the government, as noted above, these themes are fairly consistent throughout the papers. Much has been written concerning the dual nature of the federalist, because they were written by multiple authors in a short amount of time. It is true, Madison later became the great state rights’ defenders while Hamilton his principle opponent, but for the most part these essays are coherent, showing all sides of the proposed constitution. While modern day readers might not see, the Constitution was a revolutionary step. In Philadelphia, the delegates rebelled against the existing Articles of Confederation and looked to the states, not the existing government, for ratification and approval of the new constitution.
INTRODUCTION
After the convention Tench Coxe became the coordinator in Philadelphia for those who supported the constitution while George Mason became the coordinator for New York for those who opposed it. Hundreds and hundreds of letters were written regarding the constitution, “Cato” and “The Federal Farmer” attacked while “Caesar” replied. Both George Washington and Ben Franklin, probably the two most influential men in the country, supported the Constitution. Quickly, Alexander Hamilton decided that a massive propaganda campaign was necessary in New York, much more than in any other states. This new plan entailed a saturation theory, a sustained barrage of arguments appearing in newspapers four times a week. Because of the massive amounts of work, he decided that he needed two co-authors to help him write under the pseudonym of “publius.” Although he originally had asked others to assist him in the project but luckily for him and future generations, James Madison, a Virginia citizen, was available because the Continental Congress was sitting in New York during that period. John Jay was also asked because of his vast foreign diplomatic service. Unfortunately, John Jay was injured shortly after the project commenced and was able to only complete six different papers. That left Hamilton and Madison to finish the rest, a task they were able to complete only because they relied heavily on notes they had used in the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia earlier. Eventually, the books were published not only serially in different newspapers in New York (four out of five of the major newspapers of the time) as well as republished in book form near the end of the run. Unfortunately, the ratification vote in New York failed and New Yorkers only were able to ratify the constitution after Delaware was the ninth state that approved ratification and would have rendered New York as a sole state looking in at a union. James Madison, however, took the published books to assist in the ratification debate in Virginia and the papers survived for a far greater purpose than merely propaganda. The Federalist Papers are the single greatest interpretive source of the Constitution of the United States, the best insight and explanation of what the Founding Fathers purpose was in the passage of the document that governs the United States of America.
Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia, and New York were the states critical to the success or failure of the Constitution. Of these four states, New York by far was the state where the success of the constitution was in the most doubt. The state’s delegation did not approve the draft in Philadelphia because two of its three delegates left during the protest and abandoned Alexander Hamilton without a vote. Governor Clinton, the leading figure in New York politics, opposed the new government and New York had become an independent nation under the Articles of Confederation, making itself rich through tariffs on trade with its neighboring states.
Follow the links provided for an in depth study of the Federalist Papers starting with Federalist #1 – Introduction, written by Alexander Hamilton and published on Saturday October 27th, 1787.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Chronology of the Pro- and Anti-Federalist Papers and how they related to one another and to key events
Federalist Paper #1 – Introduction
Alexander Hamilton begins by asking his readers to consider a new Constitution because they have experienced the inefficiencies in the present form of government. He proclaims that his countrymen are in a unique position to decide whether or not “societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force.” He goes further and states that a mistake on their part would be unfortunate for the future of mankind.
He then goes on to show that many people will oppose the Constitution for a variety of reasons, especially if they benefit from the current form of government - “Among the most formidable of the obstacles which the new Constitution will have to encounter may readily be distinguished the obvious interest of a certain class of men in every State to resist all changes which may hazard a diminution of the power, emolument, and consequence of the offices they hold”.
Hamilton, however, states he is not going to address the motives of those who oppose the Constitution – “It is not, however, my design to dwell upon observations of this nature. I am well aware that it would be disingenuous to resolve indiscriminately the opposition of any set of men (merely because their situations might subject them to suspicion) into interested or ambitious views. Candor will oblige us to admit that even such men may be actuated by upright intentions; and it cannot be doubted that much of the opposition which has made its appearance, or may hereafter make its appearance, will spring from –the honest errors of minds led astray by preconceived jealousies and fears” - rather, his intent is to make arguments that are for the Constitution.
He then goes on to say that he expects there to be vigorous and at times bitter debate – “A torrent of angry and malignant passions will be let loose. To judge from the conduct of the opposite parties, we shall be led to conclude that they will mutually hope to evince the justness of their opinions, and to increase the number of their converts by the loudness of their declamations and the bitterness of their invectives. An enlightened zeal for the energy and efficiency of government will be stigmatized as the offspring of a temper fond of despotic power and hostile to the principles of liberty”.
He addresses people questioning his willingness to listen to their arguments because he has already made up his mind to support the Constitution – “Yes, my countrymen, I own to you that, after having given it an attentive consideration, I am clearly of opinion it is your interest to adopt it. I am convinced that this is the safest course for your liberty, your dignity, and your happiness. I affect not reserves which I do not feel. I frankly acknowledge to you my convictions, and I will freely lay before you the reasons on which they are founded. My arguments will be open to all, and may be judged of by all. They shall at least be offered in a spirit which will not disgrace the cause of truth”.
Finally, he outlines the specific issues that he will address in the Federalist Papers, namely:
- The utility of the UNION to your political prosperity
- The insufficiency of the present Confederation to preserve that Union
- The necessity of a government at least equally energetic with the one proposed, to the attainment of this object
- The conformity of the proposed Constitution to the true principles of republican government
- Its analogy to your own state constitution
- The additional security which its adoption will afford to the preservation of that species of government, to liberty, and to property.
Hamilton then writes that it might seem unnecessary to plead for a strong Union, but “the fact is, that we already hear it whispered in the private circles of those who oppose the new Constitution, that the thirteen States are of too great extent for any general system, and that we must of necessity resort to separate confederacies of distinct portions of the whole”.
He then concludes the first of the Federalist Papers by saying that the ultimate question is whether the people adopt the Constitution or whether they dissolve the Confederation and devolve into separate countries.
