AP United States History
Unit 2 A New Nation
Reviews on
The Federalist Papers
• Thomas Jefferson: “...the best commentary
on the principles of government....”
• John Stuart Mill: “...the most instructive
treatise we possess on federal government.”
• Alexis de Tocqueville: “...an excellent book,
which ought to be familiar to the statesmen of
all countries.”
The Federalist Papers
Background
• Most important work of
political philosophy and
pragmatic government
ever written in the the
United States.
Copy of The Federalist Papers
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/madison/images/vc16.jpg
The Federalist Papers
Background
• Written to educate and influence the
voters of New York and Virginia.
– Were split on opinions of the Constitution.
– If either state voted against the Constitution,
other states were sure to follow.
– Combined the efforts of John Jay, James
Madison, and Alexander Hamilton.
• Wanted to explain and defend the Constitution.
• Hamilton wrote 51, Madison 29, and Jay 5.
The Federalist Papers
Key Ideas: Federalism
• Why?
– Did not want an
overdominant central
authority (Britain) or
the instability and
disorganization of a
loose alliance (Articles
of Confederation).
Copy of The Federalist Papers
http://cspaf.uchicago.edu/images/images_page/3_essays.jpg
The Federalist Papers
Key Ideas: Federalism
• A new balance and
sharing of power
between the central
government and the
states was possible.
– Had never existed
before in history, so
the Founding Fathers
were trying something
different.
The Federalist Papers
Key Ideas: Federalism
• “Residual authority.”
– The states would
retain authority in
all areas that were
NOT of national
concern.
Eric Cartman, Peace Officer
http://www.stickergiant.com/Merchant2/imgs/125/hsb1156_125.gif
The Federalist Papers
Key Ideas: Federalism
• Concurrency of powers.
– Hamilton’s “planets
analogy.”
– Each planet maintained its
own orbit and separate
status.
– However, there was a
greater emphasis placed on
a central authority: the Sun.
• This authority provides
support, direction, and
general sustenance.
Model of the Universe
http://scssi.scetv.org/sciencestandards/sciencestandards/eightgrade/Image362.gif
The Federalist Papers
Key Ideas: Federalism
• Survival as a
respected nation
required one thing:
the transfer of
essential, but
limited, powers to the
national government.
Georgia Militia During Rev War
http://gagen.i-found-it.net/continental-army-1.jpg
The Federalist Papers
Key Ideas: Checks and Balances
• First time a government used in its political
literature the ideals of Locke and Montesquieu
as a way of restricting government power
and preventing abuse.
– Use of a bicameral legislature to check the power
of each other.
– Establishment of separate judicial, executive, and
legislative branches.
– Madison stated that “...office should check office.”
The Federalist Papers
Key Ideas: Federalist No. 78
• Hamilton supported the
Supreme Court’s right to
judicial review.
– Believed it was an
appropriate check on the
legislature.
– Rejected the British system
of allowing Parliament to
Chief Justice John Marshall
override court decisions Officially established the power of
Judicial Review in the case Marbury
itdid not agree with.
v. Madison
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/alumni/Magazine/images/Fall2002/Marshall.jpg
The Federalist Papers
Key Ideas: Federalist No. 78
• Believed that the “courts
were the bulwarks of a
limited Constitution
against legislative
encroachments.”
Official Seal of the Supreme
Court
http://z.about.com/d/uspolitics/1/0/A/E/us_supreme_court_seal.png
– Process of gradual
transformation of the
Constitution (amendment
process) could reverse
decisions of the Court.
The Federalist Papers
Human Nature, Gov’t., and Human Rights
• Took a realistic view of
human nature.
– Man at his best was
capable of reason, selfdiscipline, and fairness.
– Man is also susceptible to
passion, intolerance, and
greed.
– Government needs to be
enabled to be able to
control the governed and
itself.
Alexander Hamilton
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/alumni/Magazine/images/Fall2002/Hamilton.jpg
The Federalist Papers
Political Parties Can Divide A Society
• Federalist No. 10.
James Madison
http://www.bartleby.com/124/madison.gif
– Madison wanted to break
the control and violence
caused by political factions.
– Passions or special
interests that are united and
politically active can have
an adverse effect on society
and destroy the will of the
majority.
The Federalist Papers
Political Parties Can Divide A Society
• Federalist No. 10.
– Can divide the country along
religious, political, or
economic lines.
– It is the job of the government
to prevent any faction from
imposing its will against that
of the general public.
– Unworthy leaders will have
difficulty winning if the
geographic area for voting
is larger.
James Madison
http://news.mst.edu/images/JamesMadison_f.jpg
The Federalist Papers
Political Parties Can Divide A Society
• Ideal of pluralism.
– Welcomes diversity
for two reasons.
• Testimony to
individualism and
freedom.
• Neutralizes conflicting
passions and
interests.
John Jay
First Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court
http://www.earlyamerica.com/portraits/jay.html
The Federalist Papers
Essential Message
• Clint Rossitor, historian.
“The message of The Federalist reads:
no happiness without liberty no liberty
without self-government, no selfgovernment without constitutionalism,
no constitutionalism without morality-and NONE of these great goods
without stability and order.”
Merit Point Question 1
• In James Madison's tenth Federalist,
the most dangerous threat to the U. S.
Constitution was presented by
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
the president’s war powers.
the Supreme Court.
factions.
a standing army.
freedom of speech.
Merit Point Question 2
• The Federalist Papers were written by
A. Madison, Jay, and Hamilton to support the
ratification of the Constitution.
B. Madison and Jefferson as a critique of
Federalist policies.
C. Virginia delegates to the Philadelphia
Convention in support of a federal government.
D. Hamilton as a platform for his new Federalist
party.
E. Dickinson, who intended them to be used as
an outline for a new federal government.