AP United States History Unit 2 A New Nation Reviews on The Federalist Papers Thomas Jefferson: “...the best commentary on the principles of government....”

AP United States HistoryAP United States HistoryUnit 2 A New NationUnit 2 A New Nation

Reviews on Reviews on The Federalist PapersThe 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 PapersThe Federalist PapersBackgroundBackground

• Most important work of political philosophy and pragmatic government ever written in the the United States.

Copy of The Federalist Papershttp://www.loc.gov/exhibits/madison/images/vc16.jpg

The Federalist PapersThe Federalist PapersBackgroundBackground

• Written to educate and influenceeducate and influence the voters of New York and VirginiaNew 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 John Jay, James

Madison, and Alexander HamiltonMadison, and Alexander Hamilton.• Wanted to explain and defend the Constitution.• Hamilton wrote 5151, Madison 2929, and Jay 55.

The Federalist PapersThe Federalist PapersKey Ideas: Key Ideas: FederalismFederalism

• Why?– Did not want an

overdominant central overdominant central authorityauthority (Britain) or the instability and instability and disorganization of a disorganization of a loose allianceloose alliance (Articles of Confederation).

Copy of The Federalist Papershttp://cspaf.uchicago.edu/images/images_page/3_essays.jpg

The Federalist PapersThe Federalist PapersKey Ideas: FederalismKey Ideas: Federalism

• A new balance and balance and sharing of powersharing 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.


• “Residual authorityResidual authority.”– The states would

retain authority in retain authority in all areasall areas that were NOT of national national concernconcern.

Eric Cartman, Peace Officerhttp://www.stickergiant.com/Merchant2/imgs/125/hsb1156_125.gif


• Concurrency of powersConcurrency of powers.– Hamilton’s “planets planets

analogyanalogy.”– 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 Universehttp://scssi.scetv.org/sciencestandards/sciencestandards/eightgrade/Image362.gif


• SurvivalSurvival as a respected nation requiredrequired one thing: the transfer of the transfer of essential, but essential, but limited, powers to the limited, powers to the national governmentnational government.

Georgia Militia During Rev Warhttp://gagen.i-found-it.net/continental-army-1.jpg

The Federalist PapersThe Federalist PapersKey Ideas: Key Ideas: Checks and Checks and

BalancesBalances• First time a government used in its political

literature the ideals of Locke and Montesquieu as a way of restricting government power restricting government power and preventing abuseand preventing abuse.– Use of a bicameral legislaturebicameral legislature to check the power

of each other.– Establishment of separateseparate judicial, executive, and

legislative branches.– Madison stated that “...office should check office...office should check office.”

The Federalist PapersThe Federalist PapersKey Ideas: Key Ideas: Federalist Federalist

No. No. 7878• Hamilton supported the

Supreme Court’s right to judicial reviewjudicial review.– Believed it was an

appropriate check on the legislature.

– Rejected the British system of allowing Parliament to override court decisions itdid not agree with.

Chief Justice John MarshallOfficially established the power of

Judicial Review in the case Marbury v. Madison

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/alumni/Magazine/images/Fall2002/Marshall.jpg

The Federalist PapersThe Federalist PapersKey Ideas: Key Ideas: Federalist Federalist

No. No. 7878• Believed that the “courts courts

were the bulwarks of a were the bulwarks of a limited Constitution limited Constitution against legislative against legislative encroachmentsencroachments.”– Process of gradual

transformation of the Constitution (amendment amendment processprocess) could reverse decisions of the Court.

Official Seal of the Supreme Court

http://z.about.com/d/uspolitics/1/0/A/E/us_supreme_court_seal.png

The Federalist PapersThe Federalist PapersHuman Nature, Gov’t., and Human Nature, Gov’t., and

Human RightsHuman Rights• Took a realistic view of

human nature.– Man at his best was

capable of reason, self-capable of reason, self-discipline, and fairnessdiscipline, and fairness.

– Man is also susceptible to susceptible to passion, intolerance, and passion, intolerance, and greedgreed.

– 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 PapersThe Federalist PapersPolitical PartiesPolitical Parties Can Divide A Can Divide A

SocietySociety

• Federalist No. 10Federalist No. 10.– 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 destroy the will of the majoritymajority. James Madison

http://www.bartleby.com/124/madison.gif

The Federalist PapersThe Federalist PapersPolitical Parties Can Divide A Political Parties Can Divide A

SocietySociety• Federalist No. 10Federalist No. 10.

– Can divide the country along religious, political, or religious, political, or economic lineseconomic 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 geographic area for voting is largeris larger.

James Madisonhttp://news.mst.edu/images/JamesMadison_f.jpg

The Federalist PapersThe Federalist PapersPolitical Parties Can Divide A Political Parties Can Divide A

SocietySociety

• Ideal of pluralismpluralism.– Welcomes diversity

for two reasons.• Testimony to

individualism and individualism and freedomfreedom.

• Neutralizes conflicting conflicting passions and passions and interestsinterests.

John JayFirst Chief Justice of the Supreme

Courthttp://www.earlyamerica.com/portraits/jay.html

The Federalist PapersThe Federalist PapersEssential MessageEssential Message

• Clint Rossitor, historian.

“The message of The Federalist reads:

nono happiness without liberty happiness without liberty nono liberty liberty without self-government, without self-government, nono self- self-

government without constitutionalism, government without constitutionalism, nono constitutionalism without morality-- constitutionalism without morality--

and and NONENONE of these great goods of these great goods without stability and orderwithout stability and order.”

Merit Point Question 1• In James Madison's tenth Federalist, In James Madison's tenth Federalist,

the most dangerous threat to the U. S. the most dangerous threat to the U. S. Constitution was presented byConstitution was presented by

A. the president’s war powers.B. the Supreme Court.C. factions.D. a standing army.E. freedom of speech.

Merit Point Question 2• The Federalist Papers were written byThe 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.

Documents

AP United States History Unit 2 A New Nation Reviews on The Federalist Papers Thomas Jefferson: “...the best commentary on the principles of government....”