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The Federalist: With Letters of Brutus
The Federalist represents one side of one of the most momentous political debates ever whether to ratify, or to reject, the newly-drafted American constitution. To understand the debate properly requires attention to opposing Antifederalist arguments against the Constitution, and this new and authoritative student-friendly edition presents in full all eighty-five Federalist papers written by the pseudonymous 'Publius' (Hamilton, Madison, and Jay), along with the sixteen letters of 'Brutus', the prominent but still unknown New York Antifederalist who was Publius's most formidable foe. Each is systematically cross-referenced to the other, and both to the appended Articles of Confederation and US Constitution, making the reader acutely aware of the cut-and-thrust of debate in progress. The distinguished political theorist Terence Ball provides all of the standard series editorial features, including brief biographies and notes for further reading, making this the most accessible rendition ever of a classic of political thought in action.
- GenresPhilosophyPolitics
640 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2003
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About the author
Alexander Hamilton
1,067 books960 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
American politician Alexander Hamilton, the first secretary of the treasury of United States from 1789 to 1795, established the national bank and public credit system; a duel with Aaron Burr, his rival, mortally wounded him.
One of the Founding Fathers, this economist and philosopher led calls for the convention at Philadelphia and as first Constitutional lawyer co-wrote the Federalist Papers , a primary source for Constitutional interpretation.
During the Revolutionary War, he, born in the West Indies but educated in the north, joined the militia, which chose him artillery captain. Hamilton, senior aide-de-camp and confidant to George Washington, general, led three battalions at the siege of Yorktown. People elected him to the Continental congress, but he resigned to practice law and to found in New York. He served in the legislature of New York and later returned to Congress; at the convention in Philadelphia, only he signed the Constitution for New York. Under Washington, then president, he influenced formative government policy widely. Hamilton, an admirer of British, emphasized strong central government and implied powers, under which the new Congress funded and assumed the debts and created an import tariff and whiskey tax.
A coalition, the formative Federalist Party, arose around Hamilton, and another coalition, the formative Democratic-Republican Party, arose around Thomas Jefferson and James Madison before 1792; these coalitions differed strongly over domestic fiscal goals and Hamiltonian foreign policy of extensive trade and friendly relations with Britain. Exposed in an affair with Maria Reynolds, Hamilton resigned to return to Constitutional law and advocacy of strong federalism. In 1798, the quasi-war with France led him to argue for an army, which he organized and commanded de facto.
Opposition of Hamilton to John Adams, fellow Federalist, contributed to the success of Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican, in the uniquely deadlocked election of 1800. With defeat of his party, his industrializing ideas lost their former prominence. In 1801, Hamilton founded the Federalist broadsheet New-York Evening Post, now known as the New York Post. His intensity with the vice-president eventually resulted in his death.
After the war of 1812, Madison, Albert Gallatin, and other former opponents of the late Hamilton revived some of his federalizing programs, such as infrastructure, tariffs, and a standing Army and Navy. His Federalist and business-oriented economic visions for the country continue to influence party platforms to this day.
American politician Alexander Hamilton, the first secretary of the treasury of United States from 1789 to 1795, established the national bank and public credit system; a duel with Aaron Burr, his rival, mortally wounded him.
One of the Founding Fathers, this economist and philosopher led calls for the convention at Philadelphia and as first Constitutional lawyer co-wrote the Federalist Papers , a primary source for Constitutional interpretation.
During the Revolutionary War, he, born in the West Indies but educated in the north, joined the militia, which chose him artillery captain. Hamilton, senior aide-de-camp and confidant to George Washington, general, led three battalions at the siege of Yorktown. People elected him to the Continental congress, but he resigned to practice law and to found in New York. He served in the legislature of New York and later returned to Congress; at the convention in Philadelphia, only he signed the Constitution for New York. Under Washington, then president, he influenced formative government policy widely. Hamilton, an admirer of British, emphasized strong central government and implied powers, under which the new Congress funded and assumed the debts and created an import tariff and whiskey tax.
A coalition, the formative Federalist Party, arose around Hamilton, and another coalition, the formative Democratic-Republican Party, arose around Thomas Jefferson and James Madison before 1792; these coalitions differed strongly over domestic fiscal goals and Hamiltonian foreign policy of extensive trade and friendly relations with Britain. Exposed in an affair with Maria Reynolds, Hamilton resigned to return to Constitutional law and advocacy of strong federalism. In 1798, the quasi-war with France led him to argue for an army, which he organized and commanded de facto.
Opposition of Hamilton to John Adams, fellow Federalist, contributed to the success of Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican, in the uniquely deadlocked election of 1800. With defeat of his party, his industrializing ideas lost their former prominence. In 1801, Hamilton founded the Federalist broadsheet New-York Evening Post, now known as the New York Post. His intensity with the vice-president eventually resulted in his death.
After the war of 1812, Madison, Albert Gallatin, and other former opponents of the late Hamilton revived some of his federalizing programs, such as infrastructure, tariffs, and a standing Army and Navy. His Federalist and business-oriented economic visions for the country continue to influence party platforms to this day.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 14, 2025
Last year I heard Yuval Levin recommend reading through The Federalist Papers on the day each letter was published. I largely did so starting last October and finished up today - 1 day late. A very rewarding experience, especially using this edition that makes it easy to read the anti-federalist Brutus letters in conversation with Hamilton, Madison and Jay.
September 10, 2015
Although I read many of The Federalist essays decades ago, I have now read the present edition cover to cover, including the appended Antifederalist Letters of Brutus. The Federalist is rightly considered to be a masterpiece of American political thought. In many ways, it is also a major contribution to political philosophy generally.
There were, of course, two major flaws in the original Constitution of 1787: the notorious three-fifths clause (and related provisions implicitly recognizing slavery) and the lack of a bill of rights. The Federalist feebly attempted to justify these sins of commission and omission. Otherwise, the series of newspaper essays by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay in support of the then-proposed Constitution is outstanding.
I would not accept the view of The Federalist on federalism (and certainly not on slavery or the bill of rights) as the last word, particularly considering the vast changes in technology and industrialization since that agrarian era. But in many other respects, The Federalist can still speak to us today.
There were, of course, two major flaws in the original Constitution of 1787: the notorious three-fifths clause (and related provisions implicitly recognizing slavery) and the lack of a bill of rights. The Federalist feebly attempted to justify these sins of commission and omission. Otherwise, the series of newspaper essays by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay in support of the then-proposed Constitution is outstanding.
I would not accept the view of The Federalist on federalism (and certainly not on slavery or the bill of rights) as the last word, particularly considering the vast changes in technology and industrialization since that agrarian era. But in many other respects, The Federalist can still speak to us today.
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December 5, 2016An enjoyable fantasy novel. Three young heroes - Hamilton, Madison and Jay - set out on an epic quest to defend the US Constitution from deadly danger. But in this alternative reality, the foes of the Constitution are amassing to point out just what a fast-moving and agile beast the federal government might become. And then the twist.... if Congress ever stop making laws slower than 50 miles an hour, a bomb will explode!
Obviously this is pretty silly stuff, and readers unwilling to suspend their disbelief will definitely roll their eyes at the idea that two-year legislative terms could ever be perceived as handing Representatives despotic power. But they would be missing the point. There's a time and a place for weighty political tracts. The Federalist offers up light escapism with a thrilling trio: what's the harm in that?
Obviously this is pretty silly stuff, and readers unwilling to suspend their disbelief will definitely roll their eyes at the idea that two-year legislative terms could ever be perceived as handing Representatives despotic power. But they would be missing the point. There's a time and a place for weighty political tracts. The Federalist offers up light escapism with a thrilling trio: what's the harm in that?
October 18, 2023
lost a star because i actually cannot stand walking into my government class knowing that i had to read 10 papers of this the night before.
February 17, 2024
$10 is not enough for this guy
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews