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The Federalist Papers: Selected Essays [Signet Classics]
The Federalist Papers are a series of 85 articles, written between 1787 and 1788, advocating for the ratification of the United States Constitution. They serve as a primary source for interpretation of the Constitution, as they outline the philosophy and motivation of the proposed system of government. The articles were written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, under the pseudonym "Publius." James Madison is generally credited as the father of the Constitution and became the fourth president of the United States. Alexander Hamilton was an active delegate at the Constitutional Convention, and became the first Secretary of the Treasury. John Jay became the first Chief Justice of the United States. The following representative essays are included in this collection as well as the United States Constitution and the Amendments: "Introduction," by Alexander Hamilton; "Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence," by John Jay (in four parts); "Concerning Dangers from Dissensions Between the States," by Alexander Hamilton; "The Consequences of Hostilities Between the States," by Alexander Hamilton; "The Utility of the Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection," by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison; and more.
688 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1949
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About the author
Alexander Hamilton
1,068 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 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 13, 2020
Moderately difficult language and quite wordy and flowery at times, but worth reading, especially in current times. Gives a solid understanding of why the founders created the system they did. It is interesting to see how some of his arguments have not stood the test of time. He clearly did not foresee the emergence of the two-party system and the winner-take-all scorched-earth style of governing that has created. Hamilton had far more confidence in the goodness of leaders than is clearly warranted.
May 15, 2024
Historically important but SO boring! Alexander Hamilton could have done with a ruthless editor. He could have made all the same points, more effectively, with half the words. The most interesting aspect of the papers is that astonishing superfluity of language. I had to force myself to read it though, in small increments, and I am glad to be finally finished with it.
March 31, 2023
I listened to the Audible version narrated by Jim Killavey. I thought his narration was a annoying in some respects, but I was able to ignore it and focus on the words, which were easily understandable enough to allow me to forgive other annoyances. So, in rating the book, I don't account for the annoyances I felt from the narration.
I roughly estimate, based on the length of this version, that it contained about one quarter of the total essays from The Federalist Papers. I listened to it rather casually, so I can't claim that everything sunk in. But I still felt it was valuable. The essay dealing with the election of the president and the reasons behind the electoral college was interesting to me, because I could see that our country has, in my opinion, strayed away from the original procedures as defined in the Constitution on this matter, and not in ways that improve the process. We try to tie the election too directly to the immediate will of the people, and the people are, and here I include myself, generally too ignorant of the important considerations to make a good choice. And the elections simply become a very expensive and time consuming popularity contest. The electoral college was supposed to avoid this downfall of too much democracy. Now the electoral college has no real role in the process. The members simply vote the way that the the majority of the people in their constituency votes, meaning that there is no need for actual people in those positions. This simply results in over representation of the people from less populous states.
The last portion of the Audible audibook reads through the entire text of the Constitution and the amendments thereto, and was a good reminder of the contents of those documents.
I roughly estimate, based on the length of this version, that it contained about one quarter of the total essays from The Federalist Papers. I listened to it rather casually, so I can't claim that everything sunk in. But I still felt it was valuable. The essay dealing with the election of the president and the reasons behind the electoral college was interesting to me, because I could see that our country has, in my opinion, strayed away from the original procedures as defined in the Constitution on this matter, and not in ways that improve the process. We try to tie the election too directly to the immediate will of the people, and the people are, and here I include myself, generally too ignorant of the important considerations to make a good choice. And the elections simply become a very expensive and time consuming popularity contest. The electoral college was supposed to avoid this downfall of too much democracy. Now the electoral college has no real role in the process. The members simply vote the way that the the majority of the people in their constituency votes, meaning that there is no need for actual people in those positions. This simply results in over representation of the people from less populous states.
The last portion of the Audible audibook reads through the entire text of the Constitution and the amendments thereto, and was a good reminder of the contents of those documents.
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February 7, 2024Madison writes the best essays, even though Hamilton gets a musical. Federalist 10 is my favorite and is more interesting every time!
Honestly, I wanted to read all of them (I had myself on a reading schedule) but it’s currently not feasible. Still very informative :)
Honestly, I wanted to read all of them (I had myself on a reading schedule) but it’s currently not feasible. Still very informative :)
June 10, 2020
Approximate dates; got bored after the first 15
May 29, 2022
Classic
April 14, 2023
Read this to understand the government tbh
July 13, 2022
Some of my favorites: Federalist No. 3 by John Jay discussing the foreign policy advantages of a strong national government; Federalist No. 6 by Alexander Hamilton similarly extolling the benefits of a strong central government and citing the falls of Sparta, Athens, Rome, and Carthage as examples of failure, as experience is “the least fallible guide”; Federalist No. 10 by James Madison promoting a republican form of government (over a purely democratic one) to protect against the inevitability of factions and to guard against the tyranny of the majority; Federalist Nos. 47 and 51 by Madison (echoing Montesquieu) on the importance of separation of powers and checks and balances, with the famous quotes “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition” and “If men were angels, no government would be necessary”; and Federalist No. 70 by Hamilton on the reasons for a unitary Executive (i.e., the President) - more energy in “decision, activity, secrecy, and dispatch”, more accountable to the people because it is easier to blame one person than a group, and more insulated against encroachment from the Legislative branch (a body which is by contrast an intentionally slow moving body so as to allow for deliberation).
March 7, 2018
Interesting because of how important this debate was and how salient it still is. Why don't we read this in American History classes? It would help all of us understand where we've been as a country and how our journey manifests itself today in the prevailing political perspectives that appear incomprehensible to those holding opposing viewpoints.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews