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The Complete Federalist Papers and Anti-Federalist Papers
The Complete Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers written by Alexander Hamilton & James Madison & John Jay and Patrick Henry among others is widely considered by many to be among the most important historical collections of all time. In "The Federalist Papers," three of the founding fathers brilliantly defend their revolutionary charter: the Constitution of the United States. The Anti-Federalist Papers are a collection of articles, written in opposition to the ratification of the 1787 United States Constitution. Unlike the Federalist Papers written in support of the Constitution, the authors of these articles, mostly operating under pen names, were not engaged in a strictly organized project. Major Anti-Federalist authors included Cato (likely George Clinton), Brutus (likely Robert Yates), Centinel (Samuel Bryan), and the Federal Farmer (either Melancton Smith, Richard Henry Lee, or Mercy Otis Warren). Speeches by Patrick Henry and Smith are often included as well.
- GenresPoliticsNonfiction
782 pages, Paperback
Published May 16, 2010
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About the author
Alexander Hamilton
1,068 books963 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 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 26, 2016
Political discourse in today's America pales in comparison to the competing editorials found in The Complete Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers. Between the fall of 1787 and the fall of 1788, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay and Patrick Henry embarked on a letter writing campaign to justify and sell the new Constitution drafted by the Federal Convention. Instead of merely amending the Articles of Confederation, the Federal Convention devised a new government. They empowered a stronger central government. A Federal Republic instead of a Confederation. And, in the days following the convention, they took on the task of persuading the people that this new government would not be tyrannical one.
With impressive erudite ease, the writers of the The Federalist cite the historical precedents that give them authority. Drawing heavily on Hellenistic and Roman examples, they defend the need for a strong central government. Replete with references to classical and modern political systems, these papers demonstrate a level of learned debate unseen today. Before the age of Wikipedia, or even accessible public libraries, these men were writing essays and editorials- sometimes within just days between each one- that are brimming with historical antecedents. But they are also the product of their age. They inject the political philosophies of the enlightenment (Locke, Montesquieu, etc) into the ancient governing bodies to give them new life. A careful attempt to combine the common-sense realities of governance with Age of Reason ideals.
After reading the incomparable articulate essays of the Federalists, I started the Anti-federalists with a bit of a bias. At first, many seemed reactionary and fearful of the alternating despotic elements of the judiciary or legislature or executive. With some gleeful condescension, I noted that that Swiss cantons that they used as an example of a long-lasting, stable, secure confederation of states, would fall 10 years later during the French invasion of Switzerland. But, as I read on, their words and objections began to resonate. The anarchic rhetoric of my youth, which I have steadily veered from as I've gotten older, seemed to find some stable footing. The Anti-federalists concerns of an American Empire- a government empowered in world affairs with military might, a consolidation of federal power, an erosion of local control- gained the force of prophecy.
Though such debates continue in some similar form today, they lack the intellectual sparring and vigor of these essays. Whatever ones' political persuasion, I cannot encourage others enough to read these papers. They are what thoughtful debate and governance should look like. Sadly, however, I cannot help but think that we have poorly managed what we've inherited.
With impressive erudite ease, the writers of the The Federalist cite the historical precedents that give them authority. Drawing heavily on Hellenistic and Roman examples, they defend the need for a strong central government. Replete with references to classical and modern political systems, these papers demonstrate a level of learned debate unseen today. Before the age of Wikipedia, or even accessible public libraries, these men were writing essays and editorials- sometimes within just days between each one- that are brimming with historical antecedents. But they are also the product of their age. They inject the political philosophies of the enlightenment (Locke, Montesquieu, etc) into the ancient governing bodies to give them new life. A careful attempt to combine the common-sense realities of governance with Age of Reason ideals.
After reading the incomparable articulate essays of the Federalists, I started the Anti-federalists with a bit of a bias. At first, many seemed reactionary and fearful of the alternating despotic elements of the judiciary or legislature or executive. With some gleeful condescension, I noted that that Swiss cantons that they used as an example of a long-lasting, stable, secure confederation of states, would fall 10 years later during the French invasion of Switzerland. But, as I read on, their words and objections began to resonate. The anarchic rhetoric of my youth, which I have steadily veered from as I've gotten older, seemed to find some stable footing. The Anti-federalists concerns of an American Empire- a government empowered in world affairs with military might, a consolidation of federal power, an erosion of local control- gained the force of prophecy.
Though such debates continue in some similar form today, they lack the intellectual sparring and vigor of these essays. Whatever ones' political persuasion, I cannot encourage others enough to read these papers. They are what thoughtful debate and governance should look like. Sadly, however, I cannot help but think that we have poorly managed what we've inherited.
July 9, 2025
A must read for anyone interested in how our American government was created. I will admit I watched the Great Course course titled The Federalist Papers concurrently while reading this book. The course was well taught and worth taking while reading this important book.
November 27, 2020
An amazing collection of essays. This book should be studied, not just read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews