AP GoPo

1. The Federalist Papers AP GoPo

2. 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.”

3. The Federalist PapersBackground • 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

4. The Federalist PapersBackground • 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.

5. The Federalist PapersKey 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

6. The Federalist PapersKey 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.

7. The Federalist PapersKey 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

8. The Federalist PapersKey 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

9. The Federalist PapersKey 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

10. The Federalist PapersKey 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.”

11. The Federalist PapersKey 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 override court decisions itdid not agree with. Chief Justice John Marshall Officially established the power of Judicial Review in the case Marbury v. Madison http://www.columbia.edu/cu/alumni/Magazine/images/Fall2002/Marshall.jpg

12. The Federalist PapersKey Ideas: Federalist No. 78 • Believed that the “courts were the bulwarks of a limited Constitution against legislative encroachments.” • Process of gradual transformation of the Constitution (amendment process) 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

13. The Federalist PapersHuman Nature, Gov’t., and Human Rights • Took a realistic view of human nature. • Man at his best was capable of reason, self-discipline, 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

14. The Federalist PapersPolitical Parties Can Divide A Society • Federalist 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 majority. James Madison http://www.bartleby.com/124/madison.gif

15. The Federalist PapersPolitical 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

16. The Federalist PapersPolitical 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

17. The Federalist PapersEssential Message • Clint Rossitor, historian. “The message of The Federalist reads: no happiness without liberty no liberty without self-government, no self-government without constitutionalism, no constitutionalism without morality--and NONE of these great goods without stability and order.”

18. Merit Point Question 1 • In James Madison's tenth Federalist, the most dangerous threat to the U. S. Constitution was presented by A. the president’s war powers. B. the Supreme Court. C. factions. D. a standing army. E. freedom of speech.

19. 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.