Introduction
The Federalist Papers were written in the late 1780s in response to the urgent question of whether or not to ratify a newly drafted U.S. Constitution. The new nation crafted the Articles of Confederation in the 1770s, an effort to form a confederation of states with a weak, limited central government. In the wake of the American Revolution, however, the weaknesses of this purely confederal approach had become obvious to many; a new idea for a stronger, more centralized national government had emerged and was, by 1787, ready for public consideration. The Federalist Papers were written to advocate for this new governmental structure.
The papers are primarily crafted by Hamilton and Madison. John Jay contributes just five papers due to a debilitating condition. The authors are Federalists. They hope to fan out across New York, where the cause on behalf of the new Constitution needs the most help, secure ratification, and create a template for the rest of the country to consider. The papers are widely considered to be not just an influential early example of political journalism in the budding American democracy, but also to be an invaluable look inside the world of Founding-era political thought and debate. In addition to advocating for the new Constitution, the papers also cover foundational themes of American political thought, from political representation and the appropriate structure of a general government to more general political and ethical principles of American government.
Save your time!
We can take care of your essay
- Proper editing and formatting
- Free revision, title page, and bibliography
- Flexible prices and money-back guarantee
Arguments in the Federalist Papers
The Federalist Papers is based around several key themes. The most pivotal of these is the need for a strong, centralized government to maintain political stability and economic growth. Protecting the rights of the people, particularly their "lives, liberties, and properties," is explicitly called for throughout the papers. In order to effectively prevent the "tyranny" of a single group or individual, checks and balances must be placed on the powers of various governmental institutions. The most important of these political tools is found in the separation of powers, enacted in order to "give to those who administer each department [of government] the necessary constitutional means and personal motives to resist encroachments of the others."
Additionally, the Federalist Papers devote ample space to the importance of a large republic in promoting political stability. Although the authors concede that factions and parties are dangerous to a multiplicity of political ends, a republican form of government's ability to "refine and enlarge the public views," promote "a greater variety of parties and interests," extend the "sphere" of political operations and thereby reduce the likelihood that all men will be of the "same opinion on the same subject" is crucial. A synthesis of the ideas is grounded on reason, hence generating discussion to expound on the equality of the public. Lastly, a practical example still proves its significance by presenting a situation in which the method utilized is being compared from a contemporary perspective. At the bottom line of all this, the writers advocated for a liberal, democratic government on the grounds of reason and efficacy.
The Federalist Papers in American Political Thought
The influence of the Federalist Papers on American political thought can only be described as profound, extensive, and enduring. In the early days of American governance, the Federalist essays were called upon to assist in the drafting and interpretation of the United States Constitution and the early practice of governance. They were cited, discussed, and debated as some of the fundamental cornerstones of the democratic and Federalist tradition in America. Their role in the very beginnings can hardly be overstated. Further, over the years, the Federalist has not ceased to serve as a touchstone for different political factions. Indeed, in no other American resource is so well crystallized the visions of the first followers of the Constitution, and in none other is so thoroughly developed the hope for continuity of governance and the preservation of political opinion by framing it entirely anew. Their longevity is evident in their frequent citation in modern state and federal—indeed, even international—jurisprudence.
The impact of the Federalist beyond their original vision for America rests in the power of their thought. They were not merely engaged in debates over the long-term interest of ratification. These were not mere polemics. On the contrary, with a deep appreciation for political questions and with uncommon civility, these essays were an attempt to build up a certain set of political theories, and the text itself, not merely the empirical debates, bespeaks as much. Their theoretical orientation gives insight into early American federalism. The Federalist vision of a world beyond the struggle for the Constitution bespeaks both the hope in continuity and the ambition for a debt to be appreciated.
Reception and Criticism
There were few contemporaneous responses to the argument during the debates over ratification. Federalists often did not know who wrote the essays and so could not comment on them, or they found them to be underwhelming. The Anti-Federalists did not participate in a dialogue with the Federalists about the content of the essays. Rather, they contested their opponents' positions on the federal Constitution. The diversity of essays and the fact that they were delivered anonymously likely contributed to their far greater reception and influence in the historical as opposed to the contemporary analysis of them. The discussion below gives a sense of the variety of their reception.
Modern scholarship continues to be divided about the relative value of the essays in understanding the Constitution. Interpretations of them often say more about a scholar's current ideological perspective than they do about the arguments. Critics tend to focus on elements of the essays that are seen as problematic for contemporary politics rather than aim to understand the context and arguments from which they were written. One of the features of the debates over the essays is that the central arguments gave support to people with fundamentally different ideologies. Long class conflicts between agrarian republicans and capitalists came to a head in the ratification debates. Anti-Federalists argued that the extended republic would benefit commercial society at the expense of the American working class. Some modern critics of the essays adopt similar positions. Two of the most important issues in modern scholarship debate have been the degree of representation and federal power.
Legacy and Continued Relevance
The Federalist Papers remain a part of political theory to this day. The essays contained many principles and beliefs that were at the crux of the debate concerning what type of democracy would be established in the new nation. The writings are frequently cited and referred to in interpretations of the Constitution, as well as in political commentary on various issues. Due to the myriad ways that the Federalist Papers have been referenced and interpreted, it is apparent that these essays can be used to back many different points of view. They are no longer limited to promoting the adoption of the Constitution and discussing concerns felt throughout the nation in relation to the possibility of failure of a strong nation, but are used in any number of present-day political conversations. Constitutional or originalist conservatives employ the thought of the Federalist Papers to discuss the Constitution in contemporary America to this day. As the notion of democracy evolved, so too did the way in which the essays were interpreted and used.
Although the American public might not remember the specifics of the Federalist Papers or the authors of those essays, these writings have been an integral part of a standard education for most U.S. students at the high school or college level. Students study the Constitution through educational programs designed to promote an understanding of civics. Not just in the classroom, the Federalist Papers are cited by contemporary politicians in their efforts to affect policy change. In the course of shaping a new government, the discord between the opponents and proponents of federalism was unique in the world and in its novelty. The Federalist Papers are bright with the irreversible brand of originality that has made them a great and enduring part of the political landscape. They are an indispensable creation in the field of political science. They provide a significant guide for understanding the political principles of their day. The essays are an excellent means for any society to trace its path of growth backwards. The political values that were articulated in the Federalist Papers have risen, diversified, created new waves and counter-waves in the United States and elsewhere.
Stuck on your essay?
