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Constitution, Society, and Leadership Week 1 Unit 3 The Federalist Papers. Christopher Dreisbach, Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University. Overview- i. The Federalist papers A set of 85 editorials Written between October 1787 and August 1788, inclusive,
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Constitution, Society, and LeadershipWeek 1 Unit 3The Federalist Papers Christopher Dreisbach, Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University
Overview-i • The Federalist papers • A set of 85 editorials • Written between October 1787 and August 1788, inclusive, • Each appearing in one of three New York newspapers: • The Independent Journal • The New York Packet • The Daily Advertiser.
Overview-ii Three authors, writing under the pseudonym “Publius,” took turns writing the editorials • Alexander Hamilton wrote 52 papers • James Madison wrote 28 • John Jay wrote 5 Follow this link for a document that specifies which journal, author, and date correspond with which editorial • http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa00.htm
Overview-iii • The goal of the Federalist Papers was to convince New York to ratify the Constitution. • According to the Constitution, at least 9 states needed to ratify it to make it the law of the land. • Some supporters worried that if New York did not ratify, then there would be an insufficient number of states.
Overview-iv • New York was the 11th state to ratify. • On July 26, 1788 • So in that respect, the Federalist Papers were unnecessary. • But the Federalist’s greatest value is that it offers an argument for the Constitution and for its specific parts, • Where the Constitution itself offers no argument in its own defense, except, perhaps • The Preamble • The Second Amendment
Organization-i • The Federalist’s basic argument is simple: • 1. A federal government is better than the alternative • Especially the confederacy created by the Articles of Confederation. • 2. The federation that the Constitution proposes is better than other federal models. • 3. The only way to institute this government is for at least nine states to ratify the Constitution. • 4. New York may be the difference between ratification and defeat. • 5. Therefore, New York should ratify the Constitution.
Organization-ii • In making this argument, the Federalist tries to prove the first two premises by • Devoting each paper to a particular part of the Constitution itself or to explaining the debate that took place during its development. • Premise 3 is in the Constitution • Premise 4 is an assumption
Organization-iiiPremise 1-i • Premise 1: A federal government is better than the alternative (Papers 1-51) • Introduction to the Federalist (1) • Government Responsibility (2-22) • Dangers facing the United States (2-14) • Foreign Dangers (2-5) • Domestic Dangers (6-10) • Benefits of Strong Union (11-14) • Problems with the Confederacy (15—22)
Organization-ivPremise 1-ii • Power Needed to Fulfill Government Responsibility (23-36) • Defense (23-29) • Taxation (30-36) • Drafting the Constitution (37-51) • The Convention (37-40) • Objections (37-38) • Republican Form of the Plan (39-40) • Federal Powers (41-44) • State Powers (45-46) • Separation of Powers (47-51)
Organization-vPremise 2-i • Premise 2: The federation that the Constitution proposes is better than other federal models (Paper 52-85). • The Legislative Branch (52-66) • House of Representatives (52-61) • Senate (62-66) • The Executive Branch (67-77) • Objection; Electoral College (67-69) • Unity, Duration, re-eligibility, Support (70-73) • Powers (74-77)
Organization-viPremise 2-ii • The Judicial branch (78-83) • Miscellaneous (84) • Ratify Now! (85)
Constitution, Society, and LeadershipWeek 1 Unit 3The Federalist Papers Christopher Dreisbach, Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University