Author Description
'A nation without a national government is an awful spectacle.' In the winter of 1787-8 a series of eighty-five essays appeared in the New York press; the purpose of the essays was to persuade the citizens of New York State to ratify the Constitution of the United States. The three authors - Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay - were respectively the first Secretary of the Treasury, the fourth President, and the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in American history. Each had played a crucial role in the events of the American Revolution; together they were convinced of the need to weld thirteen disparate and newly-independent states into a union. Their essays make the case for a new and united nation, governed under a written Constitution that endures to this day. The Federalist Papers are an indispensable guide to the intentions of the founding fathers who created the United States, and a canonical text in the development of western political thought. This new edition pays full attention to the classical learning of their authors and the historical examples they deploy. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
The Federalist Papers investigate the necessity of a strong, unified national government under the proposed United States Constitution to ensure the stability and longevity of the American republic. The authors, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, utilized their extensive experience in the American Revolution and early governance to construct a logical defense of the federal system. Their arguments address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and propose a framework for a balanced government designed to prevent tyranny while maintaining order.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A collection of eighty-five essays originally published in the New York press between 1787 and 1788.
- Detailed analysis of the separation of powers, checks and balances, and the structure of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
- Historical context regarding the political climate of the post-Revolutionary era.
Scope Limits
- The text does not provide a comprehensive history of the entire Constitutional Convention, focusing primarily on the arguments for ratification.
- It does not address the perspectives of the Anti-Federalists in detail, as the work is a partisan defense of the proposed Constitution.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts and historians regard this work as a foundational text for understanding the intent of the American founders and the development of Western political thought. Readers frequently note the dense, academic nature of the prose, which requires careful study to fully grasp the complex legal and philosophical arguments presented.
Page Count:
520
Publication Date:
2008-01-01
ISBN-10:
019160478X
ISBN-13:
9780191604782
History
Political Philosophy
American History
Government
Constitutional Law