Transcript Federalist Papers - www.malaspina.org

Federalist Papers
1787
Malaspina Great Books
Outline of Presentation
1. Context – 18th C. North America
2. Declaration of Independence 1776
3. The United States Constitution
1787-9
4. Federalist Papers
5. Anti-Federalist Papers (Objections)
Outline Continued
6. Federalist Highlights
(Republicanism, Separation of
Powers, Free Government, no
Bill of Rights)
7. Significance of Federalist as
Enlightenment Project
1. Context – 18th c. North America
2. Declaration of Independence 1776
Thomas Jefferson
(1743-1826)
Declaration of Independence
When in the Course of human events, it becomes
necessary for one people to dissolve the political
bands which have connected them with another,
and to assume among the powers of the earth,
the separate and equal station to which the Laws
of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a
decent respect to the opinions of mankind
requires that they should declare the causes
which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal, that they
are endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable Rights, that among
these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit
of Happiness.--That to secure these
rights, Governments are instituted
among Men, deriving their just powers
from the consent of the governed, …
3. The United States Constitution 1787-9
We the People of the United States, in
order to form a more perfect union,
establish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common
defence, promote the general welfare,
and secure the blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and
establish this Constitution for the United
States of America.
4. Federalist Papers
Alexander Hamilton
(1757-1804 )
James Madison
(1751- 1836)
John Jay
(1745- 1829)
5. Anti-Federalist Papers (Objections)
Anti-Federalist
Federalism will Destroy Liberty
“…It might be here shewn, that the power in
the federal legislative, to raise and support
armies at pleasure, as well in peace as in
war, and their controul over the militia, tend,
not only to a consolidation of the
government, but the destruction of
liberty…” - Brutus
Anti-Federalist
President will have too much power
“… In the first place the office of president
of the United States appears to me to be
clothed with such powers as are
dangerous...an elective king…to lay the
foundation for a military government,
which is the worst of all tyrannies…”
- An Old Whig
Anti-Federalist
Large Republics Cannot be Free“
In so extensive a republic, the great
officers of government would soon
become above the controul of the
people...They will use the power, when
they have acquired it, to the purposes of
gratifying their own interest and
ambition...”
Anti-Federalist
Separation of Powers is an Illusion
Such various, extensive, and important
powers combined in one body of men, are
inconsistent with all freedom… "when the
legislative and executive powers are
united in the same person, or in the
same body of magistrates, there can be
no liberty…"
6. Federalist Highlights (Republicanism,
Separation of Powers, Free Government,
no Bill of Rights)
Federalist Highlight
Large Federal Republic (10)
In a federal republic, power is divided
vertically between a general (federal)
government and state governments. Two
levels of government, each supreme in its
own sphere, can exercise powers
separately and directly on the people.
Federalist Highlight
Republicanism (10)
A republican government is one "in which
the scheme of representation takes place."
It is based on the consent of the governed
because power is delegated to a small
number of citizens who are elected by the
rest.
Federalist Highlight
Separation of Powers (51)
Executive: Power to appoint judges, sole
power to wage war
Legislative: Power to write laws, sole
power to declare war
Judicial: Sole power to interpret the law
and apply it to particular disputes
Federalist Highlight
Free Government
Republicanism, federalism, and separation
of powers are characteristics of free
government…free government is designed
to guard against the most insidious danger
of government by the people--the tyranny of
the many over the few.
Federalist Highlight
Bill of Rights (84)
The Federalist papers are remarkable for
their opposition to what later became the
United States Bill of Rights (first 10
amendments) ... many people feared that
this would later be interpreted as a list of the
only rights that people had.
7. Significance as Enlightenment Project
Enlightenment Significance
• Influences of John Locke, Jean Jacques
Rousseau, Montesquieu, and Thomas
Hobbes.
• best form of government balanced the
selfish needs of the individual with the need
to protect the whole community
Enlightenment Significance
• too much liberty can be bad for an orderly
society
• attempt to limit power of federal
government
• influence of David Hume on Madison