The Federalists

 

Federalist was the general term for people who favored ratification of the Constitution.

 

Like the Antifederalists the Federalists were a diverse group. Different Federalists supported the Constitution for different reasons. Generally speaking however they differed from the Antifederalists because the Federalists were willing to accept a stronger national government than the Antifederalists wanted.

 

Federalists were certain that the Articles of Confederation were not suitable for a great and economically powerful nation.

 

While many Antifederalsits were men whose careers and reputations had been established well before the Revolution, the Federalist leaders were more likely to be younger men whose careers had begun in the Revolution.

 

The Federalist was also the name for a collection of essays written in support of the Constitution.

 

The Federalist Papers

 

·        Eighty-five articles published between October 1787 and July 1788 in the New York press

·        Instigated by Alexander Hamilton, a devoted nationalist

·        Published under the name “Publius”

·        50 by Alexander Hamilton

·        30 by James Madison

·        5 by John Jay (mainly on foreign affairs)

·        Defended principle of supreme national authority

·        Reassured opponents of the Constitution who feared tyranny and usurpation

·        Explained in detail the institutions of the new government

·        Described the advantages of federalism

·        Described how the separations of powers and checks and balances would limit federal power and prevent tyranny

·        Sophisticated and serious, but comprehensible to the reading public

·        Grounded in political philosophy and history

·        Compared the American government to other democracies, republics, confederations, and unions from history (Athens, Rome, Netherlands, Switzerland)

·        Tried to cultivate belief that Constitution would contribute to economic prosperity

·        Confident tone based on faith in the destiny of the United States to become a powerful nation

Federalist Paper No. 10

·        The most famous single essay

·        Written by Madison

·        Discusses problem of factions

·        Faction = “a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or the permanent and aggregate interests of the community”

·        Conventional wisdom said republican government could only survive in small homogenous countries like Switzerland and the Netherlands

·        Conventional wisdom said large republics would fall into anarchy and tyranny through the influence of factions

·        Madison contradicted prevailing notions about republican government

·        Size and diversity of the country would make it impossible for any single faction to form a majority that could dominate the government

·        Republics work better in large and diverse countries

 

“Extend the sphere and you take in a greater variety of parties and interests; you make it less probable that a majority of the whole will have a common motive to invade the rights of other citizens; or if such a common motive exists, it will be more difficult for all who feel it to discover their own strength and to act in unison with each other.”