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Editorial Reviews
The Federalist Papers are a series of 85 articles or essays advocating the ratification of the United States Constitution. Seventy-seven of the essays were published serially in The Independent Journal and The New York Packet between October 1787 and August 1788. A compilation of these and eight others, called The Federalist; or, The New Constitution, was published in two volumes in 1788 by J. and A. McLean. The series' correct title is The Federalist; the title The Federalist Papers did not emerge until the twentieth century.
The Federalist remains a primary source for interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, as the essays outline a lucid and compelling version of the philosophy and motivation of the proposed system of government. The authors of The Federalist wanted both to influence the vote in favor of ratification and to shape future interpretations of the Constitution. According to historian Richard B. Morris, they are an "incomparable exposition of the Constitution, a classic in political science unsurpassed in both breadth and depth by the product of any later American writer."
At the time of publication, the authorship of the articles was a closely-guarded secret, though astute observers guessed that Hamilton, Madison, and Jay were the likely authors. Following Hamilton's death in 1804, a list that he drew up became public; it claimed fully two-thirds of the essays for Hamilton, including some that seemed more likely the work of Madison (Nos. 49-58, 62, and 63).
The Federalist remains a primary source for interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, as the essays outline a lucid and compelling version of the philosophy and motivation of the proposed system of government. The authors of The Federalist wanted both to influence the vote in favor of ratification and to shape future interpretations of the Constitution. According to historian Richard B. Morris, they are an "incomparable exposition of the Constitution, a classic in political science unsurpassed in both breadth and depth by the product of any later American writer."
At the time of publication, the authorship of the articles was a closely-guarded secret, though astute observers guessed that Hamilton, Madison, and Jay were the likely authors. Following Hamilton's death in 1804, a list that he drew up became public; it claimed fully two-thirds of the essays for Hamilton, including some that seemed more likely the work of Madison (Nos. 49-58, 62, and 63).
Related Reviews
The rich keep getting richer...
and the Mentor Federalist Papers keep getting better. Yes, that's right. They actually managed to improve on it. The great new additions include the Declaration, the Articles, and an excellent new introduction by Charles Kessler. I think the killer feature for new readers will be the notes in the back, which, if you (like me) are shaky in your Greek history (and the finer points of European), do a great job of explaining allusions and references by the Papers. Be sure to use this feature -- there's no indication in the text that a note exists, but you should just look if you're unsure of a historical setting (or something similar), and there probably will be one.
On the minus side, I do miss Rossiter's introduction. It wasn't as good for laying out the plan of the work, but it should have been included (along with Kessler's) for its excellent overview of the contemporary situation and the philosophy behind the papers. Also, I feel that Rossiter's contents were slightly better than Kessler's. And, the page numbers are changed, invalidating older references to them. But all in all it's an improvement, and certainly the Mentor edition is the only one to have. Period. It's the one used by at least some of the Supreme Court Justices, and it retains that single dominating feature, Rossiter's cross-referenced Constitution (and index of ideas).
As for the Papers themselves, of course, they need no review. They are the first and ultimate Constitutional commentary, and fascinating reading besides. As literature they stand out for the exceptional style (all the more remarkable considering the haste in which they were written) and clear thinking, and more than any other book they define how the U.S. _should_ work.
All in all, this is one of the best book bargains on the market, that rare coincidence where best edition meets mass-market paperback. What are you waiting for?
-Stephen
The best edition of the Federalist Papers
This is the best edition of the Federalist Papers. It includes many extras, but especially useful is the text of the US Constitution with cross-references to specific pages of the Federalist Papers referring to that provision. I highly recommend the Federalist Papers generally, and more specifically this edition to anyone wishing to know more about the founding and ratification of the Constitution.
Vital to Understanding the US Constitution
The Federalist Papers is probably the most seminal discourse on the U.S. Constitution that has ever been written. While there are occasional inconsistencies and undoubtedly many of the founding fathers that took part in the Constitutional Convention and favored adoption of the Constitution would disagree with some of its contents, it is vital reading if one hopes to understand the original intent of the founders.
One of the reviewers below challenges the notion that the US was ever a Democracy, however, he (apologies if it's a 'she') is viewing the Federalist Papers from the perspective of modern times, and that is a fallacy in reviewing this work, but fortunately it's an instructive fallacy.
The issue with the Federalist Papers is that although it is the leading arguments for the creation of a more centralized government (to replace the Articles of Confederation which seemed inpractible), not all of these arguments were adopted in the Constitution, and some that were did not survive very long. As a result, you may get the wrong impression that the Federalist Papers=the Constitution. Remember, Hamilton's party, the Federalists, did not survive much longer after the defeat of Adams by Jefferson in the 1800 election. The populism of Jefferson and Madison were the ultimate winners *at the time*.
And my *at the time* comment is important. Nowadays the federal government of the US holds a superior and decisive position in the governing of its people; this has not always been the case. In the early-to-mid 19th century, federal power was severely limited when it came to internal affairs; most of the government was conducted at the local level, with some county and state control thrown in where applicable. So *at the time*, the fact that the Senate had 2 members from each state (and appointed by the state legislature) regardless of population was *not* a measure that was anti-democratic in purpose. Democracy existed because the government was predominantly local and the people were predominantly involved in its affairs.
Thus my contention; now for the suggestion: if your project is strictly to research the creation of the US Constitution, than the Federalist Papers by themselves are fine. If, however, you are more interested in how the Constitution affected American society at that time, I would recommend that you start by reading de Tocqueville's "Democracy in America", and working backwards. The immediate results of the Constitution are best expressed in de Tocqueville (he toured the United States and published his work in Europe within 50 years of the ratification) because its not the causes of the Constitution he is discussing, but its effects. After you have completed Democracy in America, then you'll be able to approach the Federalist (and of course the Anti-Federalist) Papers with the understanding of what worked, what didn't, and maybe what we need to work again for.
The issue with the Federalist Papers is that although it is the leading arguments for the creation of a more centralized government (to replace the Articles of Confederation which seemed inpractible), not all of these arguments were adopted in the Constitution, and some that were did not survive very long. As a result, you may get the wrong impression that the Federalist Papers=the Constitution. Remember, Hamilton's party, the Federalists, did not survive much longer after the defeat of Adams by Jefferson in the 1800 election. The populism of Jefferson and Madison were the ultimate winners *at the time*.
And my *at the time* comment is important. Nowadays the federal government of the US holds a superior and decisive position in the governing of its people; this has not always been the case. In the early-to-mid 19th century, federal power was severely limited when it came to internal affairs; most of the government was conducted at the local level, with some county and state control thrown in where applicable. So *at the time*, the fact that the Senate had 2 members from each state (and appointed by the state legislature) regardless of population was *not* a measure that was anti-democratic in purpose. Democracy existed because the government was predominantly local and the people were predominantly involved in its affairs.
Thus my contention; now for the suggestion: if your project is strictly to research the creation of the US Constitution, than the Federalist Papers by themselves are fine. If, however, you are more interested in how the Constitution affected American society at that time, I would recommend that you start by reading de Tocqueville's "Democracy in America", and working backwards. The immediate results of the Constitution are best expressed in de Tocqueville (he toured the United States and published his work in Europe within 50 years of the ratification) because its not the causes of the Constitution he is discussing, but its effects. After you have completed Democracy in America, then you'll be able to approach the Federalist (and of course the Anti-Federalist) Papers with the understanding of what worked, what didn't, and maybe what we need to work again for.
The best edition of a must read collection.
The Mentor edition (used by Scalia among others) is by far the best edition of the Federalist Papers. It includes substantial amounts of related information, but of primary importance is the entire text of the Constitution with cross references to specific pages of the Federalist Papers on that topic. This is an extremely useful tool to anyone desiring to gain more knowledge about the Constitution and the founders intent, and it is especially useful to anyone taking a Con Law class.
In general the Federalist Papers is a must read for anyone interested in the founding of the US, or desiring to learn how our system of federalism, and separation of powers was intended to work. I recommend reading numbers 10, 49, and 78 first.
A stripped down edition the The Federalist Papers
Given my inexorably advancing age, my eyes are not what they used to be. I therefore welcome this version of "The Federalist Papers" in that while not a "large print" edition, the print IS larger and easier to read than elsewhere.
The book is of good quality and I expect it to last at least as long as me. The only reason I gave this edition four stars instead of five is that there is absolutely NO commentary. Many may declare this a feature and not a bug. However, new as I am to the actual text of these famous essays, a little guidance (if only a simple introduction) may have been helpful.
That said, there is endless commentary available from other sources including readily accessible material on the internet so this really isn't a problem.
I wanted a quality, hard copy edition of these essays and I got it.
Enjoy.
The book is of good quality and I expect it to last at least as long as me. The only reason I gave this edition four stars instead of five is that there is absolutely NO commentary. Many may declare this a feature and not a bug. However, new as I am to the actual text of these famous essays, a little guidance (if only a simple introduction) may have been helpful.
That said, there is endless commentary available from other sources including readily accessible material on the internet so this really isn't a problem.
I wanted a quality, hard copy edition of these essays and I got it.
Enjoy.
A necessity to understanding the founder's intent
This is a good edition of the Federalist Papers, the introduction by Gary Wills is excellent. However, I would strongly recommend purchasing the Mentor edition, as that edition contains the text of the Constitution, as does this edition, but the Mentor edition has cross-references to specific portions of the Federalist Papers which address that clause of the Constitution.
In general the Federalist Papers is a must read, no matter what edition you use, for anyone interested in the founding of the US, or desiring to learn how our system of federalism, and separation of powers was intended to work. I recommend reading numbers 10, 49, and 78 first.
There are different versions of this book available, and somehow Books LLC has managed to get the reviews associated with a better quality imprint associated with their book. BE WARNED. Books LLC is a wing of a company called VDM Publishing which, among other things, specialises in automated scanning in of copyright-free books, they print these cheaply, with no editing, no checking the text, there own website says there may be missing pages and they do no manual checking, there's no table of contents. Etc. The Books LLC version is basically VERY low quality.
Check carefully what you're buying or you may end up with a book that surprises you. If you have been taken in and ended up with one of these books from "Books LLC", Amazon will take Returns within 30 days (check there Returns Policy first....).
Check carefully what you're buying or you may end up with a book that surprises you. If you have been taken in and ended up with one of these books from "Books LLC", Amazon will take Returns within 30 days (check there Returns Policy first....).
Understanding The Founders Reasoning
Before the ratification of the Constitution of 1787, three of its Framers, Hamilton, Madison, and Jay, published a series of articles called The Federalist in a New York paper under the pen name of "Publius." These articles are now published as The Federalist Papers. Publius' intent was to defend the proposed Constitution by explaining its overall integrity and the republican government it would establish. Ironically, one of Publius' intents was to defend the Constitution against the argument it was too weak to withstand those who would subvert republicanism in favor of some form of aristocratic domination.
Sadly, not many read this work, despite the fact that it is one of the few documents that define what the founders' intent really was. This omission has not stopped many from espousing their (lack of) knowledge of that intent. The casual reader can be put off by the size of the work, 85 articles, and the seriousness of the articles. This work was intended for serous people. However, one can approach it with a pen and yellow highlighter and LEARN its wisdom or the more casual reader can let the Introduction guide them to the pieces that interest them.
These casual readers will learn The Federalist Papers are divided into two divisions, each with different themes. The first division addresses the issue of a "firm" and "well-constructed" Union as opposed to a lose confederation of states. This division then addresses how the constitution is protected from the founders' anticipated accidental and intentional threats and answers: what the respective purposes of the Union and the Constitution are; what should be done with society's will; the problem of politics; and even the issues of taxes and maintaining an army. All of these together described the function of government as defined by the Constitution.
In the second division, The Federalist Papers move from the basic function of government to the structure of the American government and using that structure to secure society's common good, the people's happiness, and the public good. All this is accomplished using a moderate tone that makes the reader part of the discourse and not the object of a lecture. This is a constitution aimed at the public in many ways.
So at heart, The Federalist Papers is a guide to the Constitution intended for the casual reader, a reader who can pick and chose those elements that are meaningful.
Sadly, not many read this work, despite the fact that it is one of the few documents that define what the founders' intent really was. This omission has not stopped many from espousing their (lack of) knowledge of that intent. The casual reader can be put off by the size of the work, 85 articles, and the seriousness of the articles. This work was intended for serous people. However, one can approach it with a pen and yellow highlighter and LEARN its wisdom or the more casual reader can let the Introduction guide them to the pieces that interest them.
These casual readers will learn The Federalist Papers are divided into two divisions, each with different themes. The first division addresses the issue of a "firm" and "well-constructed" Union as opposed to a lose confederation of states. This division then addresses how the constitution is protected from the founders' anticipated accidental and intentional threats and answers: what the respective purposes of the Union and the Constitution are; what should be done with society's will; the problem of politics; and even the issues of taxes and maintaining an army. All of these together described the function of government as defined by the Constitution.
In the second division, The Federalist Papers move from the basic function of government to the structure of the American government and using that structure to secure society's common good, the people's happiness, and the public good. All this is accomplished using a moderate tone that makes the reader part of the discourse and not the object of a lecture. This is a constitution aimed at the public in many ways.
So at heart, The Federalist Papers is a guide to the Constitution intended for the casual reader, a reader who can pick and chose those elements that are meaningful.
Every American should know passsages from this book by heart
The essential commentary on our system of government. The U.S. Constitution is a brilliantly constructed document. But for those who are unable to fully understand its simplicity, read "The Federalist Papers." It makes clear the basis for our system of government (Natural Law). It also explains why the Constitution is a document from the people telling the government what rights it has to govern rather than a government document telling the people what rights are available to them.
Government gridlock is not a bad thing according to "The Federalist Papers." The Constitution is written in such a way that the government can't easily pass laws. Remember, for every law passed, we loose some of our natural rights.
"The Federalist Papers" was written to encourage the people of the time to support a new constitution (as opposed to keeping the Articles of Confederation). However, there is not a more modern explanation of why our current system is very flawed but the most viable option of self-rule anybody has ever devised.
First and foremost it was nice to have a book formatted correctly for the Kindle. I am staying away from the free ones for that reason. I would rather pay a dollar for a readable book, otherwise you end up not reading the book out of frustration.
I am a political science major and so this was required reading. However, I found it fascinating. This book gives you an inside perspective of the early politicians of the US. If only we could get today's politicians to read this too. Although I do not agree with all the authors views, there were several viewpoints that i found fascinating.
I would also recommend this to anyone interested in the Revolutionary War and post Revolutionary war time period.
I am a political science major and so this was required reading. However, I found it fascinating. This book gives you an inside perspective of the early politicians of the US. If only we could get today's politicians to read this too. Although I do not agree with all the authors views, there were several viewpoints that i found fascinating.
I would also recommend this to anyone interested in the Revolutionary War and post Revolutionary war time period.
You may ask yourself, "What's the difference between one version of the Federalist papers and another?" So did I. I found myself looking back to the Federalist papers so much during my first year of law school that I wanted a small, paperback edition. This was a great choice. The best feature is that the Papers are cross-referenced to the relvant articles of the Constitution. It also includes copies of the Constitution, the Articles of Confederation, and the Declaration of Independence. It makes it much easier to be aware of the context the Papers were written in as well as the result of the debates.
The only thing missing was a copy of the Anti-Federalist papers -- but I haven't found a single volume that includes both yet.
This book is adequate. It contains the full Federalist Papers and a copy of the Constitution in the back, plus synopses of the content of each of the Papers. However, not much blank space is left on each page, making it difficult to write margin notes and underline. The paper and typeface are pretty low quality, a little better than newsprint. A good copy if you're not planning to spend a lot of time with the book, but if you are, go for another edition.
Alexander Hamilton's Greatest Work (with help from James Madison).
"The Federalist" is a compilation of articles that appeared in the New York newspapers in 1787 and 1788, written in support of the document that had been approved by the Constitutional Convention that had met in Philadelphia during the summer of 1787. The authors, writing anonymously under the pseudonym "Publius" (after Publius Valerius Publicola, the quasi-legendary First Consul of the Roman Republic), were Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, all well-known political figures in the American Revolutionary period. The Constitution had actually been ratified by the time the articles began to appear, but they served to explain to the public the nature of their new government. They have served that function very well ever since. They are now considered to be a definitive statement of the practical issues involved in establishing popular consensual representative government.
Ironically, Hamilton was not nearly as enthusiastic about the new Constitution in private as he was in the pages of "The Federalist". For example, he believed the President should be elected for life, and for that reason throughout his life he was called a "monarchist" by his political enemies.
Another irony is that Hamilton persuaded the American people to accept a Constitution that was and continues to be much more conservative in outlook than are the majority of the American people. He succeeded at this because Americans, like Hamilton, sensed that a conservative governmental structure, with a strong executive, was essential to our security as a fledgling nation-state in a world dominated by hostile and predatory military monarchies. The desperately vulnerable state of the early American Republic comes through vividly in Hamilton's writing, informed no doubt by his heroic Revolutionary War service as George Washington's personal aide. The attachment of Americans to our Constitution as a source of our strength and security continues unabated today.
"Publius" was writing for the average citizen of his day, who either could read himself or was read to - newspapers were usually passed from hand to hand for weeks after publication in those days. But he doesn't write down to his audience. He justifiably assumes that having been through a prolonged and bloody war for their independence the average American citizen was extremely interested in preserving that hard-won liberty, and in the structure of the government that would help them do it.
However, the language is of the late 18th century, and takes some getting used to. These papers should be read one at a time, over a period of months or years. The topics covered are as timely as today's headlines: The limits of presidential power, the independence of the judiciary, the role of government in society.
My favorite quotation from "The Federalist" is not by Hamilton, but by Madison, although I'm sure Hamilton agreed wholeheartedly with the sentiment: (from The Federalist No. 51) "But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary."
"The Federalist" is one of three basic texts of American government. The other two are Alexis de Tocqueville's "Democracy in America" and Lord Bryce's "The American Commonwealth".
These three books together will provide an educated person with a solid understanding of the nature of the American system of government.
Ironically, Hamilton was not nearly as enthusiastic about the new Constitution in private as he was in the pages of "The Federalist". For example, he believed the President should be elected for life, and for that reason throughout his life he was called a "monarchist" by his political enemies.
Another irony is that Hamilton persuaded the American people to accept a Constitution that was and continues to be much more conservative in outlook than are the majority of the American people. He succeeded at this because Americans, like Hamilton, sensed that a conservative governmental structure, with a strong executive, was essential to our security as a fledgling nation-state in a world dominated by hostile and predatory military monarchies. The desperately vulnerable state of the early American Republic comes through vividly in Hamilton's writing, informed no doubt by his heroic Revolutionary War service as George Washington's personal aide. The attachment of Americans to our Constitution as a source of our strength and security continues unabated today.
"Publius" was writing for the average citizen of his day, who either could read himself or was read to - newspapers were usually passed from hand to hand for weeks after publication in those days. But he doesn't write down to his audience. He justifiably assumes that having been through a prolonged and bloody war for their independence the average American citizen was extremely interested in preserving that hard-won liberty, and in the structure of the government that would help them do it.
However, the language is of the late 18th century, and takes some getting used to. These papers should be read one at a time, over a period of months or years. The topics covered are as timely as today's headlines: The limits of presidential power, the independence of the judiciary, the role of government in society.
My favorite quotation from "The Federalist" is not by Hamilton, but by Madison, although I'm sure Hamilton agreed wholeheartedly with the sentiment: (from The Federalist No. 51) "But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary."
"The Federalist" is one of three basic texts of American government. The other two are Alexis de Tocqueville's "Democracy in America" and Lord Bryce's "The American Commonwealth".
These three books together will provide an educated person with a solid understanding of the nature of the American system of government.
The Federalist Papers were written primarily by Alexander Hamilton and James Maddison (with a few also written by John Jay) under the pen name of "Publius." The papers were written to gain support of the residents of New York State for ratification of the Constitution. First, it is important to note what the Papers are not! They are not debates among the drafters of the Constitution which can serve as legislative history as to the drafters' intent. Rather, ithey are the opinion of "Publius" as to why we needed a Constitution setting up a federal system with a strong national government rather than a weaker system under the failed Articles of Confederation. For example, how could we have a national defense if one small confederation of states were attacked and the other states were not bound by a strong antional government to come to it's defense? Hamilton and Madison grew to be political rivals so it is interesting to see the unity they had in advocating our system of government under the proposed Constitution. Of particular interest is the classic warning against factions and the mental wrestling over the best way to temper their effects. I believe that whether you plow through all of the Papers cover to cover, or read them selectively, you will gain an invaluable appreciation for the genius behind our system of government.
Excellent material, difficult to read
I rate this book 5 stars because the content is so vital to understanding what our founding fathers were thinking as they tried to convince the Americans in New York that a "Foederal" government, rather than individual states or territories, was the best way to bring the new union together.
OK, now readability. Does anyone else have trouble understanding the writing style of the late 17th century? I appreciate that the book is true to the original newspaper articles, but sometimes my eyes glaze over and I lose the gist of what the author was trying to say. For example: "The disciplined armies always kept on foot on the continent of Europe, though they bear a malignant aspect to liberty and oeconomy, have notwithstanding been productive of the signal advantage, of rendering sudden conquests impracticable, and of preventing that rapid desolation, which used to mark the progress of war, prior to their introduction." I think he's saying that a standing army will prevent foreign powers from easily invading your country. But I have to do this "translation" in my head as I read each sentence, so the reading really gets bogged down.
So, this work is not something that most people can just breeze through - it takes some thought and understanding of the culture and style of the time. If there is a modern-language translation available, I would buy that as a supplement, because the content definitely is worth learning!
OK, now readability. Does anyone else have trouble understanding the writing style of the late 17th century? I appreciate that the book is true to the original newspaper articles, but sometimes my eyes glaze over and I lose the gist of what the author was trying to say. For example: "The disciplined armies always kept on foot on the continent of Europe, though they bear a malignant aspect to liberty and oeconomy, have notwithstanding been productive of the signal advantage, of rendering sudden conquests impracticable, and of preventing that rapid desolation, which used to mark the progress of war, prior to their introduction." I think he's saying that a standing army will prevent foreign powers from easily invading your country. But I have to do this "translation" in my head as I read each sentence, so the reading really gets bogged down.
So, this work is not something that most people can just breeze through - it takes some thought and understanding of the culture and style of the time. If there is a modern-language translation available, I would buy that as a supplement, because the content definitely is worth learning!
a still accurate and relevent prophecy
It's frightening how accurate this book is. All throughout the 85 papers that make up The Federalist, Hamilton, Madison and Jay state their points complete with warnings of what might happen should things go in a different direction. Certainly they were standing up for their opinions and beliefs and of course they understood (and supported) the fact that not everyone would agree with their proposals, but something that we have today that they couldn't experience is hindsight. The fears of a civil war for the reasons articulated came true almost to the number, the reasons why and how and what the ultimate end-result would probably be. The warnings against abusive state and federal governments have, time and again, been bled out with remarkably accurate assumption. The troubles of even so far a distant future as today were thought about and discussed and every effort was made to counter such obstacles with the sheer ugency of ideas.
It is tragic that this book has become something of a forgotten classic for the people of today, shrugging their shoulders and presuming that the founding fathers have nothing new to teach us. Read on, young America. Understand your nation.
The Federalist Papers are an important read for anyone learning about our government. This version works well for students, and I purchased it after already owning a small paperback copy. This particular book has bright paper, strong enough for taking excessive notes, and the margins are sufficiently large. I am also finding the larger page sizes are helpful, and I can see more content without flipping back and forth so often.
For students like me, I give this version five stars.
For students like me, I give this version five stars.
The funny thing is that I happened to stumble across a review of this edition while perusing a political scientist's list of books for congressional studies. The fact is virtually no political scientist reads the Federalist Papers anymore, which says much more about political science than it does about the Federalist Papers. Nothing has taught me more about our system of government than the Federalists. This is an outstanding new edition, although I share the grief of others that they changed the pagination from the old Rossiter edition. Kesler's intro is top notch and the glossary in the back is perfect, as most students are mystified by the allusions in the work.
Questonable Publication Quality
The publication quality of this text is questionable. It looks like the pages are photocopies of another book. The margins are broad, and there are marks on many pages where the copier may have made an error. Also, some of the letters near the margins are illegible due to distortion or disappearance. The table of contents is inaccurate, and while it claims that there is an extensive introduction in the beginning of this text, it does not in fact exist. The text is crisp and legible on most pages, but on some pages the print seems washed out, much like a bad photocopy.
However, the text is certainly readable and includes all 85 papers. There is an extended table of contents with paragraph summaries of each of the papers, which is a nice touch. The header of each page also gives a one-line summary of the paper that is included on the page, which makes flipping through the text easier. Considering how large the book is, it is offered at a reasonable price, and I am sufficiently satisfied with my purchase that I do not plan to return it.
However, the text is certainly readable and includes all 85 papers. There is an extended table of contents with paragraph summaries of each of the papers, which is a nice touch. The header of each page also gives a one-line summary of the paper that is included on the page, which makes flipping through the text easier. Considering how large the book is, it is offered at a reasonable price, and I am sufficiently satisfied with my purchase that I do not plan to return it.
The Foundation of an Unique Government
The Federalist Papers are rightly considered one of the most authoritative explanations of the provisions of the Constitution in existence. While much further interpretation and definition of the Constitution has taken place over the past 200+ years through the slow accretion of judicial interpretation, the Federalist remains the source for a contemporary explanation of the political causes and justification for virtually every clause in the Constitution.
Some passages are less thrilling than others but Nos. 10, 39, 48, and 51 are about as good as it gets in terms of explicating the structure of what became the US government.
A must read for political science majors, history majors and selected parts for high school students in every government course.
You need to know what is in this book
For those newly awakened to American politics, nothing is more important than the Federalist Papers. The federal government now violates almost every principle of government, and every rationale for its existence, as given by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay. From a government of limited and enumerated powers, celebrated by these Founders, we now have a government that, in the belief of most and the frank admission of many, is a government of unlimited power. They would call this tyranny, and say why. Americans sleep through it, waiting for the check in the mailbox.
Very Useful Book, Not A Perfect Edition
The Federalist Papers is without a doubt a necessary compilation of rhetoric trying to bring out all the positive aspects of the American Constitution (as well as to discredit some of the criticism it received) for any individual considering himself politically enlightened. Far too many times you will be likely to encounter someone who is completely unfamiliar with notions like executive prerogative and is in utter bewilderment where Bush, for example, gets off with such ideas as the recent wiretaps. The abstract justification for such cases is among the countless other arguments provided by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay within these pages, and though one may disagree with them, they are nonetheless important to know and understand. They are hardly perfect, and many, such as Hamilton's attempt to justify the absence of a Bill of Rights, show that these articles sought to employ every argument available to make it seem that the Constitution was a paragon of a social contract (rather than a document meticulously written as a result of numerous compromises with little universal ideological consistency), but they are nonetheless important to have in one's library.
Of course, it's easy to find every single one of them online for free, not to mention all the other documents this edition adds on, such as the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence. It is a good thing, then, that this edition is so cheap, as it is certainly convenient to have them all in a relatively small book that preserves all your markings. The edition also tries to overcome this burden of free access to its material through a masterfully written introduction, through a table of contents that briefly summarizes the argument contained within each article, and through the numerous footnotes that concisely expand upon the many now archaic references to the Romans and the Classics that Publius tends to make. For these reasons, I find having this precise copy of the Federalist Papers worth the 7 or so bucks that it costs.
The one thing I dislike about it, and why I give it 4 stars rather than 5, is that the paper and ink are almost of newspaper quality, so that extensive reading will tend to leave black markings on one's fingers. This does get annoying when writing papers about it and flipping around its pages.
Of course, it's easy to find every single one of them online for free, not to mention all the other documents this edition adds on, such as the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence. It is a good thing, then, that this edition is so cheap, as it is certainly convenient to have them all in a relatively small book that preserves all your markings. The edition also tries to overcome this burden of free access to its material through a masterfully written introduction, through a table of contents that briefly summarizes the argument contained within each article, and through the numerous footnotes that concisely expand upon the many now archaic references to the Romans and the Classics that Publius tends to make. For these reasons, I find having this precise copy of the Federalist Papers worth the 7 or so bucks that it costs.
The one thing I dislike about it, and why I give it 4 stars rather than 5, is that the paper and ink are almost of newspaper quality, so that extensive reading will tend to leave black markings on one's fingers. This does get annoying when writing papers about it and flipping around its pages.
I'm amazed at the wisdom and vision of our founding fathers
If you are going to read "The Federalist Papers," you must also read "The Anti-Federalist Papers" in order to get the complete picture. Both books cross-reference each other, and both are instrumental in understanding how our government was designed and how it was intended to work. In addition to the Papers, this edition also contains the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and an excellent introduction by Charles Kesler.
In a time when each colony had its own "constitution," the Federalists believed in creating one strong centralized government (with one Constitution) that could effectively represent the people. The authors and supporters of the Constitution knew that they could not afford to lose the vote in the state ratifying conventions. In an effort to win over his home state (New York), Alexander Hamilton, with the assistance of James Madison and John Jay, began a collection of 85 essays and published them under the pseudonym of "Publius" (named after one of the founders and heroes of the Roman republic, Publius Valerius Publicola). The Papers, published in 1787 and 1788, analyze and defend the proposed Constitution of the United States.
Obviously, the Federalists succeeded in winning the colonists' support. But even though the anti-federalists lost, their ideas were also brilliant and made an important contribution to the history of our government, which is why you should also read "The Anti-Federalist Papers."
This book is a must-read for all Americans. After reading this book, you will have a renewed appreciation and admiration for the wisdom and vision of our founding fathers.
After reading the Federalist Papers you'll understand better how this great country was created. It was the brilliant thinking and writings of a surprising few that formed the unique U.S Constitution--the foundation for the most powerful, just, and free nation on the planet.
The Papers are a series of eighty-five essays written by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison and published in various colonial publications during 1787 and 1788, just as the great Constitutional Convention takes place in Philadelphia. They cover a wide variety of topics, each designed to describe the design and justification for the new republican federal government: the House, the Senate, the Presidency, the Judiciary, States' Rights, the Bill of Rights, etc. The essays are difficult to read in today's language. The writing style is verbose and stuffed with big words. Some of the longest sentences ever written are in there. But by plowing through this national treasure, one makes these observations:
One, these guys were smart. Hamilton and Madison possessed intellects unsurpassed by anyone in our federal government before or since. They envisioned literally the entire complex structure of the government before it even existed. And two, they did their homework. They applied their great brilliance to the study of political science and the vast wealth of historical experience offered by all the countries of the world. To make their points they often reference the examples of England, France, Spain, and the ancient civilizations of Greece, Rome, and more.
After reading the Federalist Papers, one can't help but come away with a renewed sense of patriotism, a sense of awe at the rare beauty of our democracy, and a glowing appreciation for U.S. citizenship. It's amazing to me that these documents aren't more popular. I went all the way through school, and never heard of the Federalist Papers. I don't think they're appropriate in raw form for most school kids (they'd be bored to death), but we ought to at least teach that the Papers exist. Christopher Bonn Jonnes, author of Wake Up Dead.
Excellent material, difficult to read
I rate this book 5 stars because the content is so vital to understanding what our founding fathers were thinking as they tried to convince the Americans in New York that a "Foederal" government, rather than individual states or territories, was the best way to bring the new union together.
OK, now readability. Does anyone else have trouble understanding the writing style of the late 17th century? I appreciate that the book is true to the original newspaper articles, but sometimes my eyes glaze over and I lose the gist of what the author was trying to say. For example: "The disciplined armies always kept on foot on the continent of Europe, though they bear a malignant aspect to liberty and oeconomy, have notwithstanding been productive of the signal advantage, of rendering sudden conquests impracticable, and of preventing that rapid desolation, which used to mark the progress of war, prior to their introduction." I think he's saying that a standing army will prevent foreign powers from easily invading your country. But I have to do this "translation" in my head as I read each sentence, so the reading really gets bogged down.
So, this work is not something that most people can just breeze through - it takes some thought and understanding of the culture and style of the time. If there is a modern-language translation available, I would buy that as a supplement, because the content definitely is worth learning!
OK, now readability. Does anyone else have trouble understanding the writing style of the late 17th century? I appreciate that the book is true to the original newspaper articles, but sometimes my eyes glaze over and I lose the gist of what the author was trying to say. For example: "The disciplined armies always kept on foot on the continent of Europe, though they bear a malignant aspect to liberty and oeconomy, have notwithstanding been productive of the signal advantage, of rendering sudden conquests impracticable, and of preventing that rapid desolation, which used to mark the progress of war, prior to their introduction." I think he's saying that a standing army will prevent foreign powers from easily invading your country. But I have to do this "translation" in my head as I read each sentence, so the reading really gets bogged down.
So, this work is not something that most people can just breeze through - it takes some thought and understanding of the culture and style of the time. If there is a modern-language translation available, I would buy that as a supplement, because the content definitely is worth learning!
The founding fathers have much to teach us today. It is disappointing that so many of our political leaders seem to lack an understanding of the Federalist Papers, and by extension, the basics of the Constitution. Many of them would benefit greatly from a thorough reading of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and these Federalist Papers.
Under the pen-name Publius, Alexander Hamilton, with much help from James Madison and John Jay, endeavored to write the Federalist Papers as means to convince his home-state of New York to ratify the Constitution.
In the 85 papers that make up The Federalist Papers, Hamilton, Madison and Jay make an eloquent and prescient argument as to why New Yorkers should vote for ratification.
The Anti-Federalist Papers are also well worth a read to gain understanding of the counterpoint arguments to ratification. Thought they lost, the arguments, nonetheless, were instrumental in the formation of our government.
I purchased this book as a gift for a colleague who is quite the fan of all things related to the United States Constitution. He dropped a hint that he wanted a nice quality copy of The Federalist Papers for his 10 year anniversary with our firm, and this version fit the bill quite perfectly. The cover design has a nice look to it, the book feels substantial, the text is easy to read, and he was (fortunately) quite pleased upon receiving the gift.
A great revision of a classic work
Everyone who has taken a civics, government or American history class has heard of the Federalist Papers. These 85 essays, published anonymously in New York newspapers during the debate over whether New York would ratify the Constitution, are the best "footnotes" for the Framers' intent when devising the Constitution, the powers of the three branches of government, and the overall shape of the federal government. It is simply impossible to understand the Constitution without taking the time to read the Federalist Papers. And this edition has the very useful feature of cross-references in the Constitution back to the relevant essays of the Federalist Papers.
Some of the essays now seem irrelvant (i.e., the ones dealing with minting of coins). But others are just as powerful now as they were when first written - the role of the judiciary; the conduct of foreign affairs; the division of governing authority between the President and the Congress; the destructive power that special interest groups could have on the legislative process.
The Federalist Papers are often-cited by those who argue that it is the only source of interpretation of the Framers' intent. This may be true. But even the Framers themselves later argued vehemently over what their intent was. While Hamilton supported a strong centralized federal government, Madison eventually supported a weak federal government with strong states acting almost as independent sovereigns. That same political division - between states' rights supporters and strong federalists - continues today among Democrats and Republicans. Both sides cite to the Federalist Papers as supporting their respective positions. Yet neither side can conclusively resolve what the Framers' intent truly was since the Framers themselves seemed to have changed their original intentions as the political winds changed in the years following ratification of the Constitution.
This book is an essential reference guide for anyone with an interest in the American system of government. It is a valuable tool to probe the truth behind politicians' talk of "activist judges" versus "strict constructionist judges". For those who want to be educated on the topic, rely on the Federalist Papers thmselves rather than on others telling you what the Federalist Papers really mean.
Some of the essays now seem irrelvant (i.e., the ones dealing with minting of coins). But others are just as powerful now as they were when first written - the role of the judiciary; the conduct of foreign affairs; the division of governing authority between the President and the Congress; the destructive power that special interest groups could have on the legislative process.
The Federalist Papers are often-cited by those who argue that it is the only source of interpretation of the Framers' intent. This may be true. But even the Framers themselves later argued vehemently over what their intent was. While Hamilton supported a strong centralized federal government, Madison eventually supported a weak federal government with strong states acting almost as independent sovereigns. That same political division - between states' rights supporters and strong federalists - continues today among Democrats and Republicans. Both sides cite to the Federalist Papers as supporting their respective positions. Yet neither side can conclusively resolve what the Framers' intent truly was since the Framers themselves seemed to have changed their original intentions as the political winds changed in the years following ratification of the Constitution.
This book is an essential reference guide for anyone with an interest in the American system of government. It is a valuable tool to probe the truth behind politicians' talk of "activist judges" versus "strict constructionist judges". For those who want to be educated on the topic, rely on the Federalist Papers thmselves rather than on others telling you what the Federalist Papers really mean.
Kindle edition November, 27, 2010. A rip-off.
The format in a Kindle DX is awful, unreadable. Lines of different lengths, with one or two words, words broken at random points... Don't waste your money on this, it is just a pity that Kindle users do not get the respect they deserve. Buy this on paper or do not buy it at all.
"The Federalist Papers", consisting of 85 essays written by three of our founding fathers, is the quintessential explanation of why are government is the way it is, and how it was originally intended to be.
This is the stuff you learned in your high-school civics class - directly from the minds that envisioned the least imperfect government ever created. While some of the parts are now irrelevant, and some so ingrained into our culture as to no longer be questioned, many remain contentious to this very day. If you have any doubt about the meaning of the interstate commerce clause or the general welfare clause (the two of which form the justification for most modern federal powers), Madison leaves no doubt as to what they really meant at the time.
As an added bonus, this edition contains the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and helpful notes and introductions that further elucidate the thoughts of the authors. Powerful, persuasive, and important. A third of the book is absolutely necessary reading for anyone who cares about politics or government in the least. It is also a great reference, allowing one to draw powerful arguments straight from the horses' mouths.
Every American should own this book.
(In case you don't already know, this company has a put a warning on the documents that founded our country, saying that these documents don't really mean what they say.) The people who would put a warning on some of the most important documents of our history, that we should still be following today, are not the kind of people I would want to give my money to. This document is not hazardous to your health, only to the health of big, bloated governments that step on the rights of the people. Don't buy this company's publications.
Classical political work that was vital in ratification of the Constitution
When Hamilton began the Federalist papers there were many anti- Federalists in the land urging against ratification of the Constitution. It was 1787, and Hamilton enlisted John Jay and James Madison to work with him on the papers. In the end there were eighty- five papers, five written by Jay, twenty- eight( most probably) by Madison and the rest by Hamilton.
The most influential of the papers were according to Wikipedia "number 10 calling for a large strong republic and including a discussion on factions, 51 explains the need for separation of powers. Federalist No. 84 is also notable for its opposition to what later became the United States Bill of Rights."
The Federalist Papers are written with great elegance and with a deep knowledge of the history of political forms. They are one of the many proofs we have of the special greatness of the founding fathers of the American Nation.
The most influential of the papers were according to Wikipedia "number 10 calling for a large strong republic and including a discussion on factions, 51 explains the need for separation of powers. Federalist No. 84 is also notable for its opposition to what later became the United States Bill of Rights."
The Federalist Papers are written with great elegance and with a deep knowledge of the history of political forms. They are one of the many proofs we have of the special greatness of the founding fathers of the American Nation.
It's hard for us in the 21st century to get our minds around the concept of building, organizing, defending, and financing a new nation. Imagine the incredible questions that must have come into the minds of the founders of America once independence had been won! Fortunately, the new nation had a small handful of men who had the vision, pragmatism, intellect and communicative abilities: Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, specifically. With an assist from John Jay, these men mapped out the Federalist plan for the United States in pamphlets and newspaper items which, once collected, became THE FEDERALIST PAPERS.
After Charles Kesler's insightful introduction, the reader plunges into these great essays--85 of them. What emerges is an obviously biased but logical argument for a strong central government, a national army (rather than provincial, state-run militiae), and an economy based on commerce, manufactures, and banking. Each essay is a self-contained entity, but the common themes make the collection a seamless (most of the time) and unified whole.
Ironically, Madison and Hamilton would become enemies. And over time the anti-Federalists and Democratic-Republicans would endure but the influences of Jay, Hamilton, and Madison had left their marks on the new nation. Any American with an interest in how their country went from independence on paper to independence and success in practice must read THE FEDERALIST PAPERS.
After Charles Kesler's insightful introduction, the reader plunges into these great essays--85 of them. What emerges is an obviously biased but logical argument for a strong central government, a national army (rather than provincial, state-run militiae), and an economy based on commerce, manufactures, and banking. Each essay is a self-contained entity, but the common themes make the collection a seamless (most of the time) and unified whole.
Ironically, Madison and Hamilton would become enemies. And over time the anti-Federalists and Democratic-Republicans would endure but the influences of Jay, Hamilton, and Madison had left their marks on the new nation. Any American with an interest in how their country went from independence on paper to independence and success in practice must read THE FEDERALIST PAPERS.
Political Philosophy of Durability and Power
These papers plus the Declaration of Independence constitute the core political philosophy upon which America and its political institutions were founded. Heavily influenced by the ideas of Locke and Montesquieu, the three writers of the "Federalist Papers" developed potent political rhetoric designed to persuade as many politically-involved people as possible that a new constitution was needed. These men knew much of history and political philosophy, and they were not blindly led by either to embrace some narrow dogma. They had an open mind, and their sagacity told them that in order to endure the new country has to remain open to fresh ideas and experiments. Their scholastic knowledge, in short, did not lead them to abandon their practical wisdom.
These papers combine polemics and analysis, history and conjecture, hope and caution. Every American should read "The Federalist Papers," for they are the ideological "stuff" of this country. Read them, appreciate them, and think for yourself. "The Federalist Papers" are a heritage and a challenge. They endure and intrigue. They are a part of the foundation under the magnificent construction that is the United States of America.
How many Americans actually understand the Constitution and how their government was meant to function? If you are relying on the public schools and the media to give you that education, you are going to have a very great misunderstanding of what the Constitution was meant to mean and an even greater misunderstanding of how far the government of the United States today has veered from the vision of the wise men who met in Philadelphia in 1787.
These are a collection of papers that were published in New York in 1788 for the purpose of convincing the people, and through them, their representatives, to ratify the Constitution (which New York did a year later.) The papers themselves are fairly well organized discussing the basic utility of Union before a discussion of each of the three main departments of government (legislative, executive, and judicial.)
This edition has dozens of notations regarding people, places, and historical events and assemblies that the educated populace of the 1780s would be aware of, but the average person in 2006 may not be so familiar with.
One thing that I did as I was reading the book was that I was trying to consider what the three men who wrote these papers would think about these notions if they around today. It is also clear upon reflecting while reading about subsequent history, that they were wrong on a number of issues, especially considering the relative strength of the judiciary, which has in reality become arguarably the strongest of the three branches of government, not the least as argued by Hamilton.
This book should be a required text in every United States government class (senior year in high school or 101 class in college) rather than the one or two excerpts that are common fair in those watered-down classes. This book is also must reading for anyone who cares about constitutional governance.
These are a collection of papers that were published in New York in 1788 for the purpose of convincing the people, and through them, their representatives, to ratify the Constitution (which New York did a year later.) The papers themselves are fairly well organized discussing the basic utility of Union before a discussion of each of the three main departments of government (legislative, executive, and judicial.)
This edition has dozens of notations regarding people, places, and historical events and assemblies that the educated populace of the 1780s would be aware of, but the average person in 2006 may not be so familiar with.
One thing that I did as I was reading the book was that I was trying to consider what the three men who wrote these papers would think about these notions if they around today. It is also clear upon reflecting while reading about subsequent history, that they were wrong on a number of issues, especially considering the relative strength of the judiciary, which has in reality become arguarably the strongest of the three branches of government, not the least as argued by Hamilton.
This book should be a required text in every United States government class (senior year in high school or 101 class in college) rather than the one or two excerpts that are common fair in those watered-down classes. This book is also must reading for anyone who cares about constitutional governance.
Fascinating...For the Right Person
You don't need to be told that the Federalist Papers are not for everyone, but for a niche audience of which I happen to be a member. And so, the qualifications: you need to have a pretty fluent command of the English language, and not just modern usage but also more archaic structure and vocabulary; you have to have a good grasp of history, at least a rough outline of it solidly in mind; you have to have a love for politics, political science and the Constitution.
If all of that is true of you, you'll probably enjoy reading this. At least, to a point. The Federalist Papers, written mainly by "Father of the Constitution" James Madison and "Shot by Aaron Burr/Closet-Monarchist" Alexander Hamilton, is a very lengthy defense of the then-proposed Constitution, point by point. And what I mean is, they will take items over which there could be seemingly no substantial debate and then write a series of three or four essays on that point. And so, it is possible that even the die-hard history/political science buff will be bored by the thirtieth page of the debate over whether standing armies should be allowed to be kept during peace time.
The most laugh-out-loud moment (and yeah, there are a few) is when the "Interstate Commerce clause" is dismissed in a slip of a paragraph, which is, of course, one of the most important and controversial passages to the modern reading of the Constitution, forming the basis for a good deal of our current legislation. Whatever one feels about our current "construction" of the Constitution, I think a fair reading of the literature will show that it is not the same construction as that of its authors.
Not laugh-out-loud at all, however, is the roaring silence on the subject of slavery. It does come up, from time to time, but the lack of debate on these matters (there are, maybe, 2-3 pages on the 3/5 compromise and a paragraph on the ending of the slave trade) proclaims the volatility of the subject matter, even 100 years before the Civil War. Madison wasn't looking to offend his audience, after all.
Of course, all of these debates are mostly moot (with a couple of exceptions) and so the Federalist Papers are largely a historical artifact... but there is something very telling about them. That is, how incredibly learned, intelligent and eloquent our Founding Fathers really were. They debate calling on historical antiquity, philosophies ancient and modern, then-current foreign political systems, the Constitutions of the several states and the Articles of Confederation. These people knew what they were doing and it all mattered to them, very much. It's kind of sobering to see with what care and deliberation they forged this Constitution, and then to compare it with the "guardians of the flame" today who can't even seem to agree on the meaning of terms like "liberty," "democracy," or, in the case of one former President, "is." When reading, you'll wish we had Madisons and Hamiltons today, or even politicians who bothered to read them... or, maybe we do, but the general level of care and education of our country today does not allow men such as those to rise. The Federalist Papers is an interesting insight into the incredibly well-thought-out origins of our country.
If all of that is true of you, you'll probably enjoy reading this. At least, to a point. The Federalist Papers, written mainly by "Father of the Constitution" James Madison and "Shot by Aaron Burr/Closet-Monarchist" Alexander Hamilton, is a very lengthy defense of the then-proposed Constitution, point by point. And what I mean is, they will take items over which there could be seemingly no substantial debate and then write a series of three or four essays on that point. And so, it is possible that even the die-hard history/political science buff will be bored by the thirtieth page of the debate over whether standing armies should be allowed to be kept during peace time.
The most laugh-out-loud moment (and yeah, there are a few) is when the "Interstate Commerce clause" is dismissed in a slip of a paragraph, which is, of course, one of the most important and controversial passages to the modern reading of the Constitution, forming the basis for a good deal of our current legislation. Whatever one feels about our current "construction" of the Constitution, I think a fair reading of the literature will show that it is not the same construction as that of its authors.
Not laugh-out-loud at all, however, is the roaring silence on the subject of slavery. It does come up, from time to time, but the lack of debate on these matters (there are, maybe, 2-3 pages on the 3/5 compromise and a paragraph on the ending of the slave trade) proclaims the volatility of the subject matter, even 100 years before the Civil War. Madison wasn't looking to offend his audience, after all.
Of course, all of these debates are mostly moot (with a couple of exceptions) and so the Federalist Papers are largely a historical artifact... but there is something very telling about them. That is, how incredibly learned, intelligent and eloquent our Founding Fathers really were. They debate calling on historical antiquity, philosophies ancient and modern, then-current foreign political systems, the Constitutions of the several states and the Articles of Confederation. These people knew what they were doing and it all mattered to them, very much. It's kind of sobering to see with what care and deliberation they forged this Constitution, and then to compare it with the "guardians of the flame" today who can't even seem to agree on the meaning of terms like "liberty," "democracy," or, in the case of one former President, "is." When reading, you'll wish we had Madisons and Hamiltons today, or even politicians who bothered to read them... or, maybe we do, but the general level of care and education of our country today does not allow men such as those to rise. The Federalist Papers is an interesting insight into the incredibly well-thought-out origins of our country.
Both insightful analysis and great propaganda!
The Federalist papers were written as a part of the campaign to get the Constitution ratified in the American states. In New York, the final decision was in doubt, and Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote a series of essays, published in the media of the time, to convince New York to ratify the Constitution. Jay became ill, and did not participate in this project as much as Hamilton (a New Yorker) or Madison (a Virginian). In the process, their propaganda also illuminated important themes emanating from the document being debated. As a result the Federalist papers are a rich source of understanding the logic and premises of the Constitution (but keep in mind the political purpose behind these documents).
This is a fine version, with Rossiter being one of the deans of these documents. But it is the essays themselves that are most important. Let's take a look at a few issues emerging from these documents, to see what is at stake. . . .
One juxtaposition is between Federalist # 9 and # 10. # 9 was written by Hamilton, and addresses how to deal with factions and discontent: He wanted a stronger central government that could suppress such threats to stability. # 10, on the other hand, is a much more subtle effort by Madison to address the same issue (no wonder the two of them became political enemies shortly thereafter). He felt that a republic over a large area would keep factions from becoming too dominant. He was more trusting of processes than was Hamilton. If you want to understand the brilliance of Madison, read Federalist # 10; it is a seminal document.
# 47 and # 48 provide the rationale for two hallmarks of the American system: separation of powers (by which Congress, the courts, and the President have different sources of power) and checks and balances (the ability of each of the three branches to "check" the other, e.g., Presidential veto over Congressional laws or Congress being able to override said veto). #51 is even more explicit, with a near poetic turn by Madison. "Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. . . .If men were angels, no government would be necessary. . . ." In short, political figures may try to use the political system for their own advantage. By creating a government where such ambitions can be thwarted by others, you prevent evil effects of such ambition. Thus, checks and balances and separation of powers can deter misuse of power.
And there is so much more in this volume. Hamilton, in #69 and # 70 indicates why a vigorous executive (President) is a plus for the proposed government. Just so, Hamilton in # 78 speaks of the role of the Supreme Court and the whole court system.
The Federalist Papers are key documents regarding the Constitution. One must recognize their political purposes; one must understand that there are internal inconsistencies (compare, again, # 9 and # 10); one must take into account the extreme time pressures on the authors as New York's ratifying convention's meeting loomed. Nonetheless, this is an important document and provides genuine insights into the minds of the Founders.
MobileReference Version for Kindle
This review is strictly for the Kindle version of The Federalist Papers produced by MobileReference.
Simply put, haven't these guys ever heard of formatting? At all?
The version provided to me (and reloaded just before writing this review) did not contain any paragraph breaks. Each of the papers was nothing but a solid block of text--you might say a wall of text--due to the lack of paragraph breaks. Spot checks comparing a printed paperback version against this version for the Kindle showed that the problem is not merely a lack of indenting where a new paragraph begins, but the first sentence where new paragraphs are supposed to begin appear right in the middle of lines.
If you want The Federalist Papers on Kindle, and you actually want to be able to read it, choose a version from a different publisher.
Simply put, haven't these guys ever heard of formatting? At all?
The version provided to me (and reloaded just before writing this review) did not contain any paragraph breaks. Each of the papers was nothing but a solid block of text--you might say a wall of text--due to the lack of paragraph breaks. Spot checks comparing a printed paperback version against this version for the Kindle showed that the problem is not merely a lack of indenting where a new paragraph begins, but the first sentence where new paragraphs are supposed to begin appear right in the middle of lines.
If you want The Federalist Papers on Kindle, and you actually want to be able to read it, choose a version from a different publisher.
GREAT Book...everything you need, looks nice, small but not TOO small
This copy is worth every penny and more. It was such a great value. Dec of Independence, Const, Articles of Confed, etc. The one-stop-shop for the important US government works.
The Kindle Edition leaves a lot to be desired!
A problem with the reviews posted here is that they're generally not the reviews of the Kindle editions of these books. The signer edition of the Federalist Papers is one of the best, but the Kindle edition is not.
The table of contents is off. If you click on Federalist No. 10, you get Federalist No. 9. They seem to be one off starting with Federalist No. 6.
The index shows subjects but doesn't indicate where it is. The index is one of the best features of the print edition since it's very thorough.
The copy of the Constitution included in the print edition and advertised in the table of contents in this edition is supposed to show references to the relevant Federalist Paper for each section. Those are lost as well.
This is the most expensive Kindle edition of the Federalists, and really you would probably better off just emailing yourself the Project Gutenberg txt file of the Federalist.
This is the second Kindle edition of a classic text I bought where the publisher did a very poor job of creating a Kindle edition.
The table of contents is off. If you click on Federalist No. 10, you get Federalist No. 9. They seem to be one off starting with Federalist No. 6.
The index shows subjects but doesn't indicate where it is. The index is one of the best features of the print edition since it's very thorough.
The copy of the Constitution included in the print edition and advertised in the table of contents in this edition is supposed to show references to the relevant Federalist Paper for each section. Those are lost as well.
This is the most expensive Kindle edition of the Federalists, and really you would probably better off just emailing yourself the Project Gutenberg txt file of the Federalist.
This is the second Kindle edition of a classic text I bought where the publisher did a very poor job of creating a Kindle edition.
The "stars & stripes forever" book
Want to read about how the American government actually got started, and how it was originally envisioned it would work? And want to be at least mildly shocked as to how different things are today from that original, lucid, compelling, vision? Read The Federalist Papers by Hamilton, et. al. Yes, the world (& technology) have changed substantially since the founding fathers conceived of our govt, but human nature & the concepts espoused within most assuredly have not.
Read, study, and learn. There is no easier way to increase your understanding of the world & human nature! And despite the flaws in the American govt (which obviously are many & often brutally ugly), it truly is the best form of govt yet conceived of, and possibly the best which will ever be conceived of. Despite politicians.
Read, study, and learn. There is no easier way to increase your understanding of the world & human nature! And despite the flaws in the American govt (which obviously are many & often brutally ugly), it truly is the best form of govt yet conceived of, and possibly the best which will ever be conceived of. Despite politicians.
The details have already been well covered so let me just add another five star vote for must read(or for many of us reread). Whatever your political views you simply cannot understand the basis of our countries principles without working through the Federalist Papers. Step away from the bloggers and bar stool pundits(same thing really-just different delivery) and do your own homework on the founding of this great country. I am not a flag waving, rah, rah patriot type but it is hard to come away from a reading of the Federalist papers without a profound respect, admiration and in my case awe of the principles which form our government.
Lastly, this is a review of the Signet series which is very good but frankly I suggest not spending too much time worrying about which edition, publisher etc. The main point is to get a copy and start studying.
Lastly, this is a review of the Signet series which is very good but frankly I suggest not spending too much time worrying about which edition, publisher etc. The main point is to get a copy and start studying.
Required Reading for all Americans
This book really shed's some light into what the founders had in mind when the country was being developed. If half the Congress just read this book we would be better off as a nation.
Must be read to understand the U.S. Constitution
Every Citizen of the U.S. should read this book. It is the foundation of our form of government. The Declaration of Independence and the Federalist Papers contain the principals upon which the U.S. Constitution was written. Our Founding Fathers were very wise to build upon time tested principals. Their documents and arguments are as valid and important today as they were then. The Federalist Papers are proof that our nation was born out of a strong desire to do what was morally right.
Buy this book only if you want to move along the road toward knowledge and away from ignorance. I find it a tough read but an essential read if you want to understand a conservative's aversion to destroying the best Constitution ever written. If you are older than 21 years and still believe in liberal interpretations, the "papers" may help you develop a more reverant view of our real rights and the fears of the framers. A slow (almost required) read should alert you to the dangers of "finding" a right not intended or even remotely obvious in this great document (the Constitution of the United States).
Important Reading for Americans.
If you're American these papers are important reading. They were drafted by three important historical figures during the forming of the original 13 states. These papers were drawn up in order to encourage other states to join the Union. After the drafting of the Constitution of the United States in 1787, only Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey had joined. These papers appeared in New York journal's and were impassioned pleas for other states to join the Union. I am Canadian, but I read these papers with great interest. The majority of them were written by Alexander Hamilton, and he is an impassioned and charismatic writer. Good history lesson here.
I found this book to be one of the best books I ever read. Instead of giving a lay understanding of some of the arguments, I would like to note what I found exceptional about this book: the footnotes. The footnotes of this book gave detailed accounts of historical references made that shed much light on where the arguments were coming from. There is so much to be had from this book that I know I will read it at least five more times. Should be required reading by all Americans.
The is a good reference copy of The Federalist Papers and it includes The Declaration of Independence, The Articles of Confederation, and The Constitution with the amendments.
I recommend this book to those that want to learn more about The Constitution and our country's government. The Federalist Papers discuss the merits of the federal government and the intention of The Constitution. We the American people need to understand the political mindset of our country's founding so we can see how far things have gone astray. The federal government's powers are limited and specified, meaning it cannot make up the rules as it goes along. But you wouldn't know that if you simply observed its actions over the last 100 years. Understand the boundaries of federal power yourself - read The Federalist Papers!
Regarding this copy of the book, it's not heavy or bulky and would be ideal if one wants to carry it to class or anywhere else to read and study it. This Signet Classics version is very satisfactory.
I recommend this book to those that want to learn more about The Constitution and our country's government. The Federalist Papers discuss the merits of the federal government and the intention of The Constitution. We the American people need to understand the political mindset of our country's founding so we can see how far things have gone astray. The federal government's powers are limited and specified, meaning it cannot make up the rules as it goes along. But you wouldn't know that if you simply observed its actions over the last 100 years. Understand the boundaries of federal power yourself - read The Federalist Papers!
Regarding this copy of the book, it's not heavy or bulky and would be ideal if one wants to carry it to class or anywhere else to read and study it. This Signet Classics version is very satisfactory.
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THE FEDERALIST PAPERS were written by Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804), John Jay (1745-1829), and James Madison (1751-1835). Due to concerns about the New York State legislators ratifying the The U.S. Constitution, these papers were journal pieces written to New York journals and newspapers to convince both the residents and state legislators to ratify The U.S. Constitution. One should note there were other published articles supporting ratification of The U.S. Constitution and other articles can be read in a text titled FRIENDS OF THE CONSTITUTION.
What is alarming about THE FEDERALISTS PAPERS is that they were written for most readers. If one were to write such articles these days, most Americans would not read them nor comprehend them. This is a sad commentary on Americans regarding serious political writing regarding their birthright. If THE FEDERALIST PAPERS were assigned to high school kids, whoever would make such an assignment would be fired or worse.
THE FEDERALIST PAPERS give important explanations of the separation of powers, limits of each branch of the central government (The Federal Government), and how political power should be used within severe limitations. These articles were a brilliant attempt to mitigate fears that The U.S. Constitution would give far too much power to the the central or federal government.
The late Clinton Rossiter had a useful suggestion for those who did not want to read all 85 of THE FEDERALIST PAPERS. He suggested that the best numbers were 1,2,6,9,10, 14, 15, 16,23, 37, 39,47, 49, 51, 62, 70, 78, 84, and 85. Those readers who read these numbered papers would probably want to read the remainder.
This newer paperback edition of THE FEDERALIST PAPERS has some valuable features to help the reader navigate complex political thinking. The U.S. Constitution is placed in the end of the book with page numbers of the book whereby the authors of THE FEDERALIST PAPERS refer to that section of the U.S. Constitution. This gives clarity as to exactly what the authors were arguing regarding specific sections of the proposed U.S. Constitution. Another important feature of this edition of THE FEDERALIST PAPERS consists of the notes. The men who wrote THE FEDERALIST PAPERS were learned men who had seriously studied history and political thought. The notes explain the examples of Ancient Greek and Roman History used to make some of the arguments. These notes also refer to examples of Renaissance and English History which were also used to make good arguments from historical examples. One could get first rate learning experience of Ancient Greek and Roman History as well as a better view of European Renaissance and English History.
Readers should not forget that the authors of THE FEDERALIST PAPERS were responding to the Anti-Federalists and their articles titled THE ANTI-FEDERALIST PAPERS. Too often the Anti-Federalists are referred to as obstrcutionists and narrow minded men. This is simply not true. The ANTI-FEDERALIST PAPERS were as well written and brilliantly argued as THE FEDERALIST PAPERS.
One should note that one of the major objections of the Anti-Federalists to ratification of The U.S. Constitution was that it did not contain a Bill of Rights. The Federalists took this argument seriously. Basically, one could argue that without the Anti-Federalists, there would have been no Bill of Rights. Ergo, without The Bill of Rights, there would have been no U.S. Constitution. The Anti-Federalists were very important in the ratification of The U.S. Constitution.
Anyone who wants to define who Americans should be should read THE FEDERALIST PAPERS. They should also read THE ANTI-FEDERALIST PAPERS and read clear, informed, and well written political theory from men who could actually think. Most political hacks and too many American citizens are not even vaguely aware of this important political writing. Yet, this political writing is the very best American political thinking in U.S. History. This reviewer highly recommends the Rossiter-Kesler edition of THE FEDERALIST PAPERS and other editions of THE ANTI-FEDERALIST PAPERS.