Books That Matter: The Federalist Papers

Understanding The Federalist Papers starts with knowing who wrote them; going back to 1787 to meet Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay to find out what challenges they face in communicating the need for the new U.S. Constitution.

The framers of the Constitution of the U.S. believe pure democracy is something to be feared for the way it will lead to the rise of factions; learning if it is possible to create a new model that offers the benefits of representative democracy.

When the framers gather in Philadelphia to write a new constitution, they represent a loose federation of nation-states; their original charge is to modify the Articles of Confederation; examining the compromises that Madison and Hamilton make.

Learning how the American federal system is formed despite the challenges of 1787; the framers solve the issues; reviewing the powers of the federal government; exploring how power is balanced between the states and the federal government.

The new constitution gives the federal government the ability to determine the scope of its own powers; learning the checks the system places on the federal government and who gets to decide if the federal government has violated its powers.

The idea of popular sovereignty reshapes the relationship between the states and the federal government; learning the relationship of the states to the federal government; studying how the institution of slavery is the catalyst for a crisis.