Federalist Papers + Brutus Essays

What are the federalist papers?

• Written to convince people to approve the constitution

• Authors:

  • Alexander Hamilton

  • James Madison

  • John Jay

Fed 10

• Factions (groups with different interests) are dangerous, but a large republic helps control them

• In a large country, there are lots of factions that compete and cancel each other out so 1 doesn’t dominate

• Bigger republic=better protection against tyranny of majority

Fed 51

• Checks and Balances check eachother

• Tells people that checks and balances can prevent tyranny

Fed 78

• Hamilton tells people that the judicial branch is the weakest because:

  • No money (purse)

  • No army (sword)

• It is only there to interpret laws and protect the constitution

• Main idea: courts HAVE to be independent from Congress and executive branch (good behavior)

Fed 70

• Talks about the need for a strong and energetic president

  • one leader=faster decisions

  • more accountability

  • better national security

• Strong executive=effective government

Brutus 1

• Argues that it is a too big of a country to represent everyone

• National government is too strong and power will become centralized, states will lose power

• judges can override states, no one can stop them

• Strong national government=danger to freedom