One United People: The Federalist Papers and the National IdeaThe Federalist and the Constitution, whose cause it defended, were created amid the turmoil of political controversy. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, authors of The Federalist, were not theorists but fervent partisans in a campaign to gain acceptance—by no means a sure thing at that time—for the new plan of national government which they themselves had largely shaped. Their essays were immediately popular, were quickly collected and reissued in book form, and soon came to be recognized in America and Europe as a landmark in political theory—the basic blueprint for the American system of government. In this new, provocative study, Edward Millican argues persuasively that the authors of The Federalist were not merely laying the groundwork for the American system but were setting forth the principles for the creation of a modern nation-state. He defends this thesis through a systematic analysis of the entire body of The Federalist, taking up each essay and showing how its contents relate to the idea of nationalism. Millican is one of few critics to examine the essays in this thoroughgoing fashion. He concludes that they do not constitute an apologia for states' rights, nor do they establish a passive government that would protect the rich and the privileged. In advancing these ideas, he takes decided issue with many scholars and commentators, including Ronald Reagan and the New Federalists. In One United People, Edward Millican puts forth one of the clearest and ablest expositions of The Federalist now in print. His vigorous advocacy of the theme of nationalism is bound to be controversial. But his reading of this classic of political theory will be one that future commentators must account for. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 81
... Nation-State 41 4 Jay Describes a Nation 58 5 Hamilton Aims to Centralize 78 6 Madison Argues for a National Regime 113 7 Madison Separates the Powers 146 8 Hamilton Provides Leadership 172 9 Publius the Nationalist 209 10 The ...
... States Constitution, which was then being considered by state ratifying conventions. The widely admired essays were ... nation would have been affected in a major way, and probably not for the better. John Jay, less well known to the ...
... national supremacy” and an equally “abiding distrust of state sovereignty.”7 Primarily, the nationalistinterpretation of The Federalist seems to appeal to certain liberals and to those scholars, whatever their personal political ...
... nation-state, and Publius never claims that it will. He acknowledges, in fact he insists, that the states retain considerable power under the scheme of the Convention. If anything, he is inclined to exaggerate the federal aspects of the ...
... national revolution similar to the others that have swept the world in the last ... state, on the model of the polis of the ancient Greeks. Yet, in spite of ... nation, while preserving the popular character of the American regime as a ...
Contents
1 | |
22 | |
41 | |
4 Jay Describes a Nation | 58 |
5 Hamilton Aims to Centralize | 77 |
6 Madison Argues for a National Regime | 113 |
7 Madison Separates the Powers | 146 |
8 Hamilton Provides Leadership | 172 |
9 Publius the Nationalist | 209 |
10 The Significance of The Federalist | 230 |
Notes | 246 |
Bibliography | 256 |
Index | 262 |