Exploring
History, Philosophy, & Politics
Essays, articles, and books on important topics and events in U.S. history
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"The Safest Course for Your Liberty": How The Federalist Changed the Constitutional Conversation
Learn how The Federalist reflects the original vision of the Founders
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October 27 marked the 232nd anniversary of the publication of Federalist No. 1 in 1787. Written by Alexander Hamilton under the pseudonym Publius, it was the first of a series of seventy-seven articles written by Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison to appear in The Independent Journal and The New York Packet. These seventy-seven articles, along with eight additional articles, became The Federalist.
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By addressing the relevant concerns of the average antifederalist, the Papers served to ensure the ratification of the new Constitution and, as Publius stated, “the safest course for your liberty, your dignity, and your happiness.”
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The resulting body of work became what Thomas Jefferson deemed “the best commentary on the principles of government, which ever was written.” Long after the ratification of the Constitution, citizens referred to The Federalist as an authority when discerning the true meaning of the Framers. Even in contemporary times, scholars return to The Federalist while studying American political theory: political scientist Clinton Rossiter echoed Jefferson in calling The Federalist “the most important work in political science that has ever been written, or is likely ever to be written in the United States.”
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In honor of this foundational piece of American political thought, we put together a collection of articles and online resources so you can explore The Federalist, its development, and contemporary perspectives on its significance.
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The JMC First Amendment Library
The JMC's First Amendment Library features some of the most impactful Federalist Papers, including Federalist Nos. 10, 38, 51, and 84. In relation to our constitution's Bill of Rights, Federalist No. 84 offers a defense of the Constitutional Convention’s decision at the time to omit a bill of rights, and therefore not to recognize explicitly the freedom of speech or press.
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The Anti-Federalist Papers
The Constitution Society has gathered together some of the most-widely read arguments made against the ratification of the Constitution. Collectively, these writings have come to be known as the Anti-Federalist Papers and contain warnings that the proposed Constitution did not adequately provide against the danger of tyranny.
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The Federalist Papers: A Library of Congress Research Guide
The Library of Congress provides several primary documents responding to The Federalist Papers. Included in the collection is a letter from George Washington to Alexander Hamilton predicting that the Papers would be “always interesting to mankind so long as they shall be connected in Civil Society.”
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Will you join us in the effort?
Our impact is expanding. As of this fall, one million students have been taught by a JMC fellow. Help us ensure many more young citizens learn about America's history and its founding principles.
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About the Jack Miller Center
The Jack Miller Center is a 501(c)(3) public charity with the mission to reinvigorate education in America's founding principles and history. We work to advance the teaching and study of America's history, its political and economic institutions, and the central principles, ideas and issues arising from the American and Western traditions—all of which continue to animate our national life.
We support professors and educators through programs, resources, fellowships and more to help them teach our nation's students.
www.jackmillercenter.org
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