Category — Alexander Hamilton

In Federalist No. 15 Hamilton makes further arguments about the utility of retaining the Union. What is more interesting, however, is his commentary on foreign policy.   Read the rest of this entry »

Federalist No. 13 is short but surprisingly interesting for a look into Hamilton's brilliant political perceptions. In this essay, Hamilton is again arguing for the efficacy of maintaining the Union. This time his argument revolves around the economies of scale to be realized in one government rather than in several confederacies. Along the way he predicts that should the union be dismembered, it would be split between North and South.   Read the rest of this entry »

In Federalist No. 12, Hamilton shows how a consolidated federal government would be more able to raise revenue than separate States or confederacies. He also previews some of his later actions as Treasury Secretary, including the creation of a "coast guard" and a tax on whiskey.   Read the rest of this entry »

A quick summary of the 9th Annual Bill of Rights celebration at the Wrigley Mansion with Gary Johnson as a keynote speaker.   Read the rest of this entry »

Federalist Number 11 is yet another one of Hamilton's arguments for Union and the advantages it holds. In this paper Hamilton explores its benefits to commerce and the greater ability of a unified nation to field a strong navy. He concludes with some humorous jibes at European arrogance.   Read the rest of this entry »

Whose government is it anyway? The first words of the Constitution refer to "We the People" as the source of government and the Founders went to great lengths to limit the power that government could exercise in our name. But somewhere between then and now something went terribly wrong.   Read the rest of this entry »

Federalist No. 9 is Hamilton's response to the common Anti-Federalist argument based on the theories of Montesquieu, who seemed to say in his The Spirit of the Laws that republics can only be successfully implemented in small territories. Hamilton dives deeper into Montesquieu's writing for his answer.   Read the rest of this entry »

Joel over at Today's History Lesson has a nice piece on Federalist No. 10.   Read the rest of this entry »

Federalist No. 8 is another essay in which Hamilton argues for maintaining the Union (and ratification of the Constitution as the best means of doing so.) In it he depicts the likelihood of hostilities between separate states or confederacies and the consequent curtailment of liberty.   Read the rest of this entry »

Federalist No. 7 is another Hamilton authored essay arguing for Union and against separate State sovereignties or confederacies. It is a continuation of previous arguments in Nos. 5 and 6.   Read the rest of this entry »