American History: A Survey (Brinkley), 13th Edition

Chapter 6: THE CONSTITUTION AND THE NEW REPUBLIC

Primary Sources

1
The series of essays known as The Federalist Papers was published anonymously, over the pen name Publius. In fact, they were the work of three men: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. The Federalist No. 1, written by Hamilton, summarizes the purposes of the papers to come. How does this excerpt reflect not only what the Federalists wanted to promote, but also how they wanted to head off objections to the Constitution that were already beginning to surface? From your readings in the text, what were these objections?

The Federalist Papers

2
The document to be studied is the Constitution of the United States and its first twelve amendments. First, read the Constitution in the Appendices to your text; then, consider the following.

Constitution Questions

3
Once the Constitution was ratified, the debate over the Bank of the United States moved to center stage, and some historians have suggested that it was this issue that divided the Jeffersonians and the Hamiltonians into "parties." Below is an excerpt from Alexander Hamilton's view on the constitutionality of the Bank.

Alexander Hamilton

4
Here is Thomas Jefferson's opinion of the constitutionality of the Bank. On what did Hamilton and Jefferson differ? Was there room for compromise? What interests in the nation supported each side? What does this suggest about the supporters of the two emerging political parties?

Thomas Jefferson

5
Arguably the most famous essays from The Federalist Papers are James Madison's Federalist 10 and 51. What is Madison's explanation of factions here, and what is his novel solution for remedying them? How do his arguments relate to the tenets of revolutionary republicanism? What strategies does he employ here to refute the possible arguments of the Antifederalists?

http://www.foundingfathers.info/federalistpapers/fed10.htm

http://www.foundingfathers.info/federalistpapers/fed51.htm

6
Here are George Washington's First Inaugural Address (1789) and Farewell Address (1796). What do they tell us about Washington's concerns about his new office and his new nation? Where does he foresee trouble in the years ahead? Does Washington's outlook seemed to have changed at all during his two terms, and if so, how?

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=11&page=transcript

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=15&page=transcript

7
These are President John Adams' notorious Alien and Sedition Acts. What powers do they grant the American executive? What language do the writers use to explain the necessity of these acts? Can the political feud between Federalists and Republicans be discerned in these pieces of legislation?

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/alien.asp

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/sedact.asp

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