The Federalist Papers summary

When Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison were writing the Federalist Papers, the unity of the newly independent American States was on the forefront of their mind.For Hamilton, Jay and Madison unity was absolutely vital. And as the states navigated the troubled waters following the American Revolution, there was always the danger that they might drift apart or become rivals, tearing the young nation asunder. 

The importance of unity against the backdrop of these threats can be best described in Hamilton's own words from his essay known as Federalist No. 9: "A firm Union will be of the utmost moment to the peace and liberty of the States." 

As we’ve just heard, Hamilton, Jay and Madison understood that unity was crucial to the success of the American state. To achieve this unity, a robust central government was needed. 

Picture this scenario: individual states dealing with foreign affairs independently, initiated according to their respective interests. Can you imagine the confusion and chaos? It would be highly unlikely that they could effectively negotiate treaties, manage foreign relations, or protect themselves independently against external threats? This is where the central government steps in.

Hamilton, Jay and Madison understood that a strong central government was crucial to the success of their new nation. But how do you stop this government from abusing its powers? The Americans had only just thrown off a tyrannical government; they didn’t want to end up with another forming in its place. 

To combat this, they promoted the idea that a government should be divided into different branches, each with the power to hold another to account. If one body holds all the power – it's very likely to devolve into tyranny, as absolute power is rarely used wisely. Power needs to be spread across various bodies.

As we’ve just seen, in a thriving democracy, it's important to find a balance of power that prevents any one segment from becoming too dominant. But this separation of power shouldn’t just be featured in the central government.

Federalism means power shared between the central government and states. It allows individual states to have a level of autonomy while still being connected to a larger governing body.

Among the strongest indicators of the stable and effective government that Hamilton, Jay and Madison desired is the ability, and commitment, to uphold and protect the property rights of its citizens. Only if a system of government is strong will property rights be upheld. This point is made clear in the Federalist Papers, most notably in essay number 54 where Madison observes, "Government is instituted no less for the protection of the property than of the persons of individuals.

Think of property rights as an unwritten social contract – citizens offer their loyalty and allegiance to the government, and in return, they expect their personal properties – intellectual not just possessions, land or wealth – to be safeguarded. Failure to uphold this arrangement can lead to public dissatisfaction and, in extreme cases, civil unrest.

When Hamilton, Jay and Madison were considering the concept of separation of powers, one of their most important concerns centered around the independence of the judiciary. The judiciary acts as a constitutional watchdog, ensuring that laws align with the Constitution and protecting individuals from any potential infringement of their rights. This independence has ultimately become a cornerstone of the democratic system.

Hamilton and Madison took up this idea notably in Federalist Paper No. 78 and No.47. They depicted a hypothetical scenario where the judiciary wasn’t independent. They argued that if the judiciary was under the sway of the legislative or executive branches, it could lead to an authoritarian system, marked by the abuse of power and potential trampling of citizens’ rights. Madison writes in Federalist Paper No. 47: “Accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands…may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny,” 

Throughout the Federalist Papers, Hamilton and Madison wrestle with how to strike a balance between liberty and power. They knew that an overly powerful government should be feared as it can lead to tyranny, but also that unbridled liberty can lead to anarchy. The trick is for a government to maintain a fine equilibrium between these two.

In Federalist No. 51, Madison famously declared, "In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself." This precisely encapsulates the idea of balancing liberty and power. Giving too much power to the government could limit individual liberties and represent a threat to freedom, but giving too much liberty could lead to disorder and chaos.