The Federalist Papers

by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay, Isaac Kramnick (Editor)

Overview

Written at a time when furious arguments were raging about the best way to govern America, The Federalist Papers had the immediate pratical aim of persuading New Yorkers to accept the newly drafted Constitution in 1787. In this they were supremely successful, but their influence also transcended contemporary debate to win them a lasting place in discussions of American political theory. Acclaimed by Thomas Jefferson as 'the best commentary on the principles of government which ever was written', The Federalist Papers make a powerful case for power-sharing between State and Federal authorities and for a Constitution that has endured largely unchanged for two hundred years.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780141908168
Publisher:	Penguin UK
Publication date:	04/30/1987
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	528
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	3 Months

About the Author

Isaac Kramnick is Professor of Government at Cornell and introduced the new edition of Democracy in America for Penguin Classics.

Read an Excerpt

The Federalist No. 1: Hamilton
(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "The Federalist Papers"
by .
Copyright © 2012 Alexander Hamilton.
Excerpted by permission of Penguin Publishing Group.
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Table of Contents

	Introduction	vii
	Chronology of the Lives of Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay	xxi
	Historical Context of The Federalist Papers	xxv
	The Federalist	1
	The Constitution of the United States	631
	Notes	658
	Interpretive Notes	677
	Critical Excerpts	684
	Questions for Discussion	699
	Suggestions for the Interested Reader	701
	Index	703

Editorial Reviews

In 1787 and 1788, these articles argued, with great clarity and prescience, for the ratification of the Constitution and for a strong federal government.”

Audiofile

In 1787 and 1788, these articles argued, with great clarity and prescience, for the ratification of the Constitution and for a strong federal government—an issue debated in blood in the 1860s and still being debated today. Arthur Morey’s voice sounds a bit weak and strained—though he’s a precise and nimble reader, enunciating well and giving the sometimes difficult sentences emphasis and intonation that help convey their meaning. His reading might actually make the text more understandable except that—given the complex, formal language—it goes a bit too fast. Listeners not familiar with the Papers or with writing of the period may miss quite a bit and be left unsatisfied by an otherwise able reading of a difficult text. W.M. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

JUNE 2011 - AudioFile