The Federalist : a classic on federalism and free government

The Federalist - a treatise on free government in peace and security - is one of the most important contributions to the literature on constitutional democracy and federalism in the United States. Scholars, lawyers, judges, and statesmen in the United States and abroad have lauded the impact of The Federalist. John Quincy Adams referred to the papers as a "classical work in the English language, and a commentary on the Constitution of the United States, of scarcely less authority than the Constitution itself." Since the publication of the papers, historians have analyzed the collected work from a variety of approaches, but at the time that Gottfried Dietze wrote in 1960, scholars mainly concentrated on specific components of The Federalist. Dietze intervened in this scholarship by offering a comprehensive study of the work, which promoted federalism as both a means for establishing free government and securing peace within a federal state and for maintaining security under the threat of foreign powers. In addition to a theoretical examination of the text, Dietze brings in a historical component by fleshing out how its authors were shaped by the political atmosphere in which they lived and how their writings transformed political literature for generations to come. INTRODUCTION CHAPTER ONE: The Federalist - A General Appreciation I. The General Importance of the Work II. The Federalist in Literature III. The Right Approach to the Federalist BOOK ONE: HISTORICAL SETTING CHAPTER TWO: The American Revolution and Union I. Union for Security from Foreign Powers II. Union for Peace in America III. Union for Free Government IV. Summary CHAPTER THREE: The Federalist - An Outgrowth of the American Revolution I. John Jay II. James Madison III. Alexander Hamilton IV. Conclusion BOOK TWO: ANALYSIS PART ONE: THE FEDERALIST AS A TREATISE ON FREE GOVERNMENT CHAPTER FOUR: Jay on Free Government I. Jay’s Fear of Democracy and Faction II. The Nature of Man III. Union as a Means for Free Geveraient IV. Conclusion CHAPTER FIVE: Madison on Free Government I. The Nature of Free Government II. Theoretical Realization of Free Government III. The Negation of Free Government IV. The Realization of Free Government CHAPTER SIX: Hamilton on Free Government I. The Nature of Free Government II. Theoretical Realization of Free Government III. The Negation of Free Government IV. The Realization of Free Government under the Constitution PART TWO: THE FEDERALIST AS A TREATISE ON PEACE AND SECURITY CHAPTER SEVEN: The Federalist on Peace I. The Problem of Peace among Independent States II. The Problem of pence in Ooniederarions III. Solution of the Problem through Federalism IV. Conclusion V. The Problem of Peace among Independent American States VI. The Problem of peace in the American Confederation VII. Solution of the Problem through Federalism VIII. Conclusion CHAPTER EIGHT: The Federalist on Security I. The Problem of Security among Independent States II. The Problem of Security in Confederations III. Solution of the Problem through Federalism IV. Conclusion V. The Problem of Security for independent American States VI. The Problem of Security in the American Confederation VII. Solution of the Problem through Federalism VIII. Conclusion PART THREE: FINAL REMARKS CHAPTER NINE: Analysis of the Federalist - Conclusions I. The Nature of Man II. The Nature of the Union III. The Split Personality IV. Amendment and Judicial Review V. Revolution, Nullification, and Secession VI. Concluding Remark BOOK THREE: THEORETICAL SETTING CHAPTER TEN: The Federalist - Its Roots and Contributions I. Origin and Originality of the Federalist's Concept of Federalism II. Origin and Originality of the Federalist's Concept of Constitutionalism CONCLUSION I. The Ideals of the Federalist II. The Decline of the Values of the Federalist III. The Prospect for the Ideas of the Federalist

"Nobody has quite done what Dr. Dietze has attempted and has achieved... For there is no book quite like the admirable, closely argued, and learned one that he has just produced."--Economist

"A comprehensive and scholarly treatment of the political ideas of The Federalist--their lineaments, their historical and theoretical roots, and their significance--which demonstrates that Dietze has mastered not only The Federalist but the American political idiom as well.--Review of Politics

"Easily among the most perceptive and scholarly treatments of the... essays."--Law Library Journal

"Dietze not only analyzes The Federalist but also synthesizes most Federalist research, reflecting a profound understanding of political thought as well as knowledge of world scholarship on federalism and constitutionalism... Few flaws mar the book's symmetry, precision, and profundity... No political theorist or student of democracy can afford to miss it."--Journal of Politics

"It is fantastic to note that Gottfried Dietze's The Federalist is the first book ever written on the subject in this country."--Harper's

"A much-needed analysis... For those who wish to know what at least three of the Founding Fathers really thought, this is a must."--Washington Post

First published in 1960 and reissued through seven successful printings, this widely acclaimed classic of American political studies now returns to print in a new paperback edition.

The present study attempts to analyze the Federalist as a classic on federalism and constitutional democracy. It tries to show the contribution of the work to the literature on federal government by demonstrating how the essays advance beyond the orthodox conception of the purpose of federation, by advocating federalism not only as a means for maintaining the security of the federating states from foreign powers or peace among the members, but also—and especially —as a means for securing the individual’s freedom from governmental control. Federalism is thus elevated to a form of constitutionalism. It will be shown that the authors believed in the constitutional ideal of free government. This ideal implied to them a popular government which, for the sake of the rights of the individual and the minority, is restricted under law, i.e., where the democratic principle of popular participation in government, as a mere means, is subordinate to the liberal principle of the protection of the individual, as the end. The Federalist thus emerges as a treatise on a broadened concept of federalism, as a classic on free government in peace and security. A scholarly treatment of the political ideas of "The Federalist" - their lineaments, their historical and theoretical roots, and their significance. The author also synthesizes "Federalist" research in his analysis of the American political idiom. "First published in 1960 and reissued through seven successful printings, this widely acclaimed classic of American political studies now returns to print in a new paperback edition."--BOOK JACKET