Jonah Patel
The United States Constitution was written in 1787, just four years after the Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolution. Alexander Hamilton and James Madison were two of its key authors, with Madison advocating for constitutional principles of separation of powers, checks and balances, bicameralism, and federalism, which would limit government and protect individual liberties. Hamilton, meanwhile, preferred a constitutional monarchy, but he was nonetheless instrumental in the Constitution's ratification and interpretation, writing more than 50 of the 85 essays collectively known as the Federalist Papers, which encouraged Americans to adopt the newly written Constitution and its stronger central government.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for a new constitution | Economic and political unrest following the American Revolution |
| Who wrote the new constitution | Madison, Hamilton, John Jay, and George Washington |
| What was written | 85 articles and essays known as the Federalist Papers |
| Purpose of the Federalist Papers | To promote the ratification of the United States Constitution |
| Pseudonym | Publius |
| Number of essays written by Hamilton | More than 50 |
| Number of essays written by Madison | Fewer than 20 |
| Madison's plan | Favored the large states and gave enormous power to a new federal government |
| Madison's advocacy | Separation of powers, checks and balances, bicameralism, and federalism |
| Hamilton's preference | Constitutional monarchy |
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What You'll Learn
Madison's 'Virginia Plan'
Madison and Hamilton wanted a new constitution to address the economic and political unrest following the American Revolution. They believed that a strong central government was the solution to America's problems. Madison, in particular, advocated for constitutional principles of separation of powers, checks and balances, bicameralism, and federalism, which would limit government and protect individual liberties.
Now, onto Madison's Virginia Plan.
James Madison, a delegate from Virginia, believed that a strong central government was the solution to America's problems. He felt that Congress needed compulsory taxation authority, as well as the power to regulate foreign and interstate commerce. To prevent state interference with the national government's authority, Madison argued for a way to enforce national supremacy, such as an explicit right of Congress to use force against non-compliant states and the creation of a national court system.
The Virginia Plan, also known as the Randolph Plan or the Large-State Plan, was a proposed plan of government for the United States presented at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The plan was drafted by James Madison and Edmund Randolph and called for the creation of a supreme national government with three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The legislative branch would consist of two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The plan also introduced the idea of population-weighted representation in the proposed national legislature, giving more votes to states with larger populations.
The Virginia Plan went through several revisions before it was finalized. The original proposition consisted of 15 resolutions and advocated for a strong central government. The first resolution called for enlarging and correcting the Articles of Confederation, which were seen as needing correction and enlargement to achieve their original purpose of providing for the "common defence, security of liberties, and general welfare". The second resolution suggested that the population count for determining representation in government should be based on either "quotas of contribution" (a state's wealth and taxes) or the number of free inhabitants, excluding the enslaved population.
The Virginia Plan played a significant role in setting the agenda for debate at the Constitutional Convention and laid the groundwork for the eventual creation of the United States Constitution.
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Hamilton's financial plan
Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury, proposed a set of measures to address the financial chaos created by the American Revolution. States had accumulated significant war debts, and the economy was facing runaway inflation. Hamilton's financial plan, also known as the Hamiltonian economic program, aimed to transform the American economy and address these pressing issues.
Hamilton's vision for the economic foundation of the United States included three main components. Firstly, he proposed the federal assumption of state debts, which was a controversial idea as many southerners objected to paying the debts of New Englanders. Secondly, he envisioned the creation of a Bank of the United States, modelled after the Bank of England, to standardize American currency and manage inflation. This proposal also faced opposition, with critics arguing that it was unconstitutional. However, with the support of President George Washington, the bank was established, with its first headquarters in Philadelphia.
The third aspect of Hamilton's financial plan focused on supporting the nation's emerging industries and breaking free from Britain's manufacturing hold. He advocated for high tariffs, government bounties, subsidies, and improvements in transportation to protect American industries from foreign competition. Hamilton believed in a strong central government and linked democratic impulses with potential anarchy. His plans often benefited the economic elite and threatened to reinforce geographic and class differences.
Hamilton's financial system also included innovative solutions to deal with public credit. He proposed a plan to tax distilled spirits and other domestic goods to increase revenue, although this sparked the Whiskey Rebellion. Additionally, he foresaw the use of bonds as instruments of industry and commerce, but this idea was met with objections from taxpayers who felt it rewarded speculators. Despite the controversies, Hamilton's plans were largely accepted, and he played a pivotal role in shaping the modern capitalist economy of the United States.
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Federalist Papers
The Federalist Papers are a collection of 85 articles and essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the pseudonym "Publius". The papers were written to promote the ratification of the United States Constitution and its stronger central government.
Hamilton, Madison, and Jay were nationalists who believed that the Articles of Confederation, which had governed the United States since the American Revolution, were inadequate. Madison, in particular, believed that the Articles of Confederation allowed tyrannical majorities in the states to pass unjust laws that violated the rights of numerical minorities. He had witnessed this oppression of religious dissenters in his home state of Virginia and became the leading advocate for the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.
In 1787, Madison wrote an essay entitled "Vices of the Political System," which detailed the flaws of the Articles of Confederation. He then developed the Virginia Plan, which greatly strengthened the power of the central government and laid the groundwork for the debates at the Constitutional Convention. Madison's plan, which favored the large states, became the nationalists' opening line of debate at the convention. After four months of debate and compromise, the Constitution of 1787 emerged.
Hamilton and Madison worked together to defend the new Constitution and promote its ratification. They collaborated on The Federalist Papers, with Hamilton writing more than 50 essays and Madison fewer than 20. The papers were published as a series of newspaper articles and pamphlets under the pseudonym "Publius." They were influential in convincing the Washington administration to assume national and state debts, pass tax laws, and create a central bank, moves that undoubtedly saved the fledgling democracy.
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Checks and balances
The creation of the US Constitution was driven by economic and political unrest following the American Revolution. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay, and George Washington led a group of nationalists who sought to address these issues through a new federal Constitution. Hamilton and Madison played crucial roles in this process, advocating for specific principles and ideas that shaped the final document.
One of the key contributions of James Madison was his development of the system of checks and balances. Checks and balances are a fundamental aspect of the US Constitution, designed to limit government power and protect individual liberties. This system ensures that no single branch of government holds excessive power and acts as a safeguard against tyranny and injustice.
Madison recognised the flaws in the Articles of Confederation, which granted excessive power to state majorities, often resulting in the violation of the rights of numerical minorities. He proposed the Virginia Plan, which significantly strengthened the power of the central government and served as a foundation for the debates at the Constitutional Convention.
The system of checks and balances was designed to prevent the concentration of power in any one branch of government. It ensures that each branch has the ability to limit or "check" the power of the other branches, creating a balanced distribution of power. This system also upholds the principle of separation of powers, dividing the government into legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
The legislative branch, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives, is responsible for making laws. The Senate, with its equal representation for each state, acts as a check on the House of Representatives, where representation is based on state population. This bicameral legislature ensures that laws are passed with the concurrence of a majority of both the people and the states, preventing the marginalisation of smaller states.
The executive branch, led by the President, is responsible for enforcing the laws. The President has the power to veto legislation passed by Congress, acting as a check on the legislative branch. However, this veto power can be overridden by a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress, demonstrating the ability of the legislative branch to check the executive power.
The judicial branch, headed by the Supreme Court, interprets the laws and ensures their constitutionality. It serves as a check on both the legislative and executive branches by reviewing and striking down laws or executive actions that violate the Constitution. This power of judicial review ensures that the other branches adhere to the limits set by the Constitution.
The system of checks and balances established by Madison aimed to create a government that was both effective and accountable. By dividing powers and providing mechanisms for each branch to limit the excesses of the others, the US Constitution established a framework that has endured and continues to shape American governance.
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Anti-Federalist opposition
The Anti-Federalists, who opposed Madison and Hamilton's new constitution, included small farmers and landowners, shopkeepers, and laborers. They favored strong state governments, a weak central government, the direct election of government officials, short term limits for officeholders, accountability by officeholders to popular majorities, and the strengthening of individual liberties. They were also pro-French when it came to foreign affairs.
The Anti-Federalists feared that the new constitution gave too much power to the federal government and wanted to protect individual liberties. They argued against the implementation of a stronger federal government without protections on certain rights. They also believed that the original draft of the Constitution declared all state laws subservient to federal ones and created a king-like office in the presidency. They wanted a Bill of Rights to be included in the Constitution, a list of 10 constitutional amendments that secure the basic rights and privileges of American citizens, including the right to free speech, the right to a speedy trial, the right to due process under the law, and protections against cruel and unusual punishments.
The Anti-Federalists published a series of articles and delivered numerous speeches against the ratification of the Constitution, which have come to be known collectively as The Anti-Federalist Papers. These were written by a variety of authors who utilized pen names to remain anonymous, including Cato (likely George Clinton), Brutus (likely Melancton Smith, Robert Yates, or perhaps John Williams), Centinel (Samuel Bryan), and the Federal Farmer (either Melancton Smith, Richard Henry Lee, or Mercy Otis Warren). The Anti-Federalist Papers were written over a number of years, starting on 25 September 1787 (eight days after the final draft of the US Constitution) and running through the early 1790s.
The Anti-Federalists failed to prevent the adoption of the Constitution, but their efforts were not entirely in vain. Their arguments influenced the creation of the Bill of Rights, which has become the most important part of the Constitution for most Americans. The Bill of Rights has been cited to protect the free speech of civil rights activists, protect Americans from unlawful government surveillance, and grant citizens Miranda rights during arrest.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitutional Convention was tasked with revising the Articles of Confederation, but the delegates, including Hamilton, decided to scrap the Articles entirely and create a new constitution.
Madison believed that the Articles of Confederation allowed majority tyranny in the states, where the rights of numerical minorities were violated. He also advocated for constitutional principles of separation of powers, checks and balances, bicameralism, and federalism, which would limit government and protect individual liberties.
Hamilton played a somewhat limited role in creating the Constitution. However, he was instrumental in its ratification and interpretation, leading the collaboration with Madison and John Jay on the Federalist Papers—a collection of 85 articles and essays written under the pseudonym "Publius" to promote the ratification of the United States Constitution.
The Federalist Papers were a collection of 85 articles and essays written by Hamilton, Madison, and John Jay. Largely influenced by Hamilton's ideas, the papers encouraged Americans to adopt the newly written Constitution and its stronger central government.
Madison joined Hamilton and Jay in writing the Federalist Papers to help turn public opinion toward ratification. He wrote fewer than 20 of the 85 essays.
