Antiquity in "The Federalist Papers"

Seminar Paper , 2014 , 15 Pages , Grade: 1,3

Politics - Region: USA

The significance of antiquity and of examples drawn from antiquity during the American founding era is contested among scholars. While Hannah Arendt asserted that without the classical example the American revolutionaries, ''conscious of emulating ancient virtue,'' would not have had the courage to rebel, Bernard Bailyn famously suggested that frequent references to antiquity were merely ''illustrative, not determinative'' of revolutionary thought. As familiarity with antiquity was evident during the Revolutionary War, it is less clear what role it played in the construction of the new American regime under the constitution of 1787, a time during which not virtuous warfare but positive political philosophy was called for. Hence, a thorough examination of The Federalist shall serve to illuminate the extent to which the founding generation's political science was inspired by ancient precedent, resulting in the conclusion that examples drawn from antiquity did not supersede those drawn from other periods in human history, and that therefore no unique or special status can be ascribed to antiquity in this context.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Antiquity in The Federalist Papers
• The Pseudonym of Publius
• The Understanding of Human Nature in The Federalist
• The Utility and Desirability of Union Among the American States
• Ancient History and the Concept of War
• The Science of Politics
• The Remedy to Faction
• The Inadequacy of the Articles of Confederation

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This text aims to illuminate the extent to which the founding generation's political science was inspired by ancient precedent. It analyzes The Federalist Papers to determine the role antiquity played in shaping the American republic, arguing that ancient examples, while influential, were not the sole source of inspiration. The text focuses on the following key themes:

• The influence of classical thought and rhetoric on the American founding fathers.
• The use of ancient pseudonyms and their significance in shaping political identity during the Revolutionary era.
• The role of historical examples in shaping the understanding of human nature and the potential for self-government.
• The application of ancient precedents to contemporary issues such as the need for union, the causes of war, and the dangers of faction.
• The relationship between ancient political thought and the development of modern political science.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Antiquity in The Federalist Papers: This chapter introduces the debate among scholars regarding the significance of antiquity in the American founding era. It argues that while references to antiquity were prevalent, they did not necessarily dictate revolutionary thought.
• The Pseudonym of Publius: This chapter examines the choice of the pseudonym "Publius" by the authors of The Federalist, highlighting its connection to Roman history and the widespread use of classical pseudonyms during the American Revolution.
• The Understanding of Human Nature in The Federalist: This chapter analyzes the authors' view of human nature as problematic but capable of self-government. It compares their interpretation to the classical understanding of human nature, emphasizing the role of historical examples in supporting their arguments.
• The Utility and Desirability of Union Among the American States: This chapter examines the first main objective of The Federalist, which is to advocate for the utility and desirability of union among the American states. It highlights how the authors use historical examples, including those from ancient Greece, to support their argument for a unified republic.
• Ancient History and the Concept of War: This chapter discusses how the authors utilize historical examples, including those from ancient Athens and Sparta, to illuminate the inevitability of war and the need for a strong national defense. It argues that the ancient examples serve as cautionary tales rather than models to be emulated.
• The Science of Politics: This chapter explores the authors' distinction between ancient and modern political science, highlighting their belief that modern political science has made significant progress toward perfection. It argues that the authors viewed ancient political systems as imperfect and prone to instability.
• The Remedy to Faction: This chapter examines James Madison's argument in the tenth Federalist, where he proposes a republican remedy to the dangers of faction. It explores how his argument draws upon, but also departs from, ancient precedents, particularly the Athenian democracy.
• The Inadequacy of the Articles of Confederation: This chapter analyzes Hamilton's argument for the need to strengthen the federal government. It highlights his use of examples from the Lycian and Achaean confederacies to illustrate successful models of federalism.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The text focuses on the historical influence of antiquity on the American founding, specifically examining The Federalist Papers as a lens through which to analyze the role of ancient precedents in shaping the new American regime. Key themes include classical republicanism, human nature, the dangers of faction, the necessity of union, and the relationship between ancient and modern political science. The text also delves into the use of classical pseudonyms, the concept of historical examples, and the authors' engagement with ancient philosophers and historians such as Thucydides, Plato, and Aristotle.

• Course: The Federalist
• Grade: 1,3
• Author: Moritz Mücke (Author)
• Publication Year: 2014
• Pages: 15
• Catalog Number: V286180
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656863441
• ISBN (Book): 9783656863458
• Language: English
• Tags: The Federalist, The Federalist Papers, Classics, Antiquity, Antike, Politik, Politics, Founding Fathers, Publius, Madison, Hamilton, Jay, Federalism, Athens, Rome, USA, America, American Politics, Constitution, 1787, 1788, Constitutional Convention