How to Read the Federalist Papers

by Anthony Peacock

This work from the Heritage Foundation is available through Amazon.

What are the key themes of the Federalist Papers, the most important documents explaining and defending the U.S. Constitution? Anthony Peacock reviews these papers and discusses their themes of individual rights, political union, republicanism, citizenship, the separation of powers, and federalism.

This book works well for one meeting. Suggested review questions follow.

Review Questions Peacock

1. What is the historical and contemporary importance of the Federalist Papers? (Preface, pp. vii-x; Introduction, pp. 1-12)

2. What is the difference between natural rights and positive rights, and what are the political implications? (Introduction, pp. 2-3)

3. What human propensities did the Federalist Papers recognize and seek to redress? (Chapter 1, pp. 13-19)

4. What were Publius's arguments for "the enlargement of the orbit" of government? (Chapter 1, pp. 20-21)

5. What is the difference between republicanism and democracy? (Chapter 1, pp. 22-27)

6. What is the moral dimension of the Constitution? (Chapter 1, pp. 27-29)

7. In Publius's view, what is the importance of a strong union, and how does it relate to citizenship? (Chapter 2, pp. 31-42)

8. What is republicanism, and what problems did Publius hope it would solve? (Chapter 3, pp. 43-53)

9. Why and how did the Federalists seek to separate the powers of government? (Chapter 4, pp. 55-68)

10. How is American federalism designed to function, and what is it intended to achieve? (Chapter 5, pp. 69-75)

11. To what extent has modern American government strayed from Publius's vision, and why has it done so? (Conclusion, pp. 77-81)

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