discussion post

Federalist 15-22: The Defects of Confederation

Federalist 15: Insufficiency of the Articles of Confederation

I. National humiliation a. no sovereignty b. problem of debt c. no government d. no treasury e. no troops

II. Confusion of the Antifederalists a. they want the effects of federalism without federalism

III. Weakness of the Federal Government a. the federal government has no direct claim on the money or person of

individuals. b. States have general “discretionary superintendence” which allows them to

ignore federal requisitions. c. Discretion more appropriate for a treaty rather than a union.

IV. Need for law and punishment a. state discretion defies nature of man which is to seek power and resent

encroachments upon it. b. states cannot judge the common good.

Federalist 16: Lycian and Achaean League

I. Violent death of confederations a. delinquent states must be stopped from intriguing with one another and

with foreigners against the league. b. Complying states must have their swords drawn to keep delinquents in

order which would bring the league to a violent end.

II. Natural death of confederations a. complying states become delinquent

III. Federal government must therefore have power over individuals and not just states a. states would be forced to usurp power rather than just be negligent

Federalist 17:

I. Local legislation is too narrow to entice the ambitions of federal leaders

a. commerce, finance, negotiation, war belong to federal powers. b. Man is attached to the local and the state looks after personal interests and

familiar concerns. c. Failure of feudalism shows that states will have loyalty d. Monarchs had to become tyrants to gain loyalty

Federalist 18: Failure of the Greeks

I. Amphictyonic Council a. Greeks inflated with glory of victory after having defeated Persians b. Philip of Macedon brought in by weaker powers c. Ambition and jealousy between Athens and Sparta d. Dependence and degradation of the rest of the Greeks

II. Achaen League a. all members including Sparta shared in the legislation as well as lesser

cities b. after Philip and Alexander the league is divided by interests of princes c. republican spirit rebels and league is reborn d. Spartans become jealous of Achaens and wage war by allying with Egypt

and Syria. e. The Achaens ally with Macedonia which becomes its oppressor. f. The Achaens then invite the Romans.

III. Problem of federal bodies a. they tend to anarchy and tyranny

Federalist 19: Germanic body (Christianity)

I. The Diet legislates, judges, and executes a. Emperor has veto, can submit legislation, name ambassadors b. Breaks down into war and anarchy

Federalist 20: Confederacy of United Netherlands

Federalist 21:

I. The Articles of Confederation a. total want of sanctions b. need a guaranty to the states c. state quotas create glaring inequalities and resentments

Federalist 22:

I. Necessity for Federalism

a.. regulation of commerce b. need for army c. equal suffrage does not reflect differences of population d. danger of minority states interfering with majority states e. domestic cohesion through majority decision f. need federal judiciary for judging treaties