In Federalist No. 11, Alexander Hamilton argues that national unity is essential to economic independence. But does commercial strength guarantee freedom, and whose interests does that strength ultimately serve?
Tag: political philosophy
Federalist No. 10: Can a Republic Govern Its Own Divisions?
In Federalist No. 10, James Madison argues that political division is rooted in human nature and cannot be eliminated without destroying liberty. His proposed solution—a large representative republic—was designed to make it harder for an unjust majority to organize and sacrifice the rights of others.
Federalist No. 9: Can a Republic Be Designed to Survive Itself?
In Federalist No. 9, Alexander Hamilton argues that liberty is not preserved by weakening government, but by designing it to withstand human conflict. As polarization deepens and trust in institutions erodes, this essay challenges a familiar instinct: that freedom thrives in the absence of structure. Instead, it asks whether a durable republic—one capable of resisting faction, instability, and collapse—is the very thing that protects both justice and the vulnerable.
Federalist No. 8: Fear, Force, and the Erosion of Freedom
In Federalist No. 8, Alexander Hamilton warns that constant conflict does more than threaten security—it reshapes society itself, gradually exchanging liberty for control in the name of protection.
