Historic Papers and Writings – Page 4 – The Constitution • Constitution.com

The Federalist Papers – No. 17

The Same Subject Continued: The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union For the Independent Journal Author: Alexander Hamilton To the People of the State of New York: AN OBJECTION, of a nature different from that which has been stated and answered, in my last address, may perhaps be likewise urged against the […]

The Federalist Papers – No. 16

The Same Subject Continued: The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union From the New York Packet. Tuesday, December 4, 1787 Author: Alexander Hamilton To the People of the State of New York: THE tendency of the principle of legislation for States, or communities, in their political capacities, as it has been exemplified […]

The Federalist Papers – No. 15

The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union For the Independent Journal. Author: Alexander Hamilton To the People of the State of New York: IN THE course of the preceding papers, I have endeavored, my fellow-citizens, to place before you, in a clear and convincing light, the importance of Union to your political […]

The Federalist Papers – No. 14

Objections to the Proposed Constitution From Extent of Territory Answered From the New York Packet, Friday, November 30, 1787. Author: James Madison To the People of the State of New York: WE HAVE seen the necessity of the Union, as our bulwark against foreign danger, as the conservator of peace among ourselves, as the guardian […]

The Federalist Papers – No. 13

Advantage of the Union in Respect to Economy in Government For the Independent Journal Author: Alexander Hamilton To the People of the State of New York: As CONNECTED with the subject of revenue, we may with propriety consider that of economy. The money saved from one object may be usefully applied to another, and there will be […]

The Federalist Papers – No. 12

The Utility of the Union in Respect to Revenue From the New York Packet. Tuesday, November 27, 1787 Author: Alexander Hamilton To the People of the State of New York: THE effects of Union upon the commercial prosperity of the States have been sufficiently delineated. Its tendency to promote the interests of revenue will be […]

The Federalist Papers – No. 11

The Utility of the Union in Respect to Commercial Relations and a Navy For the Independent Journal Author: Alexander Hamilton To the People of the State of New York: THE importance of the Union, in a commercial light, is one of those points about which there is least room to entertain a difference of opinion, […]

The Federalist Papers – No. 10

The Same Subject Continued: The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection For the Independent Journal Author: Alexander Hamilton To the People of the State of New York: AMONG the numerous advantages promised by a wellconstructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence […]

The Federalist Papers – No. 9

The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection For the Independent Journal Author: Alexander Hamilton To the People of the State of New York: A FIRM Union will be of the utmost moment to the peace and liberty of the States, as a barrier against domestic faction and insurrection. It is impossible to […]

The Federalist Papers – No. 8

The Consequences of Hostilities Between the States From the New York Packet. Tuesday, November 20, 1787 Author: Alexander Hamilton To the People of the State of New York: ASSUMING it therefore as an established truth that the several States, in case of disunion, or such combinations of them as might happen to be formed out […]

The Federalist Papers – No. 7

The Same Subject Continued: Concerning Dangers from Dissensions Between the States For the Independent Journal Author: Alexander Hamilton To the People of the State of New York: IT IS sometimes asked, with an air of seeming triumph, what inducements could the States have, if disunited, to make war upon each other? It would be a […]

The Federalist Papers – No. 6

Concerning Dangers from Dissensions Between the States For the Independent Journal Author: Alexander Hamilton To the People of the State of New York: THE three last numbers of this paper have been dedicated to an enumeration of the dangers to which we should be exposed, in a state of disunion, from the arms and arts […]

The Federalist Papers – No. 5

The Same Subject Continued: Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence For the Independent Journal Author: John Jay To the People of the State of New York: QUEEN ANNE, in her letter of the 1st July, 1706, to the Scotch Parliament, makes some observations on the importance of the UNION then forming between England and Scotland, which merit […]

The Federalist Papers – No. 4

The Same Subject Continued: Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence For the Independent Journal Author: John Jay To the People of the State of New York: MY LAST paper assigned several reasons why the safety of the people would be best secured by union against the danger it may be exposed to by JUST causes of […]

The Federalist Papers – No. 3

The Same Subject Continued: Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence For the Independent Journal Author: John Jay To the People of the State of New York: IT IS not a new observation that the people of any country (if, like the Americans, intelligent and well informed) seldom adopt and steadily persevere for many years […]

The Federalist Papers – No. 2

Concerning Dangers from Foreign Forces and Influence For the Independent Journal Author: John Jay To the People of the State of New York: WHEN the people of America reflect that they are now called upon to decide a question, which, in its consequences, must prove one of the most important that ever engaged their attention, […]

The Federalist Papers – No. 1

General Introduction For the Independent Journal. Author: Alexander Hamilton To the People of the State of New York: AFTER an unequivocal experience of the inefficiency of the subsisting federal government, you are called upon to deliberate on a new Constitution for the United States of America. The subject speaks its own importance; comprehending in its […]

Mayflower Compact, 1620

In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord, King James, by the Grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, e&. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our […]

Magna Carta, 1215

Preamble: John, by the grace of God, king of England, lord of Ireland, duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, and count of Anjou, to the archbishop, bishops, abbots, earls, barons, justiciaries, foresters, sheriffs, stewards, servants, and to all his bailiffs and liege subjects, greetings. Know that, having regard to God and for the salvation of our […]