The Federalist Papers were written to lay out the case for ratifying the Constitution to the people of the United States. This collection of essays is foundational to understanding why the Constitutional Convention adopted the Constitution that we have today.

This is an advanced level course that will entail reading one Federalist Paper for each class ahead of time (I will also provide a recording of the paper in audio format that can help students read through the document).

Students will be expected to show up to class with the document read and questions ready to help their understanding of the Paper that we read that week.

This course will probably be invitation only for students who have already taken a class with me and show the maturity to do the work ahead of time as students who are not willing to put the work in will affect the level of discussion we can have as a class.

The January 2025 schedule is here (with topics subject to change):

Week of January 5 - January 12 - Federalist 1 - General Introduction
Week of January 12 - January 19 - Federalist 2 - Concerning Dangers From Foreign Force and Influence
Week of January 19 - January 26 - Federalist 6 - Concerning Dangers from Dissensions Between the States
Week of January 26 - February 1 - Federalist 9 - Concerning Dangers from Dissensions Between the States continued
Week of February 2 - February 8 - Federalist 10 - The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection
Week of February 9 - February 15 - Federalist 14 - Objections to the Proposed Constitution from Extent of Territory Answered
Week of February 16 - February 22 - Federalist 15 - The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union
Week of February 23 - March 1 - Federalist 16 - The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union continued
Week of March 2 - March 8 - Federalist 23 - The Necessity of Energetic Government to Preserve of the Union
Week of March 9 - March 15 - Federalist 37 - The Difficulties of the Convention in Devising a Proper Form of Government
Week of March 16 - March 22 - Federalist 39 - The Conformity of the Plan to Republican Principles
Week of March 23 - March 29 - Federalist 47 - Structure of the New Government and the Distribution of Powers
Week of March 30 - April 5 - Federalist 48 - Departments Should Not Be So Far Separated
Week of April 6 - April 12 - Federalist 49 - Guarding Against the Encroachments of Any One Department of Government
Week of April 13 - April 19 - Federalist 51 - Structure of Government Must Furnish Proper Checks and Balances
Week of April 30 - April 26 - Federalist 62 - The Senate
Week of April 27 - May 3 - Federalist 63 - The Senate continued
Week of May 4 - May 10 - Federalist 70 - The Executive Department Further Considered
Week of May 11 - May 17 - Federalist 78 - The Judiciary Department
Week of May 18 - May 24 - Federalist 84 - Miscellaneous Objections to the Constitution Considered