The Federalist 1:
Written by Alexander Hamilton
YoAfter experiencing the weaknesses of the current federal system, you are now asked to consider a new Constitution for the United States. This is a very important matter because it affects the survival of the United States, the well-being of its parts, and the future of a very significant empire. It has often been said that the people of the United States have a unique opportunity to show if societies can create good governments through thoughtful choice, or if they are always going to be stuck with governments formed by chance or force. If this is true, then the situation we are in now is critical, as the choices we make will have a big impact. If we choose poorly, it could be a disaster not just for us, but for all of humanity.
This idea, by combining the desire to do good for humanity with patriotism, will increase the concern that thoughtful and good people have for the outcome. It would be great if our decision is guided by a wise understanding of our real interests, without being swayed by things that don’t relate to the public’s benefit. However, we should hope for this more than we expect it. The proposed plan affects so many personal interests and changes so many local systems that the discussion will likely include many topics not related to its actual merits. This mix of unrelated issues, strong emotions, and biases is not conducive to finding the truth.
Among the biggest challenges the new Constitution will face are two groups of people. First, there are those who currently hold power and benefit from the state governments. They will likely oppose any changes that could reduce their power, money, or status. Second, there are those who think they can gain more power if the country is divided into several smaller alliances instead of being united under one national government. They might try to create confusion or believe they have better chances of rising to power in a divided nation.
Although I’ve talked about how some people might oppose the new Constitution for selfish or ambitious reasons, it’s not fair to assume that everyone who disagrees is doing so for bad reasons. It’s important to acknowledge that even those who might benefit from opposing the Constitution can have good intentions. A lot of the opposition comes from honest mistakes, where people are misled by their fears or prejudices. It’s common for intelligent and good people to be on the wrong side of important issues because of these biases. We should remember this and be moderate in our arguments, even when we are sure we are right. We can’t always assume that people who support the truth have better motives than those who don’t. Many factors, like ambition, greed, personal dislike, or party politics, can influence both sides of an argument. Even if there weren’t these reasons for being cautious, it’s wrong to be intolerant in politics. Just like in religion, trying to force people to agree with you is not effective and often backfires.
Despite the fair-mindedness of these views, it’s likely that the debate over the new Constitution will be as heated and contentious as other major national discussions have been. We can expect that both sides will try to prove their points and win supporters by speaking loudly and attacking each other harshly. Those who advocate for a strong and effective government will be accused of loving power too much and being against freedom. Meanwhile, those overly concerned about the people’s rights will be seen as insincere, using these concerns as a way to gain popularity without truly caring about the public good. People often forget that a deep love for liberty can lead to distrustful and narrow-minded views. At the same time, they overlook the fact that a strong government is crucial for protecting liberty. Both perspectives are necessary and should not be separated. Unfortunately, history shows that people who eventually become dictators often start by appearing to be champions of the people’s rights. This approach has been more effective in destroying republics than the pursuit of strong government.
In my previous remarks, fellow citizens, my goal was to warn you against any attempts to sway your opinion on this very important issue – the new Constitution – by anything other than the truth. You’ve probably realized from my overall message that I support the new Constitution. I’ve thought about it carefully and believe that adopting it is in your best interest for maintaining your freedom, dignity, and happiness. I’m not pretending to be undecided; I’m openly sharing my opinion with you. I believe in being straightforward and clear about my intentions. However, I won’t just make claims about my motives; I’ll share my reasons and let you judge them. My arguments will be presented honestly and with respect for the truth.
I plan to cover several important topics in a series of papers. These include: (1) The benefits of the Union for your political success, (2) the weaknesses of the current confederation in maintaining the Union, (3) The need for a government as strong as the one being proposed to achieve this goal, (4) how the proposed Constitution aligns with the principles of a republican government (5) The similarities between the proposed Constitution and your state’s constitution, (6) finally, how adopting the new Constitution will further protect the type of government we have, as well as our liberty and property.
As this discussion progresses, I will try to provide clear answers to all the objections that have been raised or that might arise, especially those that appear to be significant or worthy of consideration.
It might seem unnecessary to argue for the benefits of the Union, as most people in every state likely deeply value it and it seems to have no opponents. However, there are whispers among those who oppose the new Constitution that the Thirteen States are too big for a single system, and that we should instead form separate confederacies of different parts of the whole. This idea will probably spread and gain supporters until it’s openly promoted. For those who can see the bigger picture, it’s clear that the choice is either to adopt the Constitution or risk breaking up the Union. Therefore, it’s important to specifically discuss the advantages of the Union and the definite problems and likely dangers that each state would face if the Union falls apart. This is what I plan to do.
The Easy Federalist 
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