By Dr. Bruce Smith ——Bio and Archives--November 3, 2024
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The American republic was blessed at its founding with a group of remarkable founders, among them Jefferson, Franklin, Madison, and many others. James Madison became known as the Father of the Constitution for his contributions at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and his advocacy for adoption by the states. His private diaries written during the proceedings of the Convention formed the basis for understanding what had happened in secret in Philadelphia that summer. Published in 1840 as The Madison Papers, they opened the door to later scholars who began to explore the proceedings of that famous gathering.
Once the Constitution had been written and published, it was necessary for nine of the thirteen states to ratify it before it could go into effect. In the weeks and months following the end of the Convention, advocates and antagonists set to work forming their arguments for and against ratification. Among the best known and most influential writings were the eighty-five essays offered by James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton favoring adoption, and titled The Federalist.
Understanding what happened at the Convention and why it happened requires spending time with The Federalist. Nothing else explains better the thinking of the founders than these essays. In my student days and later on teaching the first half of the American history survey, in colonial and early national history classes, and especially when teaching government, Madison, Hamilton, and Jay continue to explain the genius and benefits of the Constitution in ways that resonate with each new generation of........