Reading Guide Questions.

Contents: Federalist 51 Questions, (keep scrolling for) Anti-Federalist V questions. The readings can be found online at constitution.org

 

Federalist 51 Questions:

Pre-Reading:

1. What is the Federalist position?

2. The author of Federalist 51 is also known as the “Father of the Constitution,” who is he?

3. What are the major principles of the US Constitution? (Hint: There are 6.)

 

Reading:

4. What is “essential to the preservation of liberty?”

5. How great is the level of interdependency between departments?

6. Who/what comprises the “fountain of authority?”

 

Review:

7. What is (answer to #2) suggesting within the second and third paragraphs?         

8. Whose idea was this? (Which Enlightenment philosopher?)

9. What would this mean for the federal government?

 

Reading:

10. What also must exist between the departments?

11. Interpret this quote: “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.”

12. Why do these actions need to take place? Use quotes from the text in your answer.

13. How does (answer to #2) relate using this back to the state of nature. Use quotes from the text.

 

Review:

14. Which principle of the constitution is being advocated here?

15. Why is this a “security?”

 

Reading:

16. How does (answer to #2) propose to carry out (answer to #14)?

17. According to this reading, who is naturally the stronger branch, the legislative or the executive?

18. What does the executive have to “arm” itself? Is this enough?

 

Review:

19. What are the examples given that will be (answer to #14)?

 

Reading:

20. When the people surrender their power, where does it go?

21. How does the republic of America have more than one government?

22. How does having more than one government work out for the people?

23. How do these governments interact with one another?

 

Review:

24. What system of government is represented here?

25. Describe the flow of power in the above system of government?

 

Reading:

26. Interpret this quote: “If a majority be united by a common interest, the rights of the minority will be insecure.”

27. What is “this evil?”

28. Why is the first method not a good solution for the US?

29. What makes solution #2 a better solution for the US?

30. How does (answer to #2) compare civil rights to religious rights?

 

Review:

31. The quote from #26 is actually a characteristic of…?

32. Why is it important that the minority be protected?

33. Which principles of the constitution are talked about in the whole reading?

 

Post-Reading:

34. What are the main ideas in this reading? Consider:

            a) What does (answer to #2) want for the government?

            b) How does he propose these things?

            c) How will it make the government better?

            d) How do the principles of the constitution fit in?

 

35. (AP): “Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society.” Using this document, your notes, and knowledge of previous documents from this class, what is the meaning of this quote? How does justice fit into the government if it spells the end of the government? Are the two mutually exclusive—do they need each other to exist and how so/why not?

 

Anti-Federalist Letter V Reading Guide

Pre-Reading:

1. What is the Anti-Federalist position?

2. What does Alexander Hamilton call himself in writing?

3. Was this letter written before or after constitutional ratification?

 

Reading:

4. What does Hamilton say about the powers of the presidency?

5. What will the presidency lead to?

6. Instead of the Constitution, what will govern the president?

7. What does Hamilton say about the vice presidency?

8. How does the president not represent the people?

9. Whose government will that of the US resemble if the current set up is allowed to continue?

 

Review:

10. Who were the first president and vice president?

11. Was Hamilton at the Constitutional Convention?

12. What can you deduce about Hamilton’s feelings towards US government, its leaders, and also the government of Great Britain?

13. How does Hamilton feel about the office of the presidency in particular?

 

Reading:

14. How does Hamilton describe the “whole political fabric?”

15. What should political society provide?

16. What would exist if these things are not provided?

17. Interpret this quote: “To live by one man’s will became the cause of all men’s misery.”

18. “Mere implication [is] too feeble to restrain” what?

 

Review:

19. Is the Constitution enough for Hamilton? Why/why not?

20. Compare and contrast Hamilton’s feelings about Great Britain with the past relationship between the US and Great Britain—think about the quote in number 17.

 

Reading:

21. What is able to resist/prevent oppression? Are these things permanent?

22. What comes from the “progress of a commercial society?”

23. Interpret this quote: “Therefore, the general presumption that rulers will govern well is not a sufficient security.”

24. Because of (answer to #23), what must the people provide for themselves?

 

Review:

25. Hamilton puts the focus on who when it comes to making sure the government stays in its place?

26. Why is a commercial society a bad thing for the presidency?

27. Does Hamilton think tyranny is possible in the US? How do you know?

 

Reading:

28. Which branch of government does Hamilton criticize next?

29. What is Hamilton’s problem with how the Congress is chosen?

30. How does Hamilton feel about the representation of each state?

31. Hamilton feels that this branch is too closely connected to which other branch?

32. Hamilton over-emphasizes the Constitution’s non-existent position on slavery to mean what?

 

Review:

33. What is Hamilton’s overall feeling about the Congress and its powers?

 

Reading:

34. How does Hamilton see the relationship between the lack of representation and the opportunity for corruption within the government?

 

Review:

35. How does Hamilton want readers to feel after reading this letter? What does he want them to think about the newly established government?