The Founders' Bookshelf

If Madison was a Decmocratic-Republican, why did he write the Federalist papers? Did he change his views?

Hi Kieran! I am so glad you visited! Your comments are more than welcome.

Yes, Madison did change his views somewhat, after the Constitution was adopted by all the states, in 1788.

Before the Constitution was ratified, there really was no "Democratic-Republican" party. There were just the "Federalists" (pro-Constitution) and the "Anti-Federalists" (anti-Constitution).

James Madison helped write the Constitution, along with Alexander Hamilton and the other delegates. Hamilton and Madison believed that the federal government needed more authority to do the things that the state governments couldn't do, and to keep the states from warring against each other. Hamilton, Madison, and Jay wrote the Federalist Papers to convince the nation that the federal government needed to be more efficient, and that the Constitution was the best way to make it efficient, and still preserve liberty, at the same time.

Later, after the Federalist Papers were written, and the Constitution was ratified, Madison became even more greatly influenced by Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson believed that the states didn't need as many restraints, and that they could do whatever they deemed fit, and that state law trumped federal law in the cases in which the states felt fit.

Madison changed his mind from believing that the federal government should be able to nullify state laws contrary to the Constitution, to taking a position that was closer to Jefferson's. Together, they opposed Treasury Sec. Hamilton and President Washington (for the most part), and led what was called the Democratic-Republic party, like you said.

That is a rather long "yes" to your question, but I hope that it satisfactorily explained.

God bless you, and have fun looking around my (many) blogs!

Thanks, that has always confused me a little bit and I didn't really understand what happened. I believe Jefferson-Madison-Monroe(Virginians) were all hand-picked successors to each other, if I remember correctly.

Hello

Hello to you, Thankful Paul! Welcome to my blog, and thank you for visiting.

I am looking forward to reading your blogs, which I have bookmarked. I have always been interested in missionary work.

God bless.

Hi, this is Mike over at Americana Phonic. Just wanted to let you know that the site has been revamped, and all the links have changed. The Federalist Papers audio can now be found at:

http://www.americanaphonic.com/?p=431

Mike

Welcome to my blog, Mike! And thanks for the notification. I fixed the link.

Great site, and great new look!