Federalism in Literature

In the United States, Federalism refers to the "evolving relationship between U.S. state governments and the federal government of the United States" (Federalism 1). Separation of state and national powers equated to limited government, popular among a people subjected to the tyranny of the British Crown. Since the founding of the U.S., power has generally shifted away from the states and toward the national or federal government. During the last two decades of the 1700s, Federalism was the most significant political movement that stemmed from discontent with the Articles of Confederation. Advocates of Federalism fought for a strong national government but also shaped a new literary front.

The Federalists sought a convention in order to forge a new Constitution for the U.S. From a series of essays known as The Federalist Papers to Joseph Dennie's Port Folio, the "preeminent Federalist literary magazine in the middle Atlantic," the Federalist movement was as much literary as political in nature (Arkin 655). This analysis will discuss the Federalist Movement in U.S. history from a literary perspective, showing how literary efforts to push for Federalism were quite successful in the forging of a new Constitution, primarily by cementing the idea of individuality in the imagination of the American people while distancing Federalists from republican charges of elitism.

Propaganda has often been used on the literary level to help foster change of al

Related Essays

Bosnia and Conflict .... a common cultural heritage, with their own language and literature (Singleton, 1976 .... Communist federalism was adopted as the official policy during World War II .... (2516 10 )

Ethnic Conflict in Bosnia .... that they share a common cultural heritage, with their own language and literature. .... Communist federalism was adopted as the official policy during World War II .... (2671 11 )

Ethnic Conflicts Aside from the concerns raised by .... that they share a common cultural heritage, with their own language and literature. .... Communist federalism was adopted as the official policy during World War II .... (2846 11 )

The First Amendment: 1910-1929 .... The intent of anti-war, anti-establishment literature was under the microscope .... not recognized; "no oneA�perceived the practical consequences for federalism of a .... (1089 4 )

Effects of Supreme Court Composition .... They really show a pattern consistent with that of the federalism cases. .... With regard to the sale and distribution of literature, Justice Kennedy wrote for a .... (7167 29 )

ditor, consumed so much of his time advocating against Jeffersonian democracy and for Federalism that he abandoned his law practice. Dennie's numerous published efforts and very strong opinions about Jeffersonian democracy actually were enough to witness his "arraignment for seditious libel" (Dowling 1). Dennie offended many with his views on democracy. Dennie's views against democracy were what made his support of Federalism appear to come off as sedition to critics and opponents of Federalism. In a scathing attack on democracy, one of Dennie's most offensive paragraphs to detractors is as follows: A democracy is scarcely tolerable at any period of national history. Its omens are always sinister...It was weak and wicked in Athens. It was bad in Sparta, and worse in Rome. It has been tried in France, and has terminated in despotism. It was tried in England, and rejected with the utmost loathing and abhorrence. It is on trial here, and the issue will be civil war, desolation, and anarchy. (Dowling 1) Writers like Ames and Dennie found their supporters in other literary publications. Writing in The New England Palladium, one writer maintains that while he is the last p

Category: Literature - F