1/ This is a great quote -- but it's important to understand it in context.
It's not a declaration of states' rights.
It was written to encourage the passage of a new, more powerful national government -- the Constitution.
It's not a declaration of states' rights.
It was written to encourage the passage of a new, more powerful national government -- the Constitution.
2/ What he's saying is: the American people have such deep loyalties to their states that it's ridiculous to imagine the national government could threaten them in any way.
To get its meaning, you have to think about the TIMING & PURPOSE of this statement.
To get its meaning, you have to think about the TIMING & PURPOSE of this statement.
3/ Hamilton was trying to encourage people to ratify a new government that was more powerful than the one that came before.
People were nervous about assigning power.
This was an attempt to calm fears. AND...
People were nervous about assigning power.
This was an attempt to calm fears. AND...
4/ ...what Hamilton was saying was factually true. Of course people had deep loyalty to their states / former colonies!
Some people saw their colony as something akin to a nation-state.
In that setting, a nat'l gov't would ALWAYS come in 2nd concerning personal loyalties.
Some people saw their colony as something akin to a nation-state.
In that setting, a nat'l gov't would ALWAYS come in 2nd concerning personal loyalties.
5/ Hamilton's conviction that states had an advantage of power over the national government was one reason why he constantly pushed to strengthen the national government.
It had to stand up against the states.
It had to stand up against the states.
6/ So what Hamilton was saying here was:
Come on! Don't worry about this new strong national government! States have the balance of power!
Come on! Don't worry about this new strong national government! States have the balance of power!
7/ Which brings us to the real issue being debated here, & the main reason the Constitution was ratified:
Federalism
The idea that state governments & the nat'l gov't would share power--a deliberate ambiguity at the center of the Constitution proposing a kind of dual loyalty.
Federalism
The idea that state governments & the nat'l gov't would share power--a deliberate ambiguity at the center of the Constitution proposing a kind of dual loyalty.
8/ The nation has been debating the dividing line between the powers of the states and the national government ever since. It changes over time, shifting w/politics and events.
That deliberate ambiguity of federalism can be handy.
It can also cause conflict.
That deliberate ambiguity of federalism can be handy.
It can also cause conflict.
9/ Our current political scene is a MASTER CLASS IN THE AMBIGUITIES OF FEDERALISM--& the profound power of its implications.
We're seeing in real time the clash bet. state & nat'l political power.
Of course, the Constitution plays a role in mediating this.
If we adhere to it
We're seeing in real time the clash bet. state & nat'l political power.
Of course, the Constitution plays a role in mediating this.
If we adhere to it
