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Federalist No. 33
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Federalist Papers, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Importance of the Constitution
The Necessity of a Strong Union
Leadership and Representation
Checks and Balances
Federal Power vs. States Rights
Summary
Analysis
Alexander Hamilton argues that the federal government must have broad and flexible taxing power to meet the nation’s needs, both in the present and in the future. He rejects the idea that the Constitution should limit the government’s ability to raise revenue, explaining that national priorities—especially defense—can change over time, and the government must be able to respond accordingly. Hamilton compares taxation to military preparedness, emphasizing that no one can predict what challenges the country will face in the future. He points out that in European nations, wars and unexpected crises have often required governments to expand their financial resources. If the United States restricts its ability to tax, it risks being unprepared for future conflicts and emergencies.
Hamilton’s comparison of taxation to military preparedness comes from Enlightenment political theory, particularly the belief that governments must anticipate unforeseen challenges. Drawing from European history, Hamilton highlights how nations often faced unexpected wars and economic downturns, which demanded rapid financial mobilization. By pointing to the failures of governments that lacked this flexibility, he warns that limiting the U.S. government’s ability to raise revenue would leave the country vulnerable, particularly in times of war or economic instability—realities that post-Revolutionary America was keenly aware of after its struggles to fund the Continental Army.
Themes
Hamilton also reassures readers that both state and federal governments will share the power to tax. The idea that the federal government will take complete control over taxation is unfounded because states will always need revenue for their own responsibilities. The balance between state and federal taxation ensures that neither level of government becomes too dominant.
Hamilton’s reassurance here is meant to ease Anti-Federalist fears of central overreach. Hamilton presents the dual system as a means to preserve local autonomy while ensuring national strength. This balance is crucial to maintaining the federalist structure in that it enables states to address local needs independently but without undermining the broader stability of the union.
Themes
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