The Federalist Papers

The Federalist Papers

by

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay

The Federalist Papers: Federalist No. 7 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Alexander Hamilton puts forward his belief that disunion would lead to internal conflicts over territory, commerce, debt, and foreign alliances, making war between the states inevitable. He highlights past territorial disputes, such as those involving western lands and the Wyoming Valley, as evidence that states would struggle to settle claims peacefully without a central authority. Commercial rivalries would further fuel discord, as wealthier states could impose trade policies that disadvantage others, leading to economic retaliation and potential conflict.
By referencing specific conflicts like those over western lands and the Wyoming Valley, Hamilton grounds his concerns in recent American history, illustrating how fragile state alliances already were. In a post-Revolutionary America struggling with war debt and uneven economic growth, Hamilton taps into real fears that wealthier states could use trade policies to dominate poorer ones, triggering economic retaliation and conflict.
Themes
Hamilton also warns that disagreements over the national debt would create resentment, as states with fewer creditors might resist repayment, while others would demand their fair share. Without a unified government, states might default on their obligations, causing international tensions and internal disputes. Additionally, he notes that individual states have already passed laws violating private contracts, suggesting that, without federal oversight, economic instability and retaliatory measures would escalate into violence. Foreign alliances would further divide the states, drawing them into European conflicts and making them vulnerable to manipulation. Without unity, America would become entangled in foreign wars and subject to the strategies of stronger nations seeking to exploit its divisions. Hamilton argues that without a strong national government, the states would be more likely to fight each other than defend against external threats, ultimately leading to their downfall.
Hamilton’s warning that fragmented states would fall prey to European strategies echoes colonial-era fears of imperial interference, suggesting that disunion would invite the very foreign dominance the Revolution had fought against. The mention of states violating private contracts serves as a critique of unchecked state power and the need for a strong federal judiciary to ensure economic stability. Hamilton’s vision of disunion spiraling into internal wars and foreign entanglements reinforces the Federalist belief that only a centralized authority could safeguard both domestic peace and international standing, presenting unity as the only defense against the collapse of the American experiment.
Themes
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