By identifying all the historical references and literary allusions by which the Founders sought to amplify their arguments and convince their readers—and by clarifying those important concepts (such as sovereignty, contract, separation of powers) which influenced the thinking of both the Founders and their opponents—renowned historian J. R. Pole here sets The Federalist in the intellectual world inhabited by Hamilton, Madison and Jay. In reading Pole’s annotation alongside the main text, students and scholars alike will gain a deeper understanding of the papers—and of the time, needs, and circumstances that shaped them.

PoleÂ’s Introduction, a thematic index, a chronology of politically significant events from 1688 to 1791, and the inclusion of The Articles of Confederation and the U. S. Constitution further distinguish an edition priced for classroom use.