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Books That Matter: The Federalist Papers

Season 1
Delve into one of the most influential guides to the US Constitution. Taught by acclaimed professor and legal scholar Joseph L. Hoffmann of the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, these 12 thought-provoking episodes unpack the 85 brilliant essays by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay that serve essentially as the Bible of American government.
202012 episodesTV-PG
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Episodes

  1. S1 E1 - A Blueprint for American Government
    June 18, 2020
    34min
    TV-PG
    Understanding The Federalist Papers starts with understanding who wrote them and why they were written. In this opening episode, go back to 1787 to meet Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to find out what challenges they faced in communicating the need for the new US Constitution. #History
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  2. S1 E2 - A Democracy or a Republic?
    June 18, 2020
    34min
    TV-PG
    The Framers of the Constitution believed pure democracy was something to be feared for the way it would lead to the rise of factions, which would in turn tear apart the system. Was it possible to create a new model that offered the benefits of representative democracy without the problems of factions? See how the Framers tackled this conflict.
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  3. S1 E3 - A Federation or a Nation?
    June 18, 2020
    35min
    TV-PG
    When the Framers gathered in Philadelphia to write a new constitution, they essentially were representing a loose federation of nation-states. Their original charge was to modify the Articles of Confederation, but there was a solid case for a strong central government. Examine this dilemma and the compromises that Madison and Hamilton made.
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  4. S1 E4 - American Federalism
    June 18, 2020
    33min
    TV-PG
    Given all the conflicts and compromises of 1787, how did the American federal system come about? How did the Framers solve the issues of the day while preserving flexibility for the future? Review the enumerated powers of the federal government and see how power was balanced between the federal government and the states.
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  5. S1 E5 - Dual Sovereignty
    June 18, 2020
    34min
    TV-PG
    The system that emerged under the new constitution gave the federal government the ability to determine the scope of its own powers. What checks did the system place on the federal government? Who gets to decide when the federal government has violated its powers? Reflect on the powers of the states and the American people.
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  6. S1 E6 - Popular Sovereignty and States' Rights
    June 18, 2020
    33min
    TV-PG
    The idea of popular sovereignty (the power of the American people) reshaped the relationship between the states and the federal government. In this episode, consider the ever-changing relationship of the states to the federal government. See how the institution of slavery was the catalyst for a crisis.
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  7. S1 E7 - The Separation of Powers
    June 18, 2020
    32min
    TV-PG
    In Federalist Nos. 47 through 51, James Madison explains why the concept of "separation of powers" is so important for the future of the American government. Dig into these five amazing essays to understand what the familiar term "separation of powers" really means, and why he was so optimistic about America's future.
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  8. S1 E8 - The Federal Legislature
    June 18, 2020
    32min
    TV-PG
    James Madison believed the legislature posed the greatest threat to the integrity of the system the Framers had so carefully designed. In "Federalist No. 48," "Federalist No. 51," and elsewhere, he laid out warnings about the legislature seizing too much power, as well as the solution of a bicameral legislature. Delve into this thorny issue.
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  9. S1 E9 - The President of the United States
    June 18, 2020
    32min
    TV-PG
    Shift your attention from the legislature to the chief executive, the single most powerful government official in the world today. But, as you'll learn in your exploration of The Federalist Papers, the Framers had a different view of the presidency. Review Alexander Hamilton's essays about the office and the powers of the president.
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  10. S1 E10 - The Federal Judiciary
    June 18, 2020
    33min
    ALL
    Round out your study of the branches of government with an in-depth look at the federal judiciary, one of the three branches of the federal government. The Framers believed the judiciary was the branch least likely to infringe on the liberty of the American people. Reflect on its role and its power, then review the most important constitutional law case in American History: Marbury v. Madison.
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  11. S1 E11 - The Evolution of American Federalism
    June 18, 2020
    33min
    TV-PG
    The story of the Constitution is one of both stability and change. In this episode, take a look at some of the most important ways the Constitution has evolved over the past 230 years. Consider whether the changes have largely honored the original spirit of the Constitution or broken faith with the vision of the Framers.
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  12. S1 E12 - The Future of the United States Constitution
    June 18, 2020
    35min
    TV-PG
    What does the future look like for America's democratic republic? As you've seen, one of the most important trends has been the gradual increase in federal power, but the tension between federal and state power remains. Is there still a future for republican government? What might a Second Constitutional Convention look like? And would we want to find out?
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Subtitles
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Producers
The Great Courses
Cast
Joseph L. Hoffmann
Studio
The Great Courses
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