The Federalist Papers The following excerpt is taken from The Federalist number two, written by John Jay. Read the essay and answer the questions that follow. To the People of the State of New York: ... Nothing is more certain than the indispensable [essential] necessity of government, and it is equally undeniable, that whenever and however it is instituted, the people must cede [give up] to it some of their atural rights in order to vest it with requisite (necessary] powers. It is well worthy of consideration therefore, whether it wou'd conduce more to the interest of the people of America that they should, to all general purposes, be.one na ion, under one federal government, or that they should divide themselves into separate confederacies, and give to the head of each the same kind of powers which they are advised to place in one national government. It has until lately been a received and uncontradicted opinion that the prosperity of the people of America depended on their continuing firmly united, and the wishes, prayers, and efforts of our best and wisest citizens have been constantly directed to that object. But politicians now appear, who insist that this opinion is erroneous (wrong], and that instead of looking for safety and happiness in union, we ought to seek it in a division of the States into distinct confederacies or sovereignties.... It has often given me pleasure to observe that independent America was not composed o detached and distant territories, but that one connected, fertile, wide-spreading country was the portion of our western scns of liberty. Providence has in a particular manner blessed it with a variety of soils and productions, and watered it with inhumerable streams, for the delight and accommodation of its inhabitants. A succession of navigable waters forms a kind of chain round its borders,...while the most noble rivers in the world,... present them with highways for the easy communication of friendly aids, and the mu- tual transportation and exchange of their various commodities (products). With equal pleasure I have as often taken notice that Providence has been pleased to give this one connected country to one united people-a people descended from the same ancestors, speaking the same language, professing the same religion, at- tached to the same principles of government, very similar in their manners and customs, and who, by their joint counsels, arms, and efforts, fighting side by side throughout a long and bloody war, have nobly established general liberty and inde- pendence.... ... It is worthy of remark that not only the first, but every succeeding Congress, as well as the late convention, have invari- ably [constantly] joined with the people in thinking that the prosperity of America depended on its Union. To preserve and perpetuate it was the great object of the people in forming that convention, and it is aiso the great object of the plan which the convention has advised them to adopt. With what propriety, therefore, or for what good purposes, are attempts at this particular period made by some men to depreciate [lessen] the impcrtance of the Union? Or why is it suggested the three or four confederacies would be better than one? I am persuaded in my own mind that the people have always thoug right on this subject, and that their universal and uniform attachment to the cause of the Union rests on great and weight- reasons, which I shall endeavor to develop and explain in some ensuing papers.... Whenever the dissolution of the Unio arrives, America will have reason to exclaim, in the words of the poet: "FAFEWELL! A LONG FAREWELL TO ALL MY GREATNESS." PUBLIUS. 1. According to Publius, what choice faces the American people regarding their government?

The Federalist Papers The following excerpt is taken from The Federalist number two, written by John Jay. Read the essay and answer the questions that follow. To the People of the State of New York: ... Nothing is more certain than the indispensable [essential] necessity of government, and it is equally undeniable, that whenever and however it is instituted, the people must cede [give up] to it some of their atural rights in order to vest it with requisite (necessary] powers. It is well worthy of consideration therefore, whether it wou'd conduce more to the interest of the people of America that they should, to all general purposes, be.one na ion, under one federal government, or that they should divide themselves into separate confederacies, and give to the head of each the same kind of powers which they are advised to place in one national government. It has until lately been a received and uncontradicted opinion that the prosperity of the people of America depended on their continuing firmly united, and the wishes, prayers, and efforts of our best and wisest citizens have been constantly directed to that object. But politicians now appear, who insist that this opinion is erroneous (wrong], and that instead of looking for safety and happiness in union, we ought to seek it in a division of the States into distinct confederacies or sovereignties.... It has often given me pleasure to observe that independent America was not composed o detached and distant territories, but that one connected, fertile, wide-spreading country was the portion of our western scns of liberty. Providence has in a particular manner blessed it with a variety of soils and productions, and watered it with inhumerable streams, for the delight and accommodation of its inhabitants. A succession of navigable waters forms a kind of chain round its borders,...while the most noble rivers in the world,... present them with highways for the easy communication of friendly aids, and the mu- tual transportation and exchange of their various commodities (products). With equal pleasure I have as often taken notice that Providence has been pleased to give this one connected country to one united people-a people descended from the same ancestors, speaking the same language, professing the same religion, at- tached to the same principles of government, very similar in their manners and customs, and who, by their joint counsels, arms, and efforts, fighting side by side throughout a long and bloody war, have nobly established general liberty and inde- pendence.... ... It is worthy of remark that not only the first, but every succeeding Congress, as well as the late convention, have invari- ably [constantly] joined with the people in thinking that the prosperity of America depended on its Union. To preserve and perpetuate it was the great object of the people in forming that convention, and it is aiso the great object of the plan which the convention has advised them to adopt. With what propriety, therefore, or for what good purposes, are attempts at this particular period made by some men to depreciate [lessen] the impcrtance of the Union? Or why is it suggested the three or four confederacies would be better than one? I am persuaded in my own mind that the people have always thoug right on this subject, and that their universal and uniform attachment to the cause of the Union rests on great and weight- reasons, which I shall endeavor to develop and explain in some ensuing papers.... Whenever the dissolution of the Unio arrives, America will have reason to exclaim, in the words of the poet: "FAFEWELL! A LONG FAREWELL TO ALL MY GREATNESS." PUBLIUS. 1. According to Publius, what choice faces the American people regarding their government?