Fred Thompson - Conservative, Strict Constructionist, Federalist

In the beginning of our great nation, the founders attempted to establish a union where each of the member states retained sovereignty. The establishment of this new union was done through the authorization of what was called the Articles of Confederation. But this agreement among the states was a loose and impractical one, so the Congress authorized a Convention to make changes to the document. Out of that Convention our present day Constitution was authored. The people then had to be convinced that instead of changing the Articles of Confederation a complete replacement needed to be made.

In an effort to convince the common citizen that this new document was worthy of adoption, the founders wrote a series of letters to the people that have since become known as The Federalist Papers. These letters have become the quintessential explanation of what the founders intended with the proposal of this new Constitution.

In pursuance of the plan which I have laid down for the discussion of the subject, the point next in order to be examined is the “insufficiency of the present Confederation to the preservation of the Union.” It may perhaps be asked what need there is of reasoning or proof to illustrate a position which is not either controverted or doubted, to which the understandings and feelings of all classes of men assent, and which in substance is admitted by the opponents as well as by the friends of the new Constitution. It must in truth be acknowledged that, however these may differ in other respects, they in general appear to harmonize in this sentiment, at least, that there are material imperfections in our national system, and that something is necessary to be done to rescue us from impending anarchy. The facts that support this opinion are no longer objects of speculation. They have forced themselves upon the sensibility of the people at large, and have at length extorted from those, whose mistaken policy has had the principal share in precipitating the extremity at which we are arrived, a reluctant confession of the reality of those defects in the scheme of our federal government, which have been long pointed out and regretted by the intelligent friends of the Union. Federalist 15

Hamilton was outlining the anarchy that was inevitable under the system created under the Articles. This same anarchy is currently impending today.

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