Federalist Words
From October 1787 through the summer of 1788, The U.S. Constitution had already been written and officially signed. The thirteen states then needed to ratify it. To help the new citizenry with the basics of the new Constitutional Republic, three men – Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay – wrote articles to be published throughout the nation. These were known as The Federalist Papers.
The Federalist Papers explained various essential reasons for ratifying the new Constitution. Both Hamilton and Jay had studied law. Madison was a planter, but due to his family wealth, he had been instructed in his youth by a Scottish tutor who taught him extensively about the varied governments of Europe. These learned men used their powers of persuasion, and their extensive vocabulary, to convince the people to adhere to this document.
What is interesting about The Federalist Papers is that they were written in a highly elevated language for the populace. There was no talking down to the public, no simplification. The authors had confidence in the intelligence of the American people to grasp the ideals of this new government. Here are some Federalist words, taken out of the pages of those papers:
Desideratum – something truly needed or desperately wanted.
Opprobrium – harsh criticism or censure: It is the great desideratum by which alone this form of government can be rescued from the opprobrium under which it has so long labored.
Factious – an adjective describing people or situations that cause division, disagreement, or conflict: Men of factious tempers, of local prejudices, or of sinister designs may by intrigue, corruption, or by other means…betray the interests of the people.
Indissoluble – unable to be dissolved, long-lasting: Let the Thirteen States, bound together in a strict and indissoluble union, concur in erecting one great American system.
Palliate – a verb that denotes to relieve an ailment or offense, although it does not cure it: Being subjects, either of an absolute or limited monarchy, they have endeavored to heighten the advantages or palliate the evils.
Remonstrate – a verb that means to make a forceful and decidedly unpleasant protest: Are we in a condition to remonstrate with dignity?
Imputation – a noun that is synonymous with the word accusation: The just imputations on our own faith, in respect to the same treaty, ought first to be removed.
Adventitious – an adjective that denotes something happening by chance and not by intention: These circumstances, and many more too complex, minute, or adventitious to admit…occasion differences hardly conceivable.
Exigencies – a plural noun, which indicates urgent needs or demands: These powers ought to exist without limitation; because it is impossible to foresee or to define the extent and variety of national exigencies.
Promulgate – a verb that means to promote widely, in an official capacity: The adversaries of the plan, promulgated by the convention, would have given a better impression of their candor…showing that the internal structure of the proposed government…was unworthy of the confidence of the people.
Cavil – a word (which can be a noun or a verb) that means to make petty, unnecessary objections, or the petty objection itself: They ought not to have wandered into inflammatory declamations and unmeaning cavils.
Tractable – an adjective that means easy to control or influence: The consent of the governed would be less tractable, and without contradictory or repugnant delegation.
Venial – an adjective that describes something slight or easily pardoned, as in an offense: The predetermined adversary, on the other hand, can have been governed by no venial motive whatsoever.
Disquisition – a long and laborious essay or discussion on a particular subject: These examples, which are nearly as dissimilar to each other as to a genuine republic, show the extreme inaccuracy with which the term has been used in political disquisitions.
Aphorism – a pithy, short, and wise saying: This is a better recognition of popular rights, than volumes of those aphorisms which make the principal figures in several of our state bills.
Of the thirteen states to which these arguments were read, Delaware was the first to sign the ratification agreement, and Pennsylvania was second. Officials from those states ratified the Constitution within days of each other in December 1787 – before all of the Federalist Papers were published. North Carolina and Rhode Island were the last of the original colonies to sign onto the new government. George Washington was already President of the United States when they finally acquiesced.
Through interesting and descriptive words, history was made.
Pass the word.
