Thanksgiving and Federalist Paper No. 3

The following is a summary of Federalist Paper No. 3, which was authored by John Jay. The third Federalist Paper hopes that a union of the states would be more peaceful than a group of states, and notes that, at least at the time of publication in 1787, that conflict with the American Indian tribes was between states which were unable or unwilling to to prevent violence by European settlers, and not American Indian tribes and the United States government.

The essay identifies two common causes of conflict between two nations, with the two causes being the breaking of a treaty and direct violence. Jay states, “The number of wars which have happened and will happen in the world will always be found to be in proportion to the number and weight of the causes, whether real or pretended, which provoke and invite them.” If there is a cause for war, a strong union of states, “will also be more in their power to accommodate and cool, in that respect, as well as in others, will be more in a capacity to act with circumspection than the offending State.” A strong nation may not be inclined to appease another due to perceived humiliation, and appeasement and explanation may be taken more seriously when offered by a strong union.

Federalist Paper No. 3 balances the interest that if that states would be a union, then conflict between a union and another nation would be less likely than individual states and another nation, but also that appeasement and explanation from a union to another nation would be stronger than from individual states to another nation.

Jay’s statements about fear of humiliation and appeasement by nations may be interpreted differently. Jay could be saying that the United States should fear of humiliation, and that appeasement by a strong union is more likely to be effective, but Jay could also be saying that fear of humiliation prevents nations from appeasing and explaining, even if appeasement or explanation is appropriate.

After reading Federalist Paper No. 3, I wondered why Jay thought that the union would be more peaceful than individual states. Did Jay think the the union would be stronger, and therefore other nations would be less interested in conflict with the United States, or was it because if there were more states, then more risk of conflict exists. However, if the United States is strong, then other countries may not want conlict with the United States, but the United States may be more willing to use force against weaker nations.