The Federalist Papers, Federalist No. 8 summary

What happens

1. Hamilton argues that open borders and weak defenses make early wars between separate States especially destructive.
2. Repeated danger pushes weaker States toward permanent armies, stronger executives, and governments resembling monarchies.
3. Stronger States copy these defenses, spreading institutions that threaten freedom throughout the country.
4. Hamilton answers the Greek example by arguing that modern work, finance, and warfare favor separate professional armies.
5. He contrasts societies dominated by soldiers with Great Britain, whose geography limits its need for troops at home.
6. He urges readers to preserve the Union and place the dangers of division above lesser constitutional objections.

In this paper

What to notice

The sentence states a central link in the argument: repeated warfare changes the balance of government and endangers freedom.

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