 Alexander Hamilton, author of Federalist No. 29 | |
| Author | Alexander Hamilton |
|---|---|
| Original title | Concerning the Militia |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Federalist |
| Publisher | The Independent Journal |
Publication date | January 9, 1788 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Newspaper |
| Preceded by | Federalist No. 28 |
| Followed by | Federalist No. 30 |
| Text | Federalist No. 29 at Wikisource |
Federalist No. 29, titled "Concerning the Militia", is a political essay by Alexander Hamilton and the twenty-ninth of The Federalist Papers. It was first published in Independent Journal on January 9, 1788, under the pseudonym Publius, the name under which all The Federalist Papers were published. Though it was the thirty-fifth by order of publication, it was placed after Federalist No. 28 when they were compiled, making it the final essay in a set about the national military.
Federalist No. 29 argued in support of national regulation of militias, saying that it was necessary for them to operate effectively. It challenged arguments that this power would be abused, saying that militiamen would represent their states instead of the nation and using militias for tyrannical purposes would be ineffective. The essay was written in a more hostile tone toward Hamilton's opponents, accusing them of being disingenuous. Since the publication of The Federalist Papers, debate around militias has centered on gun politics in the United States and interpretations of the treatment of militias in the Second Amendment to the Constitution.