.jpg) John Jay, author of Federalist No. 5 | |
| Author | John Jay |
|---|---|
| Original title | The Same Subject Continued: Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Federalist |
| Publisher | The Independent Journal |
Publication date | November 10, 1787 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Newspaper |
| Preceded by | Federalist No. 4 |
| Followed by | Federalist No. 6 |
| Text | Federalist No. 5 at Wikisource |
Federalist No. 5, titled "The Same Subject Continued: Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence", is a political essay by John Jay, the fifth of The Federalist Papers. It was first published in The Independent Journal on November 10, 1787, under the pseudonym Publius, the name under which all The Federalist Papers were published. It is the last of four essays by Jay advocating political union as a means of protection from foreign nations.
Federalist No. 5 addresses the idea of states forming regional confederacies and how it would affect foreign relations. Jay argued that these confederacies would be cautious or envious regarding one another while maintaining stronger relations with foreign nations. He theorized that the Northern United States would grow stronger than the Southern United States, causing conflict between the regions. He contrasted this scenario with political union, arguing that union would prevent conflict by combining the states' strength and aligning their national interests. Jay's ideas in Federalist No. 5 were reflected at several points in American history, including the American Civil War that saw the Northern and Southern United States in direct military conflict.