The Federalist Papers 10 and 51: What's Up With the Title?

    The Federalist Papers 10 and 51: What's Up With the Title?

      So these two essays are named according to which number in the series they are. Simple enough, right?

      Not so fast.

      Each essay also has a longer, more descriptive title to go along with it…because these were written in the 18th Century, when the common wisdom was "Longer Titles = More Better." (A famous 18th Century book we now know as Tristram Shandy is actually called The Life And Opinions Of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman…which is just excessive.

      Let's check 'em out.

      The Federalist Paper No. 10

      The Same Subject Continued: The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection

      The title's picking up where Hamilton's last Federalist paper, Federalist 9, left off. Of course, at the time the readers of both papers wouldn't know the difference, because they were all published under the same fake name.

      The essays were always published with a number, then a quick blurb about what they were going to be about.

      The Federalist Paper No. 51

      The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different Departments

      Same rules apply as the last one: the titles are there for their utility, not to be catchy or snappy.