Alexander Hamilton was a Federalist founding father and the first Secretary of the Treasury who co-authored the Federalist Papers, arguing for a single, energetic executive in Federalist No. 70 and for judicial independence and judicial review in Federalist No. 78, both required documents for AP Gov.
Alexander Hamilton was one of the loudest voices for ratifying the Constitution and for a strong national government. Along with James Madison and John Jay, he wrote the Federalist Papers under the pen name "Publius" to convince New York to ratify. Two of his essays are required founding documents for AP Gov (Topic 1.10). Federalist No. 70 argues that a single, energetic executive is "essential to the protection of the country against foreign attacks" and to the steady administration of the laws. Federalist No. 78 argues that an independent judiciary, with the power of judicial review, is the "least dangerous" branch and a necessary check on Congress and the president.
After ratification, Hamilton became the first Secretary of the Treasury and pushed for a national financial system, including the Bank of the United States, using a broad reading of the Constitution's implied powers. For the AP Gov exam, though, you're tested on Hamilton the author, not Hamilton the Treasury Secretary. Know what he argued in Fed 70 and Fed 78 and why those arguments still shape debates over presidential and judicial power.
Hamilton sits at the center of Unit 1 (Foundations of American Democracy) and reaches into Unit 2 (Interactions Among Branches). His Federalist No. 78 is the textual foundation for AP Gov 2.8.A, which asks you to explain judicial review using Article III and Fed 78 together. His Federalist No. 70 anchors AP Gov 2.6.A, where the CED uses his "energetic executive" argument as the original justification presidents still cite when expanding their power. He also matters for Topic 1.5 (Ratification), since the Federalist Papers were the pro-ratification side of the Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist debate. If a question asks why we have one president instead of a council, or where courts got the authority to strike down laws, the answer traces back to Hamilton.
Keep studying AP Gov Unit 1
The Federalist Papers (Unit 1)
Hamilton wrote the majority of the 85 essays, including the two the CED requires from him, Fed 70 and Fed 78. When a question says "Publius argues...," check the essay number to know if it's Hamilton or Madison talking.
Article III of the Constitution (Unit 2)
Article III creates the judicial branch but never says "judicial review." Hamilton's Fed 78 fills that gap by arguing courts must be able to void laws that violate the Constitution. The CED pairs these two documents on purpose for LO 2.8.A.
Expansion of Presidential Power (Unit 2)
Every modern debate about presidential power runs through Fed 70. Hamilton's case for a single, energetic executive is the argument presidents use to justify broad action, while the 22nd Amendment's term limits show the pushback against that vision.
Bank of the United States (Unit 1)
As Treasury Secretary, Hamilton defended the national bank with a broad, implied-powers reading of the Necessary and Proper Clause. That same logic later wins in McCulloch v. Maryland, a required case, so Hamilton's interpretation literally became constitutional law.
Hamilton shows up mostly through his documents, not his biography. Multiple-choice stems quote Fed 70 or Fed 78 and ask you to identify the argument or connect it to a constitutional principle. For example, a typical question asks which principle Hamilton's defense of judicial review in Fed 78 relies on (judicial independence checking the other branches). On the Argument Essay, Fed 70 and Fed 78 are both on the list of foundational documents you can use as evidence, so Hamilton gives you ready-made support for claims about executive energy or judicial power. No released FRQ requires Hamilton by name, but knowing which essays he wrote keeps you from misattributing Fed 10 or Fed 51 (those are Madison's) and losing evidence points.
Both wrote as "Publius," so it's easy to mix up who wrote what. Madison wrote Federalist No. 10 (factions) and No. 51 (separation of powers and checks and balances). Hamilton wrote No. 70 (single strong executive) and No. 78 (judicial review). A quick memory hook: Madison's essays are about controlling power, Hamilton's are about empowering a branch. They also split politically later, with Hamilton leading the Federalists and Madison joining Jefferson's Democratic-Republicans.
Hamilton co-wrote the Federalist Papers with Madison and Jay to persuade states, especially New York, to ratify the Constitution.
Federalist No. 70 is Hamilton's argument that a single, energetic executive is essential for national defense, steady administration of laws, and protecting liberty.
Federalist No. 78 is Hamilton's defense of an independent judiciary and judicial review, and the CED pairs it with Article III to explain the courts' power.
Hamilton wrote Fed 70 and Fed 78; Madison wrote Fed 10 and Fed 51. Mixing these up is one of the most common AP Gov mistakes.
As the first Secretary of the Treasury, Hamilton championed a broad, implied-powers reading of the Constitution, a view later validated in McCulloch v. Maryland.
Hamilton's vision of an energetic executive is the starting point for the ongoing debate over expanded presidential power tested in Topic 2.6.
He co-authored the Federalist Papers, writing two required documents: Federalist No. 70, which defends a single strong executive, and Federalist No. 78, which defends judicial independence and judicial review. He was also the first Secretary of the Treasury.
No. He wrote the majority of the 85 essays, but James Madison and John Jay wrote the rest. For AP Gov, Hamilton wrote Fed 70 and Fed 78, while Madison wrote Fed 10 and Fed 51.
Hamilton's required essays empower specific branches (Fed 70 for the executive, Fed 78 for the judiciary), while Madison's required essays focus on controlling power (Fed 10 on factions, Fed 51 on checks and balances). Hamilton was a Federalist; Madison later joined the Democratic-Republicans.
Not exactly. Hamilton argued for judicial review in Federalist No. 78 in 1788, but the Supreme Court didn't formally establish it until Marbury v. Madison in 1803. Fed 78 is the intellectual blueprint; Marbury is the precedent.
A Federalist. He argued for ratifying the Constitution and for a strong central government, directly opposing Anti-Federalist writings like Brutus No. 1, which warned that a powerful national government would swallow state power.