This project is now complete. All audio files can be found on our catalog page here:
https://librivox.org/the-federalist-papers-by-alexander-hamilton-john-jay-and-james-madison-2
Source text (please read only from this text!): https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1404/pg1404-images.html“The Federalist Papers” are a collection of 85 linked essays that explain the construction of the U.S. government and why it was built that way. The Papers are regarded as the best pipeline into understanding the U.S. Constitution and the founding principles of the government it would establish.
I have endeavored here to present these essays, not as articles in a newspaper, but as you might have experienced them if you had sat in a comfortable tavern with a tankard in hand, and listened while these ardent men ranged in front of a friendly fireplace as they attempted to convince you of their arguments.
Following the Revolutionary War, the newly-independent United States of America were organized under the Articles of Confederation. This well-intentioned document was faulty to the purpose, and the new nation rapidly found itself in dire financial distress.
Consequently, in 1787 a Constitutional Convention was called to produce a new blueprint for the government. After completion, that plan was sent to the States in September of that year for ratification, but it immediately came under fire for the powers it granted to the central government.
In New York, views on either side were heated. To persuade the public to support the Constitution for ratification, Alexander Hamilton (who had been a delegate to the Convention) and John Jay (who had helped negotiate the treaty with Great Britain that ended the War), began a series of anonymous essays to educate the citizenry in how the government would be arranged, and why those choices had been made. Later, when Jay was rendered unable to continue by an attack of rheumatism, Virginian James Madison (another Convention delegate who was in New York, serving in the Confederation Congress) was recruited to fill in.
Each wrote essays that were signed “Publius,” the name of a general who had helped to found Rome, to conceal their identities, which might have led to difficulties as Hamilton and Madison had been inside the deliberations at the Convention. These essays were published serially in New York newspapers, eventually reaching the total of 85.
(Summary by Mark Smith)
Target completion date: 2021-12-15
Prooflistening level: Standard
Prospective PLs, please see the Guide for Proof-listeners.
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Magic Window:
BC Admin
Genres for the project: *Non-fiction/Political Science; *Non-fiction/Philosophy/Early Modern; *Non-fiction/Law
Keywords that describe the book:
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LibriVox recording settings: mono (1 channel), 44100 Hz sample rate, 128 kbps constant bit rate MP3. See the Tech Specs
Intro to recording:
Leave 0.5 to 1 second of silence at the beginning.
For the first section, say:
For the second and subsequent sections, you may use the shortened intro if you wish:"Section (or Chapter) # of The Federalist Papers. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit librivox.org." [Optional: "Read by your name."] "The Federalist Papers, by James Madison, John Jay et al.. Section Title."
End of recording:"Section (or Chapter) # of The Federalist Papers, by James Madison, John Jay et al.. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain." [Optional: "Read by your name."] "Section Title."
Say:
If you are recording the final section of the book, add:"End of section (or chapter) #." [Optional, and if not stated in the intro: "Read by your name, city, date."]
Leave 5 seconds of silence at the end."End of The Federalist Papers, by James Madison, John Jay et al.."
Filename: federalistpapers_##_madison_128kb.mp3 where ## is the section number. (e.g. federalistpapers_01_madison_128kb.mp3)
Upload to the LibriVox Uploader: https://librivox.org/login/uploader
MC to select: knotyouraveragejo
Copy and paste the file link generated by the uploader into the relevant Listen URL field in the Section Compiler, enter the duration in the Notes field, and post in this thread to let your PL and MC know that you have uploaded a file. You may also post the file link in the thread.
I am woefully unaware of the founders' thinking, and as that is often debated in Supreme Court contexts, I feel it's time for me to expand my education. As I often do, I'm going to do it by reading out loud!
I'll add a summary and tags after I'm more familiar with the material.
I'll MC for you - MW will be up shortly.
