Excerpt from Federalist #12

To the People of the State of New York: . . . The prosperity of commerce is now perceived and acknowledged by all enlightened statesmen to be the most useful as well as the most productive source of national wealth, and has accordingly become a primary object of their political cares. . . . One national government would be able, at much less expense, to extend the duties [taxes] on imports, beyond comparison, further than would be practicable to the States separately, or to any partial confederacies [loose alliance of states]. . . . A nation cannot long exist without revenues. Destitute of this essential support, it must resign its independence, and sink into the degraded condition of a province. This is an extremity to which no government will of choice accede [agree to]. Revenue, therefore, must be had at all events.

1. What was the goal of the authors in writing The Federalist Papers?

2. Why do you think the authors wrote under a pseudonym? How is the choice of the pseudonym

"Publius" connected to the authors' goal in writing these essays?

3. According to Hamilton, what is the best source of national wealth?

4. According to Hamilton, what will happen to a country without a source of revenue?

5. List THREE examples Hamilton uses to argue that it would be more economical or less expensive to support one national government over divided state governments. . .