In Essay #4, John Jay advances one of the core arguments of the Federalist Papers, which is that uniting the thirteen American states under a single union with significant powers will better serve the people. He continues his argument that a strong union of states under a national government will better serve the people.

This paper speaks to what Jay asserts is the primary concern of any people: security.

He suggests that if the United States were divided among multiple sovereign governments, then Americans would be less likely to come to one another’s aid in a time of war. Foreign aggressors could exploit the disunity within the US and pursue a strategy of divide and conquer.

Appropriate credit goes to Brittany Nelson and Christopher Higgins (second revision 09/15/2011). Weinbloom, Elizabeth ed. “The Federalist Papers Essay 4 Summary and Analysis”. GradeSaver, 30 December 2011 Web. 15 January 2019.

You can read the summary and analysis of Essay #4 by clicking HERE.

You can read the entire text of John Jay’s Essay #4 by clicking HERE.