After that Madison spent the next six months studying Hebrew, philosophy, and other subjects that showed his deep interest in religious questions. ... In the convention Madison knew the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, the basic law that the Constitution later replaced. ...
Knox's philosophy on free will over predestination particularly appealed to Hamilton because it showed that he could be a respected person, despite his illegitimate status [http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/B/hamilton/hamil02.html]. ... Hamilton refuted the Articles of Confederation and proposed a Constitutional convention. ... Hamilton's philosophy was based on the idea of "the public good- and he believed that the government derived its power from the consent of those who are governed. ... The Federalist contained attacks on the Articles of Confederation, insights into human nature, e...
