Liberty's blueprint : how Madison and Hamilton wrote the Federalist papers, defined the constitution, and made democracy safe for the world / Michael I. Meyerson.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 285-297) and index.

"Testifying the esteem & regard" : an unlikely friendship -- "To cement the union" : sounding the call for a convention -- "Better than nothing" : the drafting of the constitution -- "Establishing good government from reflection and choice" : producing the Federalist -- "The head of a faction decidedly hostile to me" : the disintegration of a relationship -- "The most valuable disquisitions of government" : why and how to read the Federalist -- "The diseases most incident to Republican government" : appreciating Federalist 10 -- "Ambition must be made to counteract ambition": lessons on the separation of powers -- "A double security": lessons on federalism -- "The greatest of all reflections on human nature": lasting lessons.