Colleen A. Sheehan is Associate Professor of Political Science at Villanova University and has served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. She is the co-editor of Friends of the Constitution: Writings of the Other Federalists 1787–1788 and author of numerous articles on the American Founding and eighteenth-century political and moral thought; these have appeared in journals such the William and Mary Quarterly, American Political Science Review, Review of Politics, and Persuasions: The Jane Austen Journal.

'Colleen Sheehan's Madison is driven by an overarching concern: What would it take for this American population to become - and remain - a self-governing people? More was at stake than survival and prosperity. For Madison the new national community could flourish only if the people had good reasons for respecting themselves. Sheehan's engaging account of America's beginnings enlarges our understanding of the hopes and fears, successes and failures, not only of a notable man but of a generation of founders.' Ralph Lerner, University of Chicago

• 1. Republican opposition; 2. The Federalist agenda; 3. Madison and the French Enlightenment; 4. The commerce of ideas; 5. Madison and Jefferson: an appeal to the people; 6. The spirit of republican government.

Colleen A. Sheehan is Associate Professor of Political Science at Villanova University and has served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. She is the co-editor of Friends of the Constitution: Writings of the Other Federalists 1787–1788 and author of numerous articles on the American Founding and eighteenth-century political and moral thought; these have appeared in journals such the William and Mary Quarterly, American Political Science Review, Review of Politics, and Persuasions: The Jane Austen Journal.

'Colleen Sheehan's Madison is driven by an overarching concern: What would it take for this American population to become - and remain - a self-governing people? More was at stake than survival and prosperity. For Madison the new national community could flourish only if the people had good reasons for respecting themselves. Sheehan's engaging account of America's beginnings enlarges our understanding of the hopes and fears, successes and failures, not only of a notable man but of a generation of founders.' Ralph Lerner, University of Chicago

• 1. Republican opposition; 2. The Federalist agenda; 3. Madison and the French Enlightenment; 4. The commerce of ideas; 5. Madison and Jefferson: an appeal to the people; 6. The spirit of republican government.

Colleen A. Sheehan is Associate Professor of Political Science at Villanova University and has served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. She is the co-editor of Friends of the Constitution: Writings of the Other Federalists 1787–1788 and author of numerous articles on the American Founding and eighteenth-century political and moral thought; these have appeared in journals such the William and Mary Quarterly, American Political Science Review, Review of Politics, and Persuasions: The Jane Austen Journal.

'Colleen Sheehan's Madison is driven by an overarching concern: What would it take for this American population to become - and remain - a self-governing people? More was at stake than survival and prosperity. For Madison the new national community could flourish only if the people had good reasons for respecting themselves. Sheehan's engaging account of America's beginnings enlarges our understanding of the hopes and fears, successes and failures, not only of a notable man but of a generation of founders.' Ralph Lerner, University of Chicago

• 1. Republican opposition; 2. The Federalist agenda; 3. Madison and the French Enlightenment; 4. The commerce of ideas; 5. Madison and Jefferson: an appeal to the people; 6. The spirit of republican government.