The Federalist Papers

This collection of essays, know as The Federalist Papers, were written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. Their writings provided a foundation for interpreting the Constitution when state ratification conventions debated whether or not to approve the document drafted during the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Of those opposed to its ratification, often referred to as Anti-Federalists, the most prominent was Patrick Henry of Virginia. In response to Patrick Henry’s arguments, Hamilton decided to write a defense of ratifying the Constitution, and enlisted Madison and Jay; they wrote under the name Publius.

The Federalist papers consist of 85 articles that were published over the course of three months in 1787 and 1788. Of those, Hamilton wrote 28, Madison wrote 29, and Jay only wrote 5. Unlike other pieces of political writing during this time period, the authors did not sign their names to these essays or reveal who they were until after the Constitution had been ratified by 9 states; at that point it would be too late for Anti-Federalist forces to secure a second convention to amend the document.

This work is one of the most important documents to understanding the development of the United States Constitution and the America government in the immediate aftermath of the American Revolution.