Federalist Papers

The Essays that Created a Nation

Starting in October 1787, as the newly liberated thirteen colonies were debating the Constitution that would govern the new United States of America, a series of essays under the pseudonym Publius began appearing in newspapers. The pro-ratification arguments contained in those essays helped shape the future of the young nation.

Written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, the eighty-five essays that became known as the Federalist Papers articulate a vision of democracy that emphasizes strong central leadership balanced by separated branches of government and an empowered electorate. In The Federalist Papers, readers will find not just an explanation of the Constitution but the reasons why it is necessary for America to survive.