The Federalist Papers
Also known as The Federalist, The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, as Agreed upon by the Federal Convention, September 17, 1787
85 essays by Hamilton, Madison and Jay, as "Publius", urging New York to ratify the US Constitution.
At a glance
Key ideas
No. 10: controlling faction, No. 51: checks and balances, No. 78: judicial review …
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Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay
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Also on this page: Key facts · Links · Sources · Related pages
- The Federalist is 85 essays written under the shared pen name Publius to promote ratification of the Constitution of the United States.
- Most first ran in three New York newspapers between October 1787 and April 1788.
- Hamilton wrote 51, Madison 29 and Jay 5, by the attribution scholars accept.
- The essays explain the proposed Constitution article by article and answer its critics, the Anti-Federalists.
Why it matters
- Historian Richard B.
- Morris called them an "incomparable exposition of the Constitution"; Federalist No.
- 10, No.
- 51 and No.
- 78 are still cited on faction, checks and balances and judicial review.
Key facts
- Authors
- Alexander Hamilton (51 essays), James Madison (29) and John Jay (5), writing as "Publius"1
- First published
- In the Independent Journal, the New York Packet and the Daily Advertiser, from 27 Oct 1787; No. 77 was the last to appear first in a newspaper, on 2 Apr 17881
- Book edition
- Two volumes from J. & A. McLean, New York: Nos. 1–36 on 22 Mar 1788, Nos. 37–85 on 28 May 1788 (Nos. 78–85 printed there first)1
- Authors named
- First in a 1792 French edition; an 1810 edition was the first to say who wrote each essay, from a list Hamilton left1
- Disputed essays
- Hamilton's and Madison's lists disagreed on a dozen essays; statistical studies generally assign the disputed ones to Madison1
- Standard text
- Jacob E. Cooke's 1961 edition, which scholars generally use1
Key ideas
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No. 10: controlling faction1
Madison on preventing rule by a majority faction, arguing for a large, commercial republic.
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No. 51: checks and balances1
Madison's case for checks and balances, calling government "the greatest of all reflections on human nature".
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No. 78: judicial review1
Hamilton lays the groundwork for federal courts reviewing legislation and executive acts.
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No. 70: a single executive1
Hamilton's case for one person as chief executive.
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No. 84: no bill of rights needed1
Hamilton argues the Constitution's own protections of liberty already amount to a "bill of rights".
Connections
Links
Sources
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