An Advertisement for the Federalist
The Federalist Papers are a series of 85 essays
arguing in support of the United States
Constitution. Alexander Hamilton, James
Madison, and John Jay were the authors behind
the pieces, and the three men wrote collectively
under the name of Publius.
Seventy-seven of the essays were published as a
series in The Independent Journal, The New York
Packet, and The Daily Advertiser between October
of 1787 and August 1788. They weren't originally
known as the "Federalist Papers," but just "The
Federalist." The final 8 were added in after.
Alexander Hamilton, Portrait by John Trumbull
At the time of publication, the authorship of the
articles was a closely guarded secret. It wasn't until
Hamilton's death in 1804 that a list crediting him
as one of the authors became public. It claimed
fully two-thirds of the essays for Hamilton. Many
of these would be disputed by Madison later on,
who had actually written a few of the articles
attributed to Hamilton.
Once the Federal Convention sent the Constitution to the Confederation Congress in
1787, the document became the target of criticism from its opponents. Hamilton, a firm
believer in the Constitution, wrote in Federalist No. 1 that the
series would "endeavor to give a satisfactory answer to all the
objections which shall have made their appearance, that may
seem to have any claim to your attention."
Publius
Alexander Hamilton was the force behind the project, and
was responsible for recruiting James Madison and John Jay to
write with him as Publius. Two others were considered,
Gouverneur Morris and William Duer. Morris rejected the
offer, and Hamilton didn't like Duer's work. Even still, Duer
managed to publish three articles in defense of the Constitution under the name Philo-Publius, or "Friend of Publius."
Hamilton chose "Publius" as the pseudonym under which the series would be written, in
honor of the great Roman Publius Valerius Publicola. The original Publius is credited with being instrumental in the founding of the Roman Republic. Hamilton
thought he would be again with the founding of the American Republic. He turned out
to be right.
John Jay, Portrait by Gilbert Stuart
John Jay was the author of five of the Federalist Papers. He would
later serve as Chief Justice of the United States. Jay became ill after
only contributed 4 essays, and was only able to write one more
before the end of the project, which explains the large gap in time
between them.
Jay's Contributions were Federalist: No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5, and
No. 64.
Portrait of James Madison
James Madison, Hamilton's major collaborator, later President
of the United States and "Father of the Constitution." He wrote 29
of the Federalist Papers, although Madison himself, and many
others since then, asserted that he had written more. A known
error in Hamilton's list is that he incorrectly ascribed No. 54 to
John Jay, when in fact Jay wrote No. 64, has provided some
evidence for Madison's suggestion. Nearly all of the statistical
studies show that the disputed papers were written by Madison,
but as the writers themselves released no complete list, no one
will ever know for sure.
Opposition to the Bill of Rights
The Federalist Papers, specifically Federalist No. 84, are notable for their opposition to what later became the United States Bill of Rights. Hamilton didn't support the addition
of a Bill of Rights because he believed that the Constitution wasn't written to limit the
people. It listed the powers of the government and left all that remained to the states
and the people. Of course, this sentiment wasn't universal, and the United States not
only got a Constitution, but a Bill of Rights too.
The Federalist Papers
No. 1: General Introduction
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
October 27, 1787
No.2: Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence
Written by: John Jay
October 31, 1787
No. 3: The Same Subject Continued: Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and
Influence
Written by: John Jay
November 3, 1787
No. 4: The Same Subject Continued: Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and
Influence
Written by: John Jay
November 7, 1787
No. 5: The Same Subject Continued: Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and
Influence
Written by: John Jay
November 10, 1787
No. 6:Concerning Dangers from Dissensions Between the States
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
November 14, 1787
No. 7 The Same Subject Continued: Concerning Dangers from Dissensions Between the
States
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
November 15, 1787
No. 8: The Consequences of Hostilities Between the States
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
November 20, 1787
No. 9 The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
November 21, 1787
No. 10 The Same Subject Continued: The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic
Faction and Insurrection
Written by: James Madison
November 22, 1787
No. 11 The Utility of the Union in Respect to Commercial Relations and a Navy
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
November 24, 1787
No 12: The Utility of the Union In Respect to Revenue
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
November 27, 1787
No. 13: Advantage of the Union in Respect to Economy in Government
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
November 28, 1787
No. 14: Objections to the Proposed Constitution From Extent of Territory Answered
Written by: James Madison
November 30, 1787
No 15: The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
December 1, 1787
No. 16: The Same Subject Continued: The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to
Preserve the Union
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
December 4, 1787
No. 17: The Same Subject Continued: The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to
Preserve the Union
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
December 5, 1787
No. 18: The Same Subject Continued: The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to
Preserve the Union
Written by: James Madison
December 7, 1787
No. 19: The Same Subject Continued: The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to
Preserve the Union
Written by: James Madison
December 8, 1787
No. 20: The Same Subject Continued: The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to
Preserve the Union
Written by: James Madison
December 11, 1787
No. 21: Other Defects of the Present Confederation
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
December 12, 1787
No. 22: The Same Subject Continued: Other Defects of the Present Confederation
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
December 14, 1787
No. 23: The Necessity of a Government as Energetic as the One Proposed to the
Preservation of the Union
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
December 18, 1787
No. 24: The Powers Necessary to the Common Defense Further Considered
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
December 19, 1787
No. 25: The Same Subject Continued: The Powers Necessary to the Common Defense
Further Considered
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
December 21, 1787
No. 26: The Idea of Restraining the Legislative Authority in Regard to the Common
Defense Considered
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
December 22, 1787
No. 27: The Same Subject Continued: The Idea of Restraining the Legislative Authority
in Regard to the Common Defense Considered
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
December 25, 1787
No. 28: The Same Subject Continued: The Idea of Restraining the Legislative Authority
in Regard to the Common Defense Considered
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
December 26, 1787
No. 29: Concerning the Militia
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
January 9, 1788
No. 30: Concerning the General Power of Taxation
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
December 28, 1787
No. 31: The Same Subject Continued: Concerning the General Power of Taxation
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
January 1, 1788
No. 32: The Same Subject Continued: Concerning the General Power of Taxation
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
January 2, 1788
No. 33: The Same Subject Continued: Concerning the General Power of Taxation
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
January 2, 1788
No. 34: The Same Subject Continued: Concerning the General Power of Taxation
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
January 5, 1788
No. 35: The Same Subject Continued: Concerning the General Power of Taxation
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
January 5, 1788
No. 36: The Same Subject Continued: Concerning the General Power of Taxation
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
January 8, 1788
No. 37: Concerning the Difficulties of the Convention in Devising a Proper Form of
Government
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
January 11, 1788
No. 38: The Same Subject Continued, and the Incoherence of the Objections to the New
Plan Exposed
Written by: James Madison
January 12, 1788
No. 39: The Conformity of the Plan to Republican Principles
Written by: James Madison
January 18, 1788
No. 40: The Powers of the Convention to Form a Mixed Government Examined and
Sustained
Written by: James Madison
January 18, 1788
No. 41: General View of the Powers Conferred by the Constitution
Written by: James Madison
January 19, 1788
No. 42: The Powers Conferred by the Constitution Further Considered
Written by: James Madison
January 22, 1788
No. 43: The Same Subject Continued: The Powers Conferred by the Constitution Further
Considered
Written by: James Madison
January 23, 1788
No. 44: Restrictions on the Authority of the Several States
Written by: James Madison
January 25, 1788
No. 45: The Alleged Danger From the Powers of the Union to the State Governments
Considered
Written by: James Madison
January 26, 1788
No. 46: The Influence of the State and Federal Governments Compared
Written by: James Madison
January 29, 1788
No. 47: The Particular Structure of the New Government and the Distribution of Power
Among Its Different Parts
Written by: James Madison
January 30, 1788
No. 48: These Departments Should Not Be So Far Separated as to Have No
Constitutional Control Over Each Other
Written by: James Madison
February 1, 1788
No. 49: Method of Guarding Against the Encroachments of Any One Department of
Government
Written by: James Madison
February 2, 1788
No. 50: Periodic Appeals to the People Considered
Written by: James Madison
February 5, 1788
No. 51: The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances
Between the Different Departments
Written by: James Madison
February 6, 1788
No. 52: The House of Representatives
Written by: James Madison
February 8, 1788
No. 53: The Same Subject Continued: The House of Representatives
Written by: James Madison
February 9, 1788
No. 54: The Apportionment of Members Among the States
Written by: James Madison
February 12, 1788
No. 55: The Total Number of the House of Representatives
Written by: James Madison
February 13, 1788
No. 56: The Same Subject Continued: The Total Number of the House of
Representatives
Written by: James Madison
February 16, 1788
No. 57: The Alleged Tendency of the New Plan to Elevate the Few at the Expense of the
Many
Written by: James Madison
February 19, 1788
No. 58: Objection That The Number of Members Will Not Be Augmented as the
Progress of Population Demands Considered
Written by: James Madison
February 20, 1788
No. 59: Concerning the Power of Congress to Regulate the Election of Members
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
February 22, 1788
No. 60: The Same Subject Continued: Concerning the Power of Congress to Regulate the
Election of Members
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
February 23, 1788
No. 61: The Same Subject Continued: Concerning the Power of Congress to Regulate the
Election of Members
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
February 26, 1788
No. 62: The Senate
Written by: James Madison
February 27, 1788
No. 63: The Senate Continued
Written by: James Madison
March 1, 1788
No. 64: The Powers of the Senate
Written by: John Jay
March 5, 1788
No. 65: The Powers of the Senate Continued
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
March 7, 1788
No. 66: Objections to the Power of the Senate To Set as a Court for Impeachments
Further Considered
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
March 8, 1788
No. 67: The Executive Department
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
March 11, 1788
No. 68: The Mode of Electing the President
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
March 12, 1788
No. 69: The Real Character of the Executive
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
March 14, 1788
No. 70: The Executive Department Further Considered
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
March 15, 1788
No. 71: The Duration in Office of the Executive
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
March 18, 1788
No. 72: The Same Subject Continued, and Re-Eligibility of the Executive Considered
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
March 19, 1788
No. 73: The Provision For The Support of the Executive, and the Veto Power
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
March 21, 1788
No. 74: The Command of the Military and Naval Forces, and the Pardoning Power of the
Executive
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
March 25, 1788
No. 75: The Treaty Making Power of the Executive
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
March 26, 1788
No. 76: The Appointing Power of the Executive
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
April 1, 1788
No. 77: The Appointing Power Continued and Other Powers of the Executive Considered
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
April 2, 1788
No. 78: The Judiciary Department
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
June 14, 1788
No. 79: The Judiciary Continued
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
June 18, 1788
No. 80: The Powers of the Judiciary
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
June 21, 1788
No. 81: The Judiciary Continued, and the Distribution of the Judicial Authority
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
June 25, 1788
No. 82: The Judiciary Continued
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
July 2, 1788
No. 83: The Judiciary Continued in Relation to Trial by Jury
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
July 5, 1788
No. 84: Certain General and Miscellaneous Objections to the Constitution Considered
and Answered
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
July 16, 1788
No. 85: Concluding Remarks
Written by: Alexander Hamilton
August 13, 1788
You can read the entire works from the Library of Congress.
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