Eleanor Finch
Alexander Hamilton, along with James Madison and John Jay, wrote a series of 85 essays collectively known as The Federalist Papers. These essays were written between October 1787 and May 1788 under the pseudonym Publius to promote the ratification of the United States Constitution. Hamilton is believed to have written more than two-thirds of these essays, which played a critical role in achieving the Constitution's ratification in New York and across the nation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of essays written by Alexander Hamilton | 51 or 59 |
| Total number of essays in The Federalist Papers | 85 |
| Number of co-writers | 2 |
| Pseudonym used | Publius |
| Names of co-writers | John Jay, James Madison |
| Number of essays written by John Jay | 4 |
| Number of essays written by James Madison | 29 or more |
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What You'll Learn
Hamilton wrote more than two-thirds of the essays
The Federalist Papers is a collection of 85 articles and essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the collective pseudonym "Publius". They were written in support of the ratification of the United States Constitution. While it is difficult to establish the authorial authenticity of the essays, a list emerged after Hamilton's death in 1804, claiming that he alone had written more than two-thirds of The Federalist essays. This amounts to 51 articles: Nos. 1, 6–9, 11–13, 15–17, 21–36, 59–61, and 65–85.
Hamilton played a crucial role in the Constitution's ratification and interpretation. In Federalist No. 84, he argued that there was no need to amend the Constitution with a Bill of Rights, as the proposed Constitution already protected liberty. In Federalist No. 78, he laid the groundwork for the judicial review of federal legislation and executive acts by federal courts. He also made a case for a one-man chief executive in Federalist No. 70.
Hamilton's essays were a measured defence of the Constitution and provided an extensive explanation of the proposed Constitution to the people of New York. He recruited collaborators for the project, including John Jay and James Madison, who became his primary collaborator. Hamilton chose the pseudonym "Publius," which was considered a cut above other Roman names used in the constitutional debate at the time.
The Federalist Papers were published serially in New York state newspapers such as The Independent Journal, the New York Packet, and The Daily Advertiser between October 1787 and May 1788. They played a significant role in achieving the ratification of the Constitution in New York and the rest of the nation. Today, they are considered classics of political literature.
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The authors wrote under the pseudonym Publius
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote 85 essays collectively known as the Federalist Papers under the pseudonym Publius. Hamilton chose the name, which was the first name of Publius Valerius Publicola, a Roman general and statesman who helped found the ancient Roman republic. Publius was also a character in the Acts of the Apostles, who lodged Paul and his shipwrecked companions for three days.
Hamilton, Madison, and Jay published the essays at a rapid pace, with three to four new essays appearing in the papers in a single week. The high demand for the essays led to their publication in a more permanent form. The first 77 essays were published serially in the Independent Journal, the New York Packet, and The Daily Advertiser between October 1787 and April 1788. The last eight papers (Nos. 78–85) were republished in the New York newspapers between June 14 and August 16, 1788.
The Federalist Papers were written to promote the ratification of the Constitution of the United States. The authors attempted to hide their identities due to Hamilton and Madison's attendance at the convention. However, astute observers correctly discerned their identities. Hamilton wrote more than two-thirds of the essays, with Madison and Jay contributing the rest. The authorship of a dozen of the essays is still disputed.
The essays were published under the signature of "Publius, a Citizen of New York" because one of the writers, James Madison, was not a citizen of that state, and the publication had diffused itself among most of the other states. The essays were addressed to the people of New York, as the ratification of the Constitution in that state was doubtful and important.
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The essays were published in New York state newspapers
The Federalist Papers, commonly referred to as the essays written in favour of the new Constitution, were published in various New York state newspapers of the time. The collection of 85 articles and essays was written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the collective pseudonym "Publius". The first 77 of these essays were published serially in the Independent Journal, the New York Packet, and The Daily Advertiser between October 1787 and April 1788.
The Federalist Papers were published primarily in two New York state newspapers: The New York Packet and The Independent Journal. These papers were instrumental in achieving the ratification of the Constitution in New York and the rest of the nation. The authors of the essays attempted to hide their identities at the time of publication, but astute observers correctly discerned the identities of Hamilton, Madison, and Jay.
The Federalist Papers were written and published to urge New Yorkers to ratify the proposed United States Constitution. They explain particular provisions of the Constitution in detail, and today they are often used to help interpret the intentions of those who drafted the Constitution. The essays were published anonymously under the pen name "Publius", and they proved effective in gaining allies for the Constitution.
The last eight papers (Nos. 78-85) were republished in New York newspapers between June 14 and August 16, 1788. A compilation of the first 77 essays and the last eight essays were published in two volumes as The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution by the publishing firm J. & A. McLean in March and May 1788.
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The essays were written to promote the ratification of the Constitution
Alexander Hamilton, along with John Jay and James Madison, wrote a series of 85 essays collectively known as "The Federalist Papers." The essays were written between October 1787 and May 1788 and were published under the pseudonym "Publius" in various New York state newspapers.
The Federalist Papers were created to urge New Yorkers to ratify the proposed United States Constitution. At the time, there was significant opposition to the Constitution, with Anti-Federalists arguing that it gave too much power to the federal government. New York, in particular, was a problematic state for ratification, as only one of its three delegates, Hamilton, had signed the Constitution. The other two delegates had left the convention in anger, and the state was controlled by Anti-Federalists like Governor George Clinton.
Hamilton, recognizing the need to defend the Constitution and promote its ratification, launched a measured defense and extensive explanation of the proposed Constitution to the people of New York. He recruited collaborators for the project, including John Jay and James Madison, who became his primary co-writer.
The essays proved critical in achieving ratification, not just in New York but also across the nation. They provided a rational, learned, and eloquent defense of the Constitution, covering topics such as "Dangers from Dissensions Between the States," "Defects of the Present Confederation," and the "General Power of Taxation." Today, they are considered classics of political literature and are often used to interpret the intentions of those who drafted the Constitution.
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Topics covered by Hamilton included Dangers from Dissensions Between the States
Alexander Hamilton, along with John Jay and James Madison, wrote a series of 85 essays collectively known as "The Federalist Papers." These essays were written in support of the Constitution and played a critical role in achieving its ratification in New York and across the nation. Hamilton himself wrote more than two-thirds of these essays, setting the tone in the first essay by asserting that "the vigor of government is essential to the security of liberty."
One of the topics covered by Hamilton in Federalist No. 7 was "Dangers from Dissensions Between the States." He discussed the spirit of enterprise and unbridled spirit that characterized the commercial part of America. Hamilton argued that there was nothing more likely to disturb the tranquility of nations than their being bound to mutual contributions for a common object that did not yield equal and coincident benefits. He highlighted that disputes over money and taxation were prevalent and that the state of Massachusetts' handling of Shays' Rebellion exemplified the dangers leading to revolt.
Hamilton also addressed the issue of executive power in Federalist No. 70, where he defended the idea of a single executive rather than an executive council. He argued that having multiple people in power could lead to "bitter dissensions," which would weaken the authority and distract from the plans and operations of the government. He cited historical examples, such as the Achaeans and the Roman Republic, to illustrate the challenges posed by having multiple leaders.
In addition to "Dangers from Dissensions Between the States," Hamilton covered other topics such as "Defects of the Present Confederation" and the "General Power of Taxation." His essays were published under the pen name "Publius" and are considered classics of political literature. They not only contributed to the ratification of the Constitution but also provide valuable insights into the intentions of those who drafted it.
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Frequently asked questions
Alexander Hamilton wrote 51 of the 85 essays that make up The Federalist Papers, a collection of articles and essays written to promote the ratification of the US Constitution.
Hamilton collaborated with John Jay and James Madison, who are believed to have written the remaining 34 essays.
The Federalist Papers were written and published to urge New Yorkers to ratify the proposed US Constitution. They explain particular provisions of the Constitution in detail and are often used to help interpret the intentions of those who drafted it.
