Eleanor Finch
The Federalist Papers, a series of 85 anonymous letters to newspapers, co-written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, were published to win support from New York for the Constitution. The papers assured the public that a strong central government was necessary for the United States to act effectively in foreign affairs and that the separation of powers in the central government would prevent the national government from becoming a tyrannical power.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of ratification | 1788 |
| Location of printing | Albany, New York |
| Printers | Claxton and Babcock |
| Date of printing | Between February 11 and March 21, 1788 |
| Date of signing | September 17, 1787 |
| Number of states that had already ratified | Six |
| Date of election of delegates | April 29, 1788 |
| Date of New York ratification convention | Mid-June 1788 |
| Leaders of the Federalists | Alexander Hamilton, George Washington |
| Leaders of the Anti-Federalists | Governor George Clinton |
| Number of states needed for ratification | Nine |
| Number of essays by Federalists | 85 |
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What You'll Learn
The Federalist Papers
The papers can be broken down by author as well as by topic. At the start of the series, all three authors were contributing; the first 20 papers are broken down as 11 by Hamilton, five by Madison, and four by Jay. The rest of the series, however, is dominated by three long segments by a single writer: Nos. 21–36 by Hamilton, Nos. 37–58 by Madison, and No. 65 through the end by Hamilton, published after Madison had left for Virginia.
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Alexander Hamilton's leadership
Hamilton, along with James Madison, led the Federalists in New York, who were in favour of ratifying the Constitution. They were opposed by the Anti-Federalists, led by Governor George Clinton. Recognising the importance of New York's support for the Constitution due to its political and economic influence, Hamilton and Madison collaborated on a series of 85 essays, known as The Federalist Papers, to build support for the Constitution among the New York delegates and the general public.
The Federalist Papers, originally published anonymously, made two key arguments. Firstly, they asserted that a strong central government was necessary for the United States to act effectively, particularly in foreign affairs. Secondly, they contended that the separation of powers in the proposed government would prevent the national government from becoming tyrannical, with each branch serving as a "check and balance" on the others.
Hamilton and Madison arranged for the first 36 essays to be published in book form and distributed to friends and delegates, with the hope of influencing the upcoming New York ratification convention. The essays were well-received by prominent figures such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, who praised their contribution to political philosophy.
In addition to his written arguments, Hamilton likely played a direct role in the New York ratification convention, which met in mid-June 1788. The Federalists' efforts were ultimately successful, as New York became the 11th state to ratify the Constitution on July 26, 1788, helping to secure the document's legitimacy and paving the way for the establishment of the federal government.
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George Washington's endorsement
Washington's endorsement carried considerable weight, as he was widely respected as a leader and a founding father of the United States. While he generally stayed above the ratification debate, his support for the Constitution was well known. Washington also praised "The Federalist Papers", a series of 85 anonymous letters to newspapers co-written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. These papers were designed to build support for the Constitution in New York and Virginia, which were seen as crucial states due to their political and economic influence.
The Federalist Papers addressed key concerns of the time, assuring the public of the need for a strong central government and explaining how the separation of powers provided a check and balance to prevent tyranny. Washington's endorsement and the Federalist Papers helped sway public opinion in favour of ratification, despite opposition from the Anti-Federalists, led by Governor George Clinton in New York. The late printing and distribution of the Constitution in Albany, New York, just before the statewide ratification convention, can be seen as a strategic move by the Federalists to garner support, particularly in Albany and Montgomery Counties.
The ratification process in New York was complex and contentious, reflecting the deep divisions among New Yorkers over the merits of the Constitution. The Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, faced strong opposition from the Anti-Federalists, who clamoured for a Bill of Rights and fought to preserve state autonomy. Ultimately, Washington's endorsement, along with the persuasive arguments in the Federalist Papers, played a crucial role in influencing public sentiment and securing the ratification of the US Constitution in New York.
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Anti-Federalist opposition
The Anti-Federalist opposition in New York was led by Governor George Clinton. The Anti-Federalists clamored for a Bill of Rights and fought to preserve the autonomy of the state against federal encroachments. They also demanded prior amendments to be sent to a second convention before they would accept the new government.
During the debate in Massachusetts, the opposition forced the Federalists to promise to consider amendments protecting the liberties of the people after the Constitution was ratified as written. In New Hampshire, the Federalists thought they did not have enough votes to ratify, so they strategically adjourned the convention until June so that they could muster more support.
The Federalists were building momentum toward the nine states they needed to win, but they knew the main opposition would come from Anti-Federalists in large and powerful states, including Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia. The Anti-Federalists were also mounting an effective opposition in essays and debates.
The Federalist Papers, a series of 85 anonymous letters to newspapers, were co-written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to counter the Anti-Federalist essays. They tried to assure the public of the two key points of the Federalist agenda. First, they explained that a strong government was needed for a variety of reasons, but especially if the United States was to be able to act effectively in foreign affairs. Second, they tried to convince readers that because of the "separation" of powers in the central government, there was little chance of the national government evolving into a tyrannical power. Instead, the separate branches would provide a "check and balance" against each other so that none could rise to complete dominance.
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The need for public distribution
The Federalist Papers, a series of 85 anonymous letters to newspapers, were co-written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. These letters were an attempt to rally support for the proposed government, specifically in Albany and Montgomery Counties. The Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, knew that they faced opposition from the Anti-Federalists in large and powerful states, including New York. As the election of delegates to the statewide ratification convention planned for April 29, 1788, drew near, it was necessary to provide the general public with copies of the Constitution.
The Federalists were building momentum toward the nine states they needed to win, but they knew that the main opposition would come from the Anti-Federalists in large and powerful states, including New York. The Anti-Federalists were also mounting an effective opposition in essays and debates. Some demanded prior amendments to be sent to a second convention before they would accept the new government. During the debate in Massachusetts, opposition forced the Federalists to promise to consider amendments protecting the people's liberties after the Constitution was ratified.
The Federalists needed to win over the public in New York, a state with significant political and economic influence and a strategic geographical location. The distribution of The Federalist Papers was an attempt to do just that. The papers tried to assure the public of two key points of the Federalist agenda. Firstly, they explained that a strong government was needed, especially if the United States was to be able to act effectively in foreign affairs. Secondly, they tried to convince readers that because of the "separation" of powers in the central government, there was little chance of the national government evolving into a tyrannical power. Instead, the separate branches would provide a "check and balance" against each other, preventing any one branch from becoming too dominant.
The Federalist Papers were distributed in the hope of influencing the delegates to the New York and Virginia ratifying conventions. The outcome remained highly uncertain, so a second volume of essays was published on May 28. George Washington praised The Federalist Papers for throwing "new lights upon the science of government" and giving "the rights of man a full and fair discussion." Thomas Jefferson agreed, calling it "the best commentary on the principles of government which ever was written."
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was the fundamental document that outlined a framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the government, individual and civil rights, and other matters.
The US Constitution was ratified in New York in 1788.
Alexander Hamilton was the only New York member of the Constitutional Convention to have signed the Constitution. He led the Federalists in the struggle against the Anti-Federalists, led by Governor George Clinton.
The Federalist Papers were a series of 85 anonymous letters to newspapers, co-written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. The letters assured the public of the need for a strong central government and explained how the separation of powers in the central government would prevent the national government from becoming tyrannical.
The outcome of the ratification was highly uncertain. The Federalists and Anti-Federalists both published essays and held debates to try to influence the delegates to the New York ratification convention. Ultimately, New York ratified the US Constitution, becoming the 11th state on July 26, 1788.
