Federalist Pamphlets: The Constitution's Written Champions

The Federalist Papers, a collection of 85 articles and essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the pseudonym Publius, were published to promote the ratification of the United States Constitution. The Federalist Papers were written and published to urge New Yorkers to ratify the proposed Constitution, which was drafted in Philadelphia in 1787. Thomas Paine's pamphlet Common Sense also played a significant role in inspiring the American Revolution and promoting the idea of American exceptionalism. Benjamin Rush recommended publisher Robert Bell, and Paine's pamphlet was first published on January 10, 1776. Other notable pamphlets from the time include An Address to the Freemen of South Carolina on the Federal Constitution by David Ramsay and Observations on the New Constitution by Elbridge Gerry.

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Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense'

Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" is a 47-page pamphlet written in 1775–1776, advocating for independence from Great Britain to people in the Thirteen Colonies. It was published anonymously on January 10, 1776, at the onset of the American Revolution, and became an immediate sensation.

Paine, who had arrived in the American colonies in November 1774, quickly immersed himself in the Philadelphia newspaper business. He began writing "Common Sense" in late 1775 under the working title "Plain Truth". It initially took the form of a series of letters intended for publication in various Philadelphia papers. However, as the content grew in length and complexity, Paine opted for the pamphlet format.

In "Common Sense", Paine assembled moral and political arguments to inspire everyday Americans to fight for an egalitarian government. He structured the pamphlet like a sermon, connecting independence with common dissenting Protestant beliefs to forge a distinctively American political identity. Paine's writing was clear and persuasive, resonating deeply with the populace. One Marylander wrote to the Pennsylvania Evening Post on February 6, 1776:

> "If you know the author of COMMON SENSE, tell him he has done wonders and worked miracles. His stile [sic] is plain and nervous; his facts are true; his reasoning, just and conclusive."

"Common Sense" made a compelling case for independence, which had not been seriously contemplated in intellectual circles in either Britain or the American colonies. Paine's work was highly influential, with some scholars arguing that its impact stemmed from its context of publication, touching a radical populace at the height of their radicalism. It sold close to 100,000 copies in 1776, according to Paine's estimate, and continues to be in print today.

The Federalist Papers

Hamilton, Madison, and Jay published the essays in The Independent Journal, the New-York Packet, and the Daily Advertiser. The essays were published anonymously, and 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, with the first 36 essays being published as a bound volume in March 1788, followed by a second volume containing essays 37-77 and the previously unpublished essays 78-85 in May 1788. The last eight papers were republished in New York newspapers between June and August 1788.

The authorship of the individual essays that constitute The Federalist Papers has been a subject of debate. While it is clear that Hamilton, Madison, and Jay were the primary authors, there have been claims that Hamilton alone wrote two-thirds of the essays, and that several of the essays were written by Madison.

Alexander Hamilton's pseudonym, 'Publius'

Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, is known for his contribution to The Federalist Papers, a series of 85 essays written in support of the new Constitution of the United States. Hamilton wrote the essays alongside James Madison and John Jay, and the trio published them anonymously under the pseudonym "Publius".

The Federalist Papers were written and published to urge New Yorkers to ratify the proposed United States Constitution, which was drafted in Philadelphia in 1787. The essays explain particular provisions of the Constitution in detail and were published primarily in two New York state newspapers: The New York Packet and The Independent Journal. They were also reprinted in other newspapers in New York state and in several cities in other states.

Hamilton chose the pseudonym "Publius" in honour of Publius Valerius Publicola, one of the Roman aristocrats who overthrew the monarchy in 509 BC and is credited with being instrumental in the founding of the Roman Republic. Hamilton had previously used the pseudonym in 1778 for three letters in which he attacked fellow Federalist Samuel Chase and revealed that Chase had taken advantage of knowledge gained in Congress to try to dominate the flour market.

The Federalist Papers were written and published with haste, but they were widely read and greatly influenced the shape of American political institutions. At times, three to four new essays by Publius appeared in the papers in a single week.

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John Jay's 'An Address to the People of the State of New York'

John Jay, a member of the New York State Convention, wrote "An Address to the People of the State of New York" in 1787 or 1788. The pamphlet was published anonymously under the pseudonym "A Citizen of New York" or "A Plebian".

In his pamphlet, Jay addresses the proposed United States Constitution, which was drafted in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787. He discusses the concerns of some that the proposed Constitution did not adequately protect certain rights, such as the liberty of the press and the right to a trial by jury. Jay argues that the Constitution does, in fact, secure these rights and that silence on certain issues should not be construed as a denial of those rights. He also addresses complaints about the lack of a bill of rights accompanying the proposed Constitution, pointing out that the Constitution of the State of New York also did not have a bill of rights.

George Washington, the first President of the United States, praised the pamphlet, stating that it had a "most astonishing influence in converting anti-federalism to a knowledge and belief that the new Constitution was their only political salvation."

John Jay was a prominent figure in the early history of the United States. Born in New York City in 1745, he graduated from King's College (later Columbia University) in 1764 and began his legal career in 1768. He was a member of the Continental Congress and played a key role in drafting the New York State Constitution. He served as the first Chief Justice of the United States from 1789 to 1795 and was later appointed by President Washington to negotiate a treaty with Great Britain. Upon his return to the United States, he was elected Governor of New York and served two three-year terms. He is known for his contributions to the abolition of slavery and for signing a revised criminal statute that restricted the death penalty to certain crimes.

In addition to "An Address to the People of the State of New York," John Jay also contributed to "The Federalist Papers," a series of 85 essays written in support of the new Constitution. Jay, along with Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, published the essays anonymously under the pen name "Publius" in various New York state newspapers.

Anti-Federalist pamphlets

The Anti-Federalist Papers were a series of essays written by those opposed to or concerned about the merits of the United States Constitution of 1787. The authors of these papers, known as Anti-Federalists, argued against the implementation of a stronger federal government without protections for certain rights. They wanted to prevent the ratification of the new Constitution, but they were unsuccessful in this aim.

The Anti-Federalist Papers were written by a variety of authors, who used pseudonyms such as "Brutus", "Cato", and "Federal Farmer" to remain anonymous. Melancton Smith, a New York politician, is considered to be the author of the "Federal Farmer" articles and may have written the sixteen "Brutus" letters. Justice Robert Yates is also believed to be the author of the "Brutus" letters, which were published in the New-York Journal and the Weekly Register. "Cato" is thought to have been New York Governor George Clinton.

The Anti-Federalist Papers were written over a number of years, starting on 25 September 1787, just eight days after the final draft of the US Constitution was published. They were published in newspapers, with the most well-known series of sixteen essays appearing in the New York Journal from October 1787 to April 1788. The Anti-Federalist Papers were not part of an organized project, and there was no single book or collection of the papers at the time.

Despite failing to halt the ratification of the Constitution, the Anti-Federalists succeeded in influencing the first assembly of the United States Congress to draft the Bill of Rights. The first major collection of the Anti-Federalist Papers was compiled by Morton Borden, a professor at Columbia University, in 1965. The most frequently cited contemporary collection, "The Complete Anti-Federalist", was published in 1981 by scholars at the University of Chicago.

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