Federalist Papers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
The Federalist Papers

Title page of the first collection of The Federalist (1788). This particular volume was a gift from Alexander Hamilton's wife Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton to her sister Angelica
Authors	Alexander Hamilton James Madison John Jay (all under the pseudonym 'Publius')
Original title	The Federalist
Country	United States
Language	English
Publisher	The Independent Journal New York Packet The Daily Advertiser J. & A. McLean
Publication date	October 27, 1787 – May 28, 1788
Media type	Newspaper book

The Federalist Papers is a group of 85 articles and essays. They were written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. They used the secret pen name "Publius." Their goal was to convince people to approve, or ratify, the new Constitution of the United States.

These essays were first printed in newspapers in New York between October 1787 and April 1788. Later, 77 of these essays, plus eight new ones, were put together into two books called The Federalist. These books were published in March and May 1788. The last eight essays were also printed in New York newspapers later that summer.

The authors wanted to help voters understand and support the Constitution. In Federalist No. 1, they explained their big goal: to show that people could create a good government through careful thought and choice, rather than by accident or force.

Some of the most famous essays include:

• Federalist No. 10: Here, Madison talks about how to stop a large group (a "faction") from taking over and hurting others. He suggests that a big republic, like the United States, is best for this.
• Federalist No. 51: Madison explains the idea of "checks and balances." This means dividing government power into different parts so no single part becomes too strong. He famously wrote that government itself is "the greatest of all reflections on human nature."
• Federalist No. 70: Hamilton argues for having one strong leader for the country, like a president.
• Federalist No. 78: Hamilton explains the idea of "judicial review." This means that courts can decide if laws or actions by the government follow the Constitution.
• Federalist No. 84: Hamilton argues that a Bill of Rights was not needed in the Constitution. He believed the Constitution already protected people's freedoms.

Many historians agree that The Federalist Papers are a very important explanation of the Constitution. They are considered a classic in political science.

On June 21, 1788, enough states had approved the Constitution for it to become law. By late July 1788, the new government began to form.

History of the Federalist Papers

How the Papers Started

Alexander Hamilton, who wrote most of The Federalist Papers.

After the Constitutional Convention finished writing the new Constitution in September 1787, it was sent to the states for approval. Not everyone agreed with it. Some people, known as "Anti-Federalists," started writing articles against the new Constitution. They used pen names like "Cato" and "Brutus."

To answer these criticisms, Alexander Hamilton decided to write a series of essays. He wanted to explain and defend the proposed Constitution to the people of New York. In Federalist No. 1, he promised to answer "all the objections" that people had.

Hamilton asked others to help him. John Jay wrote four early essays, but then got sick. He wrote only one more later. James Madison, who was in New York for Congress, joined Hamilton and became his main partner.

Hamilton chose the pen name "Publius." This name came from Publius Valerius Poplicola, an ancient Roman who helped start the Roman Republic. His name meant "friend of the people."

Who Wrote What?

James Madison, Hamilton's main helper, later became the fourth president of the United States (1809-1817).

When The Federalist Papers were first published, the authors kept their identities secret. But smart people soon figured out who Hamilton, Madison, and Jay were.

After Hamilton died in 1804, a list appeared saying he wrote two-thirds of the essays. However, some essays were later found to have been written by Madison. Today, experts agree on who wrote which essays:

• Alexander Hamilton: Wrote 51 essays (Nos. 1, 6–9, 11–13, 15–17, 21–36, 59–61, and 65–85).
• James Madison: Wrote 29 essays (Nos. 10, 14, 18–20, 37–58 and 62–63).
• John Jay: Wrote 5 essays (Nos. 2–5 and 64).

In just six months, these three men wrote a total of 85 articles!

• Hamilton became the first Secretary of the Treasury in 1789.
• Madison, often called the "Father of the Constitution," later became a leader in the U.S. House of Representatives. He then served as the fourth president of the United States (1809–1817).
• John Jay became the first Chief Justice of the United States in 1789. He later served as governor of New York.

How the Papers Were Published

An advertisement for the book version of The Federalist.

The Federalist articles first appeared in three New York newspapers starting on October 27, 1787. Even though they were written quickly, they were read widely. Hamilton, Madison, and Jay wrote very fast, sometimes publishing three or four new essays in a single week. This quick pace made it hard for their opponents to respond.

Hamilton also encouraged newspapers outside New York to print the essays. They were published in several other states where people were debating the Constitution.

Because the essays were first printed in New York, most of them start with the greeting: "To the People of the State of New York."

People wanted to read the essays so much that they were soon published in book form. The first 36 essays were released as a book called The Federalist Volume 1 on March 22, 1788. A second book with the remaining essays (Nos. 37–85) came out on May 28, 1788.

Over time, different versions of the books were published. In 1792, a French edition finally revealed that the authors were Hamilton, Madison, and Jay. In 1810, an American edition used a list left by Hamilton to show which author wrote each essay.

Main Ideas and Topics

In Federalist No. 1, Hamilton outlined six main topics that the essays would cover:

• Why the Union is good for the country: Covered in essays 2 through 14.
• Why the old government (the Confederation) was not strong enough: Covered in essays 15 through 22.
• Why a strong government like the one proposed is needed: Covered in essays 23 through 36.
• How the new Constitution fits the ideas of a republic (a government run by elected representatives): Covered in essays 37 through 84.
• How the new Constitution is similar to state constitutions: Briefly mentioned in essay 85.
• How the new Constitution will protect freedom and prosperity: Briefly mentioned in essay 85.

The essays were written by all three authors at first. Later, Hamilton and Madison each wrote long series of essays on their own.

Debate Over a Bill of Rights

The Federalist Papers are known for their arguments against adding a Bill of Rights to the Constitution. Alexander Hamilton, in Federalist No. 84, worried that if a list of rights was written down, people might think those were the only rights they had. He believed the Constitution already protected many freedoms.

However, not everyone agreed with Hamilton. Some people, like Robert Yates (writing as "Brutus"), argued that a Bill of Rights was very important. They feared that without it, the government could become too powerful and take away people's rights. This debate was important, and eventually, the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution. The Ninth Amendment later clarified that people have other rights beyond those listed.

How Courts Use the Papers

Judges in the United States often look at The Federalist Papers when they are trying to understand the Constitution. They use these essays to see what the people who wrote and approved the Constitution intended. For example, by the year 2000, The Federalist had been quoted 291 times in decisions by the Supreme Court, the highest court in the U.S.

Complete List of Essays

The colors in the table below show who wrote each paper.

     Alexander Hamilton      John Jay      James Madison

Images for kids

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  John Jay, author of five of The Federalist Papers, later became the first Chief Justice of the United States

See also

In Spanish: The Federalist Papers para niños

• American philosophy