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the essays were signed "Publius"
Publius Valerius was one of founders of the Roman Republic who overthrew the Etruscan kings
Authors:
Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison
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Alexander Hamilton
important federalist thinker and politician
was Washington's first Secretary of the Treasury
Hamilton applied federalist principles towards application of the central government's powers
John Jay
an important Revolutionary era patriot, diplomat and political leader
Jay became the first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
James Madison
provided the philosophical basis for the new Constitution
became fourth president
known as the "father of the Constitution" because:
Madison set the agenda for the Constitutional Convention
he created a "blueprint" (outline) for the new constitution
and framed his ideas through history and philosophy
Federalist Papers identified authorship:
Alexander Hamilton (51 articles: Nos. 1, 6–9, 11–13, 15–17, 21–36, 59–61, and 65–85)
John Jay (5 articles: Nos. 2–5 and 64).
James Madison (29 articles: Nos. 10, 14, 18–20,[14] 37–58 and 62–63)
Publication
the Papers were published in three New York newspapers
Daily Journal, New-York Packet and Daily Advertiser
they were reprinted elsewhere and subsequently printed as a collection
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"Addressed to the People of New York"
New York State was a battleground for the arguments over adopting the proposed Constitution because of strong anti-federalist sentiment, including the Governor at the time, George Clinton.
While the Federalist (so-called at the time) was reprinted elsewhere, it's largest circulation was in New York
it is unclear the extent to which it influenced other states, such as Pennsylvania which ratified the Constitution amidst the publication of the Federalist Papers.
Regardless of their direct impact upon the ratification of the Constitution, the Federalist Papers magnificently laid out the logic, reasons, and purposes of the proposed Constitution and have ever since been used by historians, the Courts, and the federal and state governments for guidance and clarification of the meaning of the Constitution.
Purpose of the Federalist Papers
to explain and defend the proposed Constitution
and to counter arguments made against it by the anti-federalists
to influence the states to adopt the new constitution
Ideas behind the Papers
to identify the need for a strong central government
to identify the protections for the states and the people from that central government
principally through separation of powers, checks & balances, and accountability to the people
Legacy of the Papers:
stand as evidence of the ideas and intentions behind the design of the Constitution
have been used in Courts in order to help define the legal meanings of the Constitution
remind Americans of the philosophy of government behind the Constitution