Template:Federalist Papers

The Federalist Papers

a series of 85 essays published in New York newspapers and distributed nationally in 1787-1788
the essays explained and defended the proposed federal constitution of 1787
- which can be generally defined as creation of a new, centralized government under "republican" principles
  - those being representation, separation of powers, and limits on the power of the majority
the essays were signed "Publius"
- Publius Valerius was one of founders of the Roman Republic who overthrew the Etruscan kings
the authors were:
- Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison

click EXPAND for more on the authors

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

Purpose of the Federalist Papers

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