The Federalist Papers

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The Federalist Papers are a collection of eighty-five articles and essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay in favor of ratifying the United States Constitution. First appearing in 1787 as a series of anonymous letters to New York newspapers, this collective body of work was foremost intended to influence the vote in favor of ratifying the Constitution. In Federalist No. 1, Hamilton set their debate in broader political terms as well. "It has been frequently remarked," he wrote, "that it seems to have been reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force." Among the highlights is Federalist No. 10, in which Madison discusses the means of preventing rule by majority faction and advocates for a large, commercial republic. This is generally regarded as the most important of the eighty-five essays from a philosophical perspective, and it is complemented by Federalist No. 14, in which Madison takes the measure of the United States, declares it appropriate for an extended republic, and concludes with a defense of the Constitution. In Federalist No. 70, Hamilton advocates for a one-man chief executive, and in Federalist No. 78 he lays the groundwork for the doctrine of judicial review by federal courts. Though centuries old, these timeless essays remain the benchmark of American political philosophy.