The eighty-five essays that make up The Federalist Papers were written speedily, with a well-defined purpose in mind: to persuade the public and potential delegates to various state conventions to ratify the newly drafted U.S. Constitution. Following the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in May 1787, a furious debate ensued, with George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and other high-profile figures supporting the Constitution's ratification and other illustrious leaders vehemently opposing it. The proposed Constitution called for a much stronger centralized government to supplant the existing Articles of Confederation, which had left political and economic power largely in the hands of the states.

  The eighty-five essays that make up The Federalist Papers were written speedily, with a well-defined purpose in mind: to persuade the public and potential delegates to various state conventions to ratify the newly drafted U.S. Constitution. Following the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in May 1787, a furious debate ensued, with George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and other high-profile figures supporting the Constitution"s ratification and other illustrious leaders vehemently opposing it. The proposed Constitution called for a much stronger centralized government to supplant the existing Articles of Confederation, which had left political and economic power largely in the hands of the states.

 INTRODUCTION

CHRONOLOGY OF THE LivEs OF ALEXANDER

 HAMILTON, JAMES MADISON AND JOHN JAY

 HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF The Federalist Papers

The Federalist

 The Constitution of the United States

NOTES

INTERPRETIVE NOTES 

CRITICAL EXCERPTS

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE INTERESTED READER

INDEX