Source Texts
Text
The Federalist Papers are a collection of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison. They were published pseudonymously in the Independent Journal and other New York newspapers in 1787-88 and argue that New Yorkers should vote to ratify the proposed United States Constitution. Though the authorship of most of the individual essays is certain, that of a few is in question: for instance, while No. 15. 'The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union,' was surely penned by Hamilton, No. 52. 'The House of Representatives,' may have been written by either Hamilton or Madison.