The Federalist Papers

by Alexander Hamilton

"The Federalist Papers" by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison is a collection of 85 essays written between 1787-1788. Published under the pseudonym "Publius," these articles aimed to persuade New York voters to ratify the proposed Constitution of the United States. The essays tackle fundamental questions about governance, from preventing tyranny of the majority to establishing checks and balances. They address whether societies can create good government through reason and choice, or must rely on accident and force. This defense of the Constitution became a landmark work in political science.