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| | == The ''Federalist Papers'' == | | == The ''Federalist Papers'' == |
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| − | The ''Federalist Papers'' were a series of articles published anonymously under the pen name "Publius" in an influential New York City paper in order to urge that large State to ratify the U.S. Constitution in late 1787 through April 4, 1788. Today we know that 51 of these articles were written by Alexander Hamilton and 29 were written by James Madison, two of the most important delegates to the Constitutional Convention, and 5 were written by John Jay, a future Supreme Court Justice. | + | The ''Federalist Papers'' were a series of articles published anonymously under the pen name "Publius" in an influential New York City newspaper in order to urge New York to ratify the U.S. Constitution, during the period of late 1787 through early April 1788. Today we know that 51 of these articles were written by Alexander Hamilton and 29 were written by James Madison, two of the most important delegates to the Constitutional Convention, and 5 were written by John Jay, a future Supreme Court Justice. |
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| | Today the ''Federalist Papers'' are the leading resource for interpreting what the Constitution means. They are cited by their article number, as in "''Federalist No. 83''," in order to reference a particular article. Usually the person who authored the particular article is included in parentheses, as in "''Federalist No. 83 (A. Hamilton)''." | | Today the ''Federalist Papers'' are the leading resource for interpreting what the Constitution means. They are cited by their article number, as in "''Federalist No. 83''," in order to reference a particular article. Usually the person who authored the particular article is included in parentheses, as in "''Federalist No. 83 (A. Hamilton)''." |
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| − | The most famous of the ''Federalist Papers'' is ''Federalist No. 10'' by James Madison, in he which he makes a brilliant argument a strong union of the States will overcome harmful factions better than an individual State is able to. | + | The most famous of the ''Federalist Papers'' is ''Federalist No. 10'' by James Madison, in he which he makes a brilliant argument that a strong union of the States will overcome harmful factions better than an individual State is able to. Today, California and New York are protected against liberal factions by the more conservative influence of states like Texas. |
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| | The full text of the Federalist Papers are available online for free, at many websites.<ref>http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa00.htm</ref> | | The full text of the Federalist Papers are available online for free, at many websites.<ref>http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa00.htm</ref> |
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| − | There were also so-called "Anti-Federalist Papers," which opposed ratification of the U.S. Constitution. The most prominent among the Founders who opposed the U.S. Constitution were Patrick Henry, George Mason, and George Clinton.<ref>http://www.thefederalistpapers.org/anti-federalist-papers</ref> They and others wrote anti-Constitution articles that almost irrelevant today, because the U.S. Constitution was ratified and very successful. | + | There were also so-called "Anti-Federalist Papers," which opposed ratification of the U.S. Constitution. The most prominent among the Founders who opposed the U.S. Constitution were Patrick Henry, George Mason, and George Clinton.<ref>http://www.thefederalistpapers.org/anti-federalist-papers</ref> They and others wrote anti-Constitution articles that are almost irrelevant today, because the U.S. Constitution was ratified and became so very successful. |
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| | == Resources == | | == Resources == |