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[[File:Fed Papers1787 Cover.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Title page of ''The Federalist'' as a book publishing the essays in 1788 (note [[Roman numeral]] at bottom of page, year: MDCCLXXXVIII).<ref>Roman numeral MDCCLXXXVIII totals as MDCC=1700 + LXXX=80 + VIII=8 or 1788.</ref>]]

[[File:Fed Papers1787 Cover.jpg|right|270px|thumb|Title page of ''The Federalist'' as a book publishing the essays in 1788 (note [[Roman numeral]] at bottom of page, year: MDCCLXXXVIII).<ref>Roman numeral MDCCLXXXVIII totals as MDCC=1700 + LXXX=80 + VIII=8 or 1788.</ref>]]

The '''Federalist Papers''' were a series of articles published anonymously in a New York newspaper during 1787-1788 to encourage New York to ratify the [[U.S. Constitution]].  They were also collected as a book titled ''"The Federalist"'' published as 2 volumes in 1788 (''see image'') and reprinted in later years. These articles, 51 by [[Alexander Hamilton]], 29 by [[James Madison]] and 5 by [[John Jay]], are often used today in interpreting the Constitution. All three authors wrote the articles under the pen name "[[Publius]]", a salute to Roman consul Publius Valerius Publicola.

The '''Federalist Papers''' were a series of articles published anonymously in a New York newspaper during 1787-1788 to encourage New York to ratify the [[U.S. Constitution]].  They were also collected as a book titled ''"The Federalist"'' published as 2 volumes in 1788 as '''The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, as Agreed upon by the Federal Convention, September 17, 1787''', and reprinted in later years. These articles, 51 by [[Alexander Hamilton]], 29 by [[James Madison]] and 5 by [[John Jay]], are often used today in interpreting the Constitution. All three authors wrote the articles under the pen name "[[Publius]]", a salute to Roman consul Publius Valerius Publicola.

A portion of the articles are undated, while the dated ones range from November 20, 1787 to April 4, 1788. Originally, they were numbered with [[Roman numeral]]s but later reprinted with [[Arabic numerals]].

A portion of the articles are undated, while the dated ones range from November 20, 1787 to April 4, 1788. Originally, they were numbered with [[Roman numeral]]s but later reprinted with [[Arabic numerals]].

In ''Federalist No. 78'' by Alexander Hamilton, he explained why the federal judiciary should always be the "least dangerous" branch.

In ''Federalist No. 78'' by Alexander Hamilton, he explained why the federal judiciary should always be the "least dangerous" branch.

The full text of the Federalist Papers are available online.<ref>http://www.foundingfathers.info/federalistpapers/</ref>

The full text and audio of the Federalist Papers are freely available online.<ref>http://www.foundingfathers.info/federalistpapers/</ref>

==Background==

==Background==