The Federalist

A classic of American political thought, The Federalist is a series of eighty-five essays by three authors-Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay-the purpose of which was to gain support for the proposed new Constitution of the United States, a document that many considered too radical. Most of the "papers" were published in periodicals as the vote on approving it drew near. Without the support of these powerfully persuasive essays, the Constitution most likely would not have been ratified and America might not have survived as a nation.