Federalist

a series of political essays. Between the 27th of October, 1787, and the 2d of April, 1788, seventy-seven essays were published in the Independent Journal of New York City. These essays were written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, over the signature of "Publius," and were addressed "to the people of the State of New York," with the purpose of influencing the voters of New York to ratify the new Constitution of the United States. These essays, with nine others, were afterwards published in a volume now well known as the Federalist. Their influence at the time was considerable. They are now of importance as showing the political thought of Hamilton's day, and the views of contemporaries upon the Constitution. Fifty-one of the essays were written by Hamilton, twenty-nine by Madison, and five by Jay.