The Federalist Papers

Definition

The Federalist Papers are a series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the pseudonym "Publius" advocating for the ratification of the United States Constitution.

Related terms

Anti-Federalists: These were individuals who opposed creating a stronger U.S. federal government and which later opposed ratification of the 1787 constitution; they're kind-of like critics reviewing and opposing a movie before its release.

Ratification: This is formal approval or consent, usually regarding laws or agreements; it's similar to giving your final stamp on an agreement after thorough review.

Pseudonym: This is a fictitious name used by an author to conceal his or her identity; it's like using a gamer tag in online games instead of your real name.