The Federalist Papers are a series of articles advocating the ratification of the United States Constitution.
Many of the essays were published serially in The Independent Journal and The New York Packet between October 1787 and August 1788.
The Federalist Papers serve as a primary source for interpretation of the Constitution, as they outline the philosophy and motivation of the proposed system of government.
Hamilton, Jay and Madison wanted to both influence the vote in favor of ratification and shape future interpretations of the Constitution.
According to historian Richard B. Morris, they are a classic in political science unsurpassed in both breadth and depth by the product of any later American writer."
"The best commentary on the principles of government which ever was written"
- Thomas Jefferson
