At its core, The Federalist Papers is a defense of the United States Constitution. Following the Articles of Confederation, which proved too weak to effectively govern the new nation, a Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia. The resulting document sparked fierce debate, particularly in New York, where concerns about centralized power were strong. Hamilton, Madison, and Jay responded with these essays, systematically addressing and rebutting the arguments of the Anti-Federalists – those who opposed the Constitution. Each paper tackles a specific aspect of the proposed government, explaining its rationale, its safeguards against tyranny, and its overall benefits for the nation.
