The Federalist Papers are eighty-five essays written to persuade New York voters to ratify the proposed United States Constitution. Published under the shared pseudonym Publius, they defend a stronger federal union against fears that centralized power would destroy liberty.
Author
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay
Frequently Cited
“whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice”
“If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary”
“Ambition must be made to counteract ambition”