The Federalist, which is the fundamental commentary on the United States Constitution. Originally written under the shared pseudonym of “Publius” as a series of essays by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay in support of the ratification of the Constitution, it is key to understanding the Founders’ original intent for the Constitution. This edition is published by the Liberty Fund and edited by constitutional scholars George W. Carey and James McClellan. The Liberty Fund has reprinted the Gideon edition of 1818, which includes corrections by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. The Liberty Fund has also made several helpful additions to this edition. The Liberty Fund edition includes:
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An extensive introduction by the editors; |
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A Reader’s Guide that outlines the arguments of the essays in The Federalist; |
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The original preface to the Gideon edition; |
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Eighty-five essays by Hamilton (51), Madison (29), and Jay (5); |
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Ten appendixes that include such important documents as the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the Proceedings of the Annapolis Convention; and |
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The Constitution of the United States and Amendments with marginal cross-references to pertinent references in The Federalist. |
If you want to appreciate the meaning of the original Constitution and the intent of the Constitutional Convention, it is crucial that you read the arguments found in these essays. James Madison is rightfully called the Father of the Constitution for his influence on the writing of the Constitution. Alexander Hamilton was also a participant at the convention and, although not as influential at the Convention as Madison, he was quite knowledgeable about the Constitution. Although John Jay was not a member of the Constitutional Convention, he was an experienced statesman, having served in important governmental positions under the Articles of Confederation. |
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