what were the federalist papers

The Federalist Papers is a collection of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the collective pseudonym "Publius" to promote the ratification of the Constitution of the United States. The essays were published anonymously in various New York state newspapers between October 1787 and May 1788. The authors of The Federalist intended to influence the voters to ratify the Constitution, and they explained particular provisions of the Constitution in detail. The essays were aimed at convincing opponents of the US Constitution to ratify it so that it would take effect as the nation’s fundamental governing document. The Federalist Papers are considered one of the most important sources for interpreting and understanding the original intent of the Constitution. Although it is uncertain precisely how much impact the essays had on the ratification process, they were widely read and greatly influenced the shape of American political institutions.