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The Federalist Papers

Author Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay
Introduction by Jon Meacham
Hardcover
$24.99 US
Random House Group | Modern Library
On sale Oct 07, 2025 | 816 Pages | 9798217154555
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#1 New York Times bestselling author Jon Meacham presents the brilliant and stirring essays in defense of the Constitution—written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison—that made the American republic.

In September 1787, after a long summer of intense deliberation and compromise, the Federal Convention released a proposed Constitution of the United States—and immediately ignited a firestorm. Public debate was passionate and fierce. Supporters, the Federalists, believed the Constitution would save the floundering former colonies from the confusion and anarchy of the current, weak government. Detractors held that adopting the Constitution would mean nothing less than the end of American liberty.

The Federalists—among them George Washington and Benjamin Franklin—knew that the stakes could not be higher: the ideals of the Declaration of Independence, and America’s very existence as an independent nation, depended on the protection of the Constitution. And so on Saturday, October 27, 1787, Alexander Hamilton came to its defense, publishing the first column of what would come to be known as The Federalist Papers.

Written by Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay from October 1787 to August 1788—a span of 294 days that ranks among the most consequential periods in politics—The Federalist Papers are part history, part political science, and part theology. Introduced here by bestselling American historian and biographer Jon Meacham, they offer unparalleled insight into the workings of the democratic process and the values underpinning the American project—then as now.
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Copyright © 1982 by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Alexander Hamilton was born in the West Indies in 1757, the illegitimate child of a Scottish merchant. He came to the American colonies to study at King’s College (now Columbia University), and became an early and ardent supporter of the Revolutionary cause. During the Revolutionary War he was aide-de-camp to George Washington and a member of the Continental Congress. He was a leading figure at the Constitutional Convention (1787) and a principal author of The Federalist Papers. At first Secretary of the Treasury he articulated a policy of protection for manufacturing interests, strong central government, and establishment of a national bank. After leaving the Cabinet, he practiced law in New York. His personal attacks hindered the political career of the volatile Aaron Burr, who finally challenged him to a duel in 1804. Hamilton was shot, and died of his wounds. View titles by Alexander Hamilton
James Madison was born in 1751, the son of a Virginia planter. He worked for the Revolutionary cause as a member of the Continental Congress and the Virginia House of Delegates. The leader of deliberations at the Constitutional Convention, he fought for the adoption of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Through an ally of Hamilton on the Constitution he was a supporter of Jefferson’s agrarian policies. He was Jefferson’s Secretary of State (1801-9) and his successor as president (1809-17), but his presidency was marred by the unpopular War of 1812. Madison died in 1836 View titles by James Madison
John Jay (1747-1829) was a conservative lawyer who became a leading patriot. He was a minister to Spain (1780-82), the first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1789-95), and he negotiated the treaty of 1795 between the U.S. and Britain. His contributions to The Federalist Papers concern foreign affairs. View titles by John Jay

About

#1 New York Times bestselling author Jon Meacham presents the brilliant and stirring essays in defense of the Constitution—written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison—that made the American republic.

In September 1787, after a long summer of intense deliberation and compromise, the Federal Convention released a proposed Constitution of the United States—and immediately ignited a firestorm. Public debate was passionate and fierce. Supporters, the Federalists, believed the Constitution would save the floundering former colonies from the confusion and anarchy of the current, weak government. Detractors held that adopting the Constitution would mean nothing less than the end of American liberty.

The Federalists—among them George Washington and Benjamin Franklin—knew that the stakes could not be higher: the ideals of the Declaration of Independence, and America’s very existence as an independent nation, depended on the protection of the Constitution. And so on Saturday, October 27, 1787, Alexander Hamilton came to its defense, publishing the first column of what would come to be known as The Federalist Papers.

Written by Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay from October 1787 to August 1788—a span of 294 days that ranks among the most consequential periods in politics—The Federalist Papers are part history, part political science, and part theology. Introduced here by bestselling American historian and biographer Jon Meacham, they offer unparalleled insight into the workings of the democratic process and the values underpinning the American project—then as now.

Excerpt

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Copyright © 1982 by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

Author

Alexander Hamilton was born in the West Indies in 1757, the illegitimate child of a Scottish merchant. He came to the American colonies to study at King’s College (now Columbia University), and became an early and ardent supporter of the Revolutionary cause. During the Revolutionary War he was aide-de-camp to George Washington and a member of the Continental Congress. He was a leading figure at the Constitutional Convention (1787) and a principal author of The Federalist Papers. At first Secretary of the Treasury he articulated a policy of protection for manufacturing interests, strong central government, and establishment of a national bank. After leaving the Cabinet, he practiced law in New York. His personal attacks hindered the political career of the volatile Aaron Burr, who finally challenged him to a duel in 1804. Hamilton was shot, and died of his wounds. View titles by Alexander Hamilton
James Madison was born in 1751, the son of a Virginia planter. He worked for the Revolutionary cause as a member of the Continental Congress and the Virginia House of Delegates. The leader of deliberations at the Constitutional Convention, he fought for the adoption of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Through an ally of Hamilton on the Constitution he was a supporter of Jefferson’s agrarian policies. He was Jefferson’s Secretary of State (1801-9) and his successor as president (1809-17), but his presidency was marred by the unpopular War of 1812. Madison died in 1836 View titles by James Madison
John Jay (1747-1829) was a conservative lawyer who became a leading patriot. He was a minister to Spain (1780-82), the first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1789-95), and he negotiated the treaty of 1795 between the U.S. and Britain. His contributions to The Federalist Papers concern foreign affairs. View titles by John Jay

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