The Federalist Papers consisted of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, under the name "Publius," in 1788. Their purpose was to convince the New York state constitutional convention not only of the benefits but also the necessity of ratifying the Constitution written in Philadelphia in 1787. The essays are widely recognized as classic literature, political theory, and legal interpretation, and are still referenced today in the decisions of the United States Supreme Court.

Students will read and discuss each of the essays, submit short worksheets based on weekly assignments, and submit a research paper eligible for the Upper Level Writing requirement.