(Note: On this page will be the letters that our Founding Fathers wrote to The People.)
The Federalist Letters
In an effort to get the new Constitution ratified by all 13 states, several Founding Fathers and other statesmen wrote letters to the public to explain how the new Constitutional Republican form of government would work. The most famous of these are called The Federalist Letters. Other letters of equal importance will be listed below, after the Federalist Letters.
The 85 letters below are the original Federalist Letters written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. These letters appeared in the local newspapers of the day as a means to explain the work our Founding Fathers were doing in creating the Constitution. They focused their writings on the people of New York as it was critical for that state to ratify this new Constitution. These three men were very popular in their time and rather than let their fame sway the judgement of their fellow citizens, they chose to write under a single pseudonym of “Publius” to promote the later ratification of the Constitution.
Hamilton chose “Publius” as the pseudonym under which the series would be written, in honor of the great Roman aristocrat, Publius Valerius Publicola. He and three others were instrumental in overthrowing the last monarchy of Rome and creating the first Republican form of government.
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The original letters were written over 200 years ago and language has changed. I have taken the task of modernizing each letter to reflect how we speak today, in this century. It will be much easier to read and understand the original intent if you would like to access the modern versions – Click here for those pages.
The Fabius Letters
John Dickinson was called the “Pen man of the Revolution” for his respected writing style and ability. He wrote many of the grievances that were sent to Britain to be heard by King George. He also wrote the original Articles of Confederation. As one of the our Revolutionary leaders he was a man of peace and a strong supporter of American rights. In 1788 he wrote the Fabius Letters in support of ratifying the new Constitution. Although not as expansive and famous as the Federalist Letters many believe that the Fabius Letters were actually more persuasive. Dickinson’s choice of pseudonym sets the tone for his letters. For, as Forrest McDonald has pointed out, Quintus Fabius Maximus Cunctator was the Roman general who saved the republic through caution, prudence, patience, and persistence.
George Washington had high praise for the first four essays. He wrote to John Vaughan:
Sir: I have received your two letters of the 17th and 21st inst. and the papers containing the four numbers of Fabius which accompanied them.I must beg you to accept my best thanks for your polite attention in forwarding those papers to me. The writer of those pieces, signed Fabius, whoever he is, appears to be master of his subject; he treats it with dignity, and at the same time expresses himself in such manner as to render it intelligible to every capacity. I have no doubt but that an extensive republication of those numbers would be of utility in removing the impressions which have been made upon the Minds of many by an unfair or partial representation of the proposed constitution, and would afford desirable information upon the subject to those who sought for it.