The Federalist Papers

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/the-federalist-papers

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who wrote The Federalist Papers?Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay
2. What is the total number of essays?85 essays
3. What is the collective pseudonym?Publius
4. Why were the essays written?The writers wanted to convince people and state delegates that the Constitution was a good idea, especially after the old Articles of Confederation didn't work well.
5. How many essays were published in newspapers first?The first 77 essays appeared in New York newspapers from October 1787 to April 1788, and the last 8 were printed later that year.

Constitutional Convention: A gathering in 1787 to draft the U.S. Constitution after the Articles of Confederation proved ineffective.
Ratification: The formal process by which states approved and adopted the U.S. Constitution.
Federalism: A system where governmental power is divided between a central (federal) government and regional (state) governments.
Separation of Powers: The division of governmental authority into distinct branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.