At the height of the debate over the ratification of the new Constitution of the United States of America, a series of eighty-five in-depth articles were published in the Colonial papers. These, journal articles eventually became known as the Federalist Papers. Their purpose was to explain the meaning of the words in the proposed Constitution to the people, including: the form of the proposed Federal government, the limitations of the various branches of the Federal Government System, including the relationship between the National Government and the State governments, and to reaffirm the unlimited “inalienable” rights of the American people.

These were published in a New York Journal, from 1787-88. These outstanding treatises, now considered the greatest Political Science expositions ever written, provide a rare insight into the thinking of the Founders, as they carefully structured our Constitutional Republic, based on the principles and wisdom of Liberal, Democratic, and Representative Democracy.

These Papers were signed by “Publius,” but historians agree that they were actually written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. Their objective was to persuade the American people to ratify the new Constitution.

The pen name selected by the author, follows the practice of that period, calling on a respected representative of the ancient Roman Republic to advocate for a public issue.

Publius the son of Marcus is reputed to have been the leading citizen and the Roman Magistrate of the Island of Malta, where the boat carrying Disciple Paul was run aground to avoid sinking, during a storm. Paul was being transported to Rome for an appeal to the Emperor, where he was eventually tried and executed. Publius is reported in Acts 28:7-16, to have “received… and entertained” Paul, who cured his sick father, Marcus. Some believe Publius not only helped Paul, but may have been converted to the new Christian religion. Other Romans -- Publius Cornelius and Scipio Africanus bought the name Publius authority, respect and trust as purveyors of wisdom and high regard between 236-184 B.C. For these reasons Colonists, who feared the wrath of the British crown and its Parliament, chose Publius as their pen name to prevent threats to their lives or death between 1775 and 1789.