Calling Fellow Patriots to Hold Legislators Accountable

    From October of 1787 thru May of 1778, 221 years ago, three of our country’s Founding Fathers, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay cooperated with each other to mold public opinion by using the same ‘nom de plume’ to write letters to the citizens of New York through four different newspapers.  Those open letters are known as the ‘Federalist Papers’ today.  Most commentators refer to the Federalist Papers as the best source we have to see the inside thoughts and expectations the writers of the Constitution had as they penned that great document.

   That is probably true, but I see another aspect of the Federalist Papers that few, if any, have given much thought to.  I see them as a tool Hamilton, Madison and Jay agreed to collectively use to create public opinion in the state of New York.  New York was one of two states that were VITAL for the ratification of the Constitution.  New York and Virginia were so influential that it is doubtful the Constitution would have survived the ratification process without both of them agreeing.  Therefore it was imperative that both were on board for the ratification process.  In late September 1787 when the proposed Constitution was sent to the states, the general sentiment in New York was against its ratification.  Hamilton, Madison and Jay embarked on their mission to change public opinion in New York.

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