 Alexander Hamilton, author of Federalist No. 1 | |
| Author | Alexander Hamilton |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | The Federalist |
| Publisher | The Independent Journal |
Publication date | October 27, 1787 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | newspaper |
| Preceded by | none |
| Followed by | Federalist No. 2 |
| Text | Federalist No. 1 at Wikisource |
Federalist No. 1, titled "General Introduction", is an essay by Alexander Hamilton. It is the first essay of The Federalist Papers, and it serves as a general outline of the ideas that the writers wished to explore regarding the proposed constitution of the United States. The essay was first published in The Independent Journal on October 27, 1787, under the pseudonym Publius, the name under which all essays of The Federalist Papers were published.
Federalist No. 1 describes the ratification debate, including Hamilton's views of civil discourse and the debate's polarizing nature. He warned that there may be bad actors in the debate, but he insisted that emotion and accusations should be disregarded in favor of reason to determine the best interest of the nation. Federalist No. 1 reflects Hamilton's belief that good government can be formed by its citizens. The essay concludes with an outline of topics for future Federalist Papers, though not all of them were covered in the series.