Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, in an effort to persuade New York to ratify the Constitution, in 1787 and 1788 have published a series of essays on the Constitution and republican government in New York newspapers, written under the pseudonym “Publius” and collected and published in book form as The Federalist; or, The New Constitution (1788). (The series' correct title is The Federalist; the title The Federalist Papers will not emerge until the twentieth century.)

Hamilton has recruited collaborators for the Federalist Papers project.

He enlisted John Jay, who after four strong essays (Federalist Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 5), fell ill and contributed only one more essay, Federalist No. 64, to the series.

He also distills his case into a pamphlet in the spring of 1788, An Address to the People of the State of New-York; Hamilton will cite it approvingly in Federalist No. 85 (August, 1788).

James Madison, present in New York as a Virginia delegate to the Confederation Congress, is recruited by Hamilton and Jay, and becomes Hamilton's major collaborator.

Gouverneur Morris and William Duer were also apparently considered; Morris had turned down the invitation, and Hamilton has rejected three essays written by Duer.

Duer later writes in support of the three Federalist authors under the name "Philo-Publius", or "Friend of Publius".

New York ratifies the United States Constitution on July 26 and becomes the eleventh U.S. state.