Federalist 1 Explained | Alexander Hamilton’s Call for a Stronger U.S. Government

Taken at face value, Federalist No. 1 serves as an introduction to The Federalist Papers. But, to reduce it to merely an introduction trivializes its importance. It is not simply an introduction, but rather an unprecedented appeal to the people of the United States to abolish the foundation of their government and decide on a “new Constitution.”

The Anti-Federalist papers were written by a variety of authors in opposition to the ratification of the Constitution. Those that were written under the pen name of Brutus are arguably the most cohesive of these documents.

After the Constitution was completed during the summer of 1787, the work of ratifying it (or approving it) began. As the Constitution itself required, 3/4ths of the states would have to approve the new Constitution before it would go into effect for those ratifying states.

Dive into some of the most important speeches and documents from United States history. These videos dissect these documents, define key terms, and explore the lasting impact of the featured documents.