Who wrote the Federalist Papers?

The Federalist Papers were authored by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay as a series of essays promoting the ratification of the United States Constitution. These writings played a crucial role in explaining the principles of the Constitution and arguing for its adoption, focusing on the need for a stronger federal government than what was provided under the Articles of Confederation.

Hamilton's contributions were significant, as he was a key advocate for a centralized government and presented the necessity for such a system in the first essays. Madison, often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution," used his insights on governance and political theory to bolster the arguments, while Jay's writings emphasized the importance of unity among the states.

While the other answer choices include prominent figures in American history, such as Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, they did not participate in writing these specific essays. Jefferson was an advocate for the Constitution but was in France during the writing of the Federalist Papers. Franklin and Paine also contributed to the Revolutionary cause but are not connected to this specific set of writings.