These very important historical works were written and published in 1787 and 1788. In alternating publications, two different viewpoints were presented on the early formations of our American democracy. Each side presented ideas and provided rebuttals to the opposing viewpoint in alternating publications. The Federalists wrote a total of 77 essays that appeared prominently in New York newspapers as that state was crucial to the ratification of the constitution. The people of the state feared the idea of being a nation separated from the other states. New York eventually was won over by the constitution. The essays were later published in book form with eight additional essays explaining and defending the new Constitution based on essays the Anti-Federalists wrote an equal amount against the ratification of the constitution.

The primary argument, advanced by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay was for the states to be controlled by a strong federal government. The opposing view, presented by anonymous authors of the Anti-Federalist papers, speculated to be Robert Lansing and Melancton Smith, did not ultimately prevail. However, the Anti-Federalists articulated serious questions, which eventually led to some of the Federalists writings  answering the allegations of the Anti-Federalists.

In Federalist essay #6 Hamilton put forth that human beings were basically ambitious, vindictive and rapacious.  He used this theory to argue for a strong national government to check these factions and convulsions, which otherwise tear states apart. In Federalist essay #10 Madison argued the only way to control fraction without destroying liberty was to elect leaders whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of their country.

An Anti-Federalist essay, entitled Agrippa, argued that a bill of rights was absolutely necessary to because "Let us not flatter ourselves that we shall always have good men to govern us."   Similar to Hamilton's argument of the innate nature of corruptibility of humankind, Agrippa argued the same point for a government whose powers would be restricted by a bill of rights.

Along these lines the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists fiercely fought back and forth through publications. The nature of these two communication efforts were watched very closely by people of that day. This step-by-step process is considered by many historians to have been of great consequence to political thought in America, as it amounted to ten-months of public talks that led to the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in all thirteen states and resulted in the adoption of the Bill of Rights