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Question 84 of 128 · American History · Colonial Period and Independence

Why were the Federalist Papers important?

Accepted answers

  • They helped people understand the (U.S.) Constitution.
  • They supported passing the (U.S.) Constitution.

Any one of these is accepted, unless the question asks for more than one.

Why this is the answer

After the Constitution was written in 1787, each state had to decide whether to ratify it, and many people were against it. The Federalist Papers were the public case for saying yes: 85 essays, printed in newspapers between October 1787 and May 1788, that explained why the states should ratify the Constitution. They helped the Constitution pass, and people still read them today to understand it. Either official answer is accepted. Memory hook: written to pass the Constitution, still read to understand it.