What do the federalist papers mean in modern English?

Answer 1

Your question must be directed to the role and value of the Federalist Papers as a whole, I suspect, because otherwise the answer would require a minutely detailed dissection of those letter that constitute the Federalist. The Federalist Papers offer the arguments in support of the ratification of the Constitution of 1787, proposed by the Constitutional Convention that met in Philadelphia. Today, they are one key source of understanding of the milieu that gave rise to the 1787 Convention and the document produced by it, of understanding of the scope and meaning of the provisions of that document, and of understanding the arguments made against that document and rebutted in the Federalist Papers. Moreover, they are quite the persuasive source on meaning when they speak relevantly to an issue in dispute today. To win ratification of the United States Constitution in New York state, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison wrote a series of newspaper articles, under assumed names, in order to convince the public to support the new Constitution. The purpose of the articles was to explain and defend the writing of the Constitution. 85 articles were written between 1787-1788. The articles probably had little influence on New York approving the Constitution, but the essays have had a lasting value as authoritative explanations of the sections of the Constitution. The Federalist Papers, as they were called, have become the single most important piece of American political philosophy ever produced in America. Wikipedia has information about the Federalist Papers and many are explained in modern English. MrV