The essential Federalist and anti-Federalist papers

Understanding the Constitution

Anti-Federalists

Objections to the Constitution of Government Formed by the Convention / George Mason

Address of the Minority of the Pennsylvania Convention

Speech of Patrick Henry before the Virginia Ratifying Convention

Speeches of Melancton Smith before the New York Ratifying Convention

Letters of Cato (4 and 5)

Letters of Centinel (1)

Essays of Brutus (6, 11, 12, 15)

Constitution Defended

Speech of James Wilson before the Pennsylvania Convention

Examination into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution / Noah Webster

Federalist

No. 1. Introduction / Hamilton

No. 2. Concerning the Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence / Jay

No. 6. Concerning the Dangers from War between the States / Hamilton

No. 7. Subject Continued and Particular Causes Enumerated / Hamilton

No. 8. Effects of Internal War in Producing Standing Armies and Other Institutions Unfriendly to Liberty / Hamilton

No. 9. Utility of the Union as a Safeguard against Domestic Faction and Insurrection / Hamilton

No. 10. Same Subject Continued / Madison

No. 12. Utility of the Union in Respect to Revenue / Hamilton

No. 14. Objection Drawn from the Extent of Country Answered / Madison

No. 15. Concerning the Defects of the Present Confederation in Relation to the Principle of Legislation for the States in Their Collective Capacities / Hamilton

No. 16. Same Subject Continued in Relation to the Same Principle / Hamilton

No. 23. Necessity of a Government at Least Equally Energetic with the One Proposed / Hamilton

No. 24. Subject Continued with an Answer to an Objection Concerning Standing Armies / Hamilton

No. 28. Same Subject Concluded / Hamilton

No. 31. [Concerning Taxation]: The Same Subject Continued / Hamilton

No. 33. Same Subject Continued / Hamilton

No. 35. Same Subject Continued / Hamilton

No. 37. Concerning the Difficulties Which the Convention Must Have Experienced in the Formation of a Proper Plan / Madison

No. 39. Conformity of the Plan to Republican Principles: An Objection in Respect to the Powers of the Convention Examined / Madison

No. 47. Meaning of the Maxim, Which Requires a Separation of the Departments of Power, Examined and Ascertained / Madison

No. 48. Same Subject Continued with a View to the Means of Giving Efficacy in Practice to That Maxim / Madison

No. 49. Same Subject Continued with the Same View / Madison

No. 51. Same Subject Continued with the Same View and Concluded / Madison

No. 52. Concerning the House of Representatives, with a View to the Qualifications of the Electors and Elected, and the Time of Service of the Members / Madison

No. 55. Same Subject Continued in Relation to the Total Number of the Body / Madison

No. 57. Same Subject Continued in Relation to the Supposed Tendency of the Plan of the Convention to Elevate the Few above the Many / Madison

No. 62. Concerning the Constitution of the Senate with Regard to the Qualifications of the Members, the Manner of Appointing Them, the Equality of Representation, the Number of the Senators, and the Duration of Their Appointments / Madison

No. 63. Further View of the Constitution of the Senate in Regard to the Duration of Appointment of Its Members / Madison

No. 70. [Concerning the Constitution of the President]: The Same Subject Continued in Relation to the Unity of the Executive, with an Examination of the Project of an Executive Council / Hamilton

No. 78. View of the Constitution of the Judicial Department in Relation to the Tenure of Good Behavior / Hamilton

No. 83. Further View of the Judicial Department in Relation to the Trial by Jury / Hamilton

No. 84. Concerning Several Miscellaneous Objections / Hamilton

No. 85. Conclusion / Hamilton

Constitiutional Documents

Articles of Confederation

Virginia Plan

Constitution of the United States of America

Bill of Rights.