By identifying all the historical references and literary allusions by which the Founders sought to amplify their arguments and convince their readers -- and by clarifying those important concepts (such as sovereignty, contract, separation of powers) which influenced the thinking of both the Founders and their opponents -- renowned historian J R Pole here sets the Federalist Papers in the intellectual world inhabited by Hamilton, Madison and Jay. In reading Pole's annotation alongside the main text, students and scholars alike will gain a deeper understanding of the papers -- and of the time, needs, and circumstances that shaped them. Pole's Introduction, a thematic index, a chronology of politically significant events from 1688 to 1791, and the inclusion of The Articles of Confederation and the US Constitution further distinguish an edition priced for classroom use.