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Primary sourceDocument31 October 1787

Federalist No. 2

John Jay · 31 October 1787

John Jay's essay arguing that Americans form 'one united people' who need a strong federal union, published to support ratifying the Constitution.

This is Jay's own essay, his best-known contribution to the Federalist Papers defending national unity.

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What it is

Federalist No. 2, titled 'Concerning Dangers From Foreign Force and Influence,' is an essay written by John Jay and first published in The Independent Journal of New York on 31 October 1787 under the pseudonym 'Publius.' It was the second in the series of Federalist Papers.

Why it matters

Jay argues that Americans share a single national identity bound by common ancestry, language, and geography, countering Anti-Federalist claims that the states were too different to unite. As one of the few places in the Federalist Papers to mention natural rights, the essay reveals how Jay, an experienced diplomat, thought about nationhood at a fragile moment for the new country.

Look closer

  • What evidence does Jay use to claim Americans are 'one united people,' and is it accurate?
  • Why might Jay emphasize shared culture rather than purely economic or military arguments for union?
  • What groups or differences among Americans does Jay's vision of unity leave out?

This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of John Jay on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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