Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: James Madison
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
The Federalist Papers are a classic series of essays written in the late eighteen century to support the ratification of the United States Constitution. They were published under the pseudonym Publius and are still widely studied in politics and law. This question asks which writer among the options went on to become President of the United States.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The core idea is to remember both the authorship of The Federalist Papers and the list of early Presidents. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay were the primary authors. Among them, only James Madison later became President. Hamilton held the position of the first Secretary of the Treasury and John Jay became the first Chief Justice, but neither reached the presidency.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that The Federalist Papers were written mainly by Hamilton, Madison and Jay.Step 2: Cross check this list with the names of early Presidents of the United States.Step 3: Identify that James Madison served as the fourth President, while Hamilton and Jay never occupied that office.Step 4: Consider John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who were Presidents but did not write The Federalist Papers, and eliminate them.
Verification / Alternative check:
One can verify by linking key roles: James Madison is called the Father of the Constitution and later became the fourth President. Alexander Hamilton is strongly connected with the Treasury and American finance. John Jay is linked with the Supreme Court as Chief Justice. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson served as Presidents but are most associated with the Declaration of Independence and related events, not with the Federalist essays.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Alexander Hamilton did help write The Federalist Papers but never became President, even though he was a major national figure. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson did become Presidents but were not among the three Publius authors of The Federalist Papers. John Jay was a co author but later served as Chief Justice and governor, not as President. Thus only James Madison satisfies both conditions of being a Federalist author and a future President.
Common Pitfalls:
Candidates often confuse the roles of founding era leaders and may assume that every famous name from that time became President. Another pitfall is mixing up The Federalist Papers with other founding documents such as the Declaration of Independence. A useful exam strategy is to memorise short profiles of the main founders, noting who wrote which document and which offices they later held.
Final Answer:
The correct answer is James Madison.
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