Publius, the pseudonym used by the Founding Fathers authoring the Federalist Papers, means "the people," or "of the people." Why is this a suiting pseudonym? While some people use pseudonyms to remain anonymous and to avoid personal scrutiny, the goal, here, seems quite different. What is the effect of using the pseudonym?
34 Comments
Gavin Burke Esquire
11/5/2015 09:28:06 am
I believe that it was a rallying tool, using it to appeal to the ethos of the readers. For the people who understood that Publius meant the people, then they be able to relate to it and see that there are more people who share their beliefs. It also seemed suitable since the author(s) of the paper were more than one person. It was a combination of more than one opinion and belief, all shared and understood by the public, the people.
Reply
Cody Taylor
11/5/2015 09:45:37 am
I agree. I believe that the pseudonym was used as a rallying tool used by the actual authors.
Reply
Alison Renee' C.
11/5/2015 09:35:45 am
I think that the effect of using a pseudonym makes everything seem more as a whole, they are coming together as one and stating things that perhaps the people would want. They are going together under one name. They might have established this mainly because they don't want people to think that one specific person wrote this one part and they don't agree upon that. They probably feel that if they all come together under that one name that everyone will come together and possibly agree on something as one. They may feel that this would make people more comfortable having more than one person speaking, having all of them speaking would feel that they have more ideas and more opinions- having a better out come of someone agreeing with them on one subject.
Reply
Mason
11/5/2015 09:54:49 am
Yes, I agree, the people may have felt different about The Federalist Papers is each article had different names on them.
Reply
Shelley Grace H. B.
11/5/2015 09:37:06 am
When Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison used the pseudonym, Publius, to write The Federalist Papers, they used their collective thoughts as a whole to state what they believe the people want. To save themselves from the complications of putting their individual names on the piece of literature, they all came together as one collective mind. I'm assuming they all had relatively the same thoughts on the situations discussed, so it was probably fairly simple to just slap one name on it and take credit for it together. People often don't appreciate one person speaking on behalf of everyone so it was probably reassuring that there were three people rather than just one.
Reply
Hayden
11/5/2015 09:37:15 am
The pseudonym written by Alexander Hamilton,John Jay, and James Madison was used to write The Federalist Papers. Together the three men gathered their thoughts together to speak on behalf of the people. They combined more than one opinion together. rather than using one name they combined all of theirs into a pseudonym. The pseudonym helped them gather their opinions together and to use just one author name rather than using all three of their names put together. They might feel that if the three of them come together it will become somewhat of an "inspiration" to the public to also come together as one nation.
Reply
Logan
11/5/2015 09:43:11 am
I believe that this was the best thing for the foundation of the United States. It helped the majority of the people get what they want, and by putting multiple minds together to agree upon this, they were able to get ideas on what would best benefit the people.
Reply
Logan
11/5/2015 09:39:46 am
Publius is a suiting pseudonym used by the Founding Fathers in the Federalist Papers because it is references the well-being of the people of the newly founded nation. "These 85 essays advocated the ratification of the United States Constitution," (www.thefederalistpapers.org). With that being said, the peoples’ rights are being protected, and “Publius” is a subtle hint that all of the Founding Fathers are thinking of what’s best for all of their countrymen. Not only does it ensure the protection of the Constitution, of the peoples’ rights, but it also makes people want to stay and call America their new “home,” since they have a new freedom after escaping from the clutches of Great Britain.
Reply
Harley
11/5/2015 09:49:39 am
I think you're right, it was important that the people supported the Constitution and had pride in calling America their home.
Reply
Layne Harris
12/2/2015 09:41:55 am
The idea that the name 'publius' is used for a common ground between the writers and the people is a very valid stance, especially because it promoted the idea that whoever was writing this had the public's interests at heart.
Reply
Emily
11/5/2015 09:41:13 am
Publius is a suiting pseudonym because the papers are promoting the constitution for the good of the people. The meaning of the name relates to the audience of the papers because the audience is the people of the country that want their own rights. The name assists the papers in showing the people that the constitution is good for them. The pseudonym is probably not supposed to be anonymous because they writers want the people to know that promoting the constitution is a good thing, and they aren't ashamed of it. They could also just be using the pseudonym because they wanted their names to be one instead of three separate writers. The effect could be that the meaning of the name could make people feel like the constitution is for the people and not against them. "Of the people" could make people feel a connection to the writers instead of just seeing a name and not being able to relate to them just through politics.
Reply
Layne Harris
12/2/2015 09:44:54 am
This is very true. If the authors would have signed their individual names, it probably would have seemed like they were preaching to their audience, instead, when they put the name 'publius', it seems they are rallying with the public for the same goals.
Reply
11/5/2015 09:44:04 am
The pseudonym Publius is very suiting because they didn't do it for themselves, they did it for the people. They are representing the people and doing what is right for the people. The effect this pseudonym causes is the actual people of the United States feel like they are in control of the government and they are changing the constitution for the better. It also makes it seem like there isn't one guy who is changing it for himself but it's the people who are doing the changing. Another effect caused by using the pseudonym is sort of like a rallying cry, joining together all the people of the United States by signing their "name" at the bottom of The Federalist Papers.
Reply
Mason
11/5/2015 09:49:45 am
pseudonym rally cry, amazing.
Reply
Mason H
11/5/2015 09:44:54 am
The reason the Founding Fathers use "Publius" in The Federalist Papers is because it is not for them, it is for the people. The Federalist Papers are for the everyday American, it’s not for a specific group of people, it is for the nation to apply into their own lives. That is the reason behind using a pseudonym, or fake name. The Federalist Papers help promote and ratify the United States Constitution. The Federalist Papers are a combination of thought, several minds coming together in unity, all under the name of Publius. They did this to figure out what is best for the country, and what is best for the people. After all, don’t great minds think alike?
Reply
Harley
11/5/2015 09:46:43 am
The point of the Federalist Papers was to ratify the U.S. Constitution. That being said, Publius was a suiting name because it helped put the focus on the people of America and their wants for the country, rather than just a few significant citizens writing documents. By using this pseudonym, "of the people," the people of America were able to relate to the papers, and know that their needs and demands were being contributed to the documents. In this way, the name also encourages Americans to support the Constitution and it’s ratification. By doing this, the country is uniting and coming together, which was especially important.
Reply
Abbigail Rose
11/5/2015 09:48:48 am
Publius is a suiting pseudonym, because of the Founding Fathers hope to have a free nation and for all people to be equal. But were any of the people who were not white males equal? The answer is no. Women were not allowed to vote until the 1920's. Blacks were treated with severe disrespect until the late 1960's to the early 1970's, and even today. Native Americans were treated as savages and slaves on their own land. Is this the nation that our Founding Fathers wanted or were they envisioning a place of solitude for everyone? I feel as though they wanted a life of luxury but also wanted people to work as though they were slaves.
Reply
Abbi
11/5/2015 09:51:10 am
Are we still the greatest country? Sorry.
Reply
Harley
11/5/2015 09:52:15 am
That's a really interesting point of view. How are you so smart
Reply
Logan
11/5/2015 09:58:42 am
I feel as they were writing this to ensure equality for all white male land owners. We touched base on this idea before, and given the time era of when this was composed, they didn't think of other people of different social groups.
Reply
Ingalls
11/5/2015 09:58:42 am
What a thoughtful post! While I think using the name Publius was intended to unify, you are correct: the underlying subtext is that even those "egalitarian" Founding Fathers were far from unbiased. Well articulated!
Reply
Mason H
11/5/2015 10:01:13 am
I believe the Founding Fathers may have had different intentions for our country, than the intentions we have today. At that time that was what was accept amungst the culture, but what makes us one of the greatest countries today is how we overcame those obstacles to get to where we are at today.
Reply
Dylon
11/5/2015 09:49:13 am
The effect of using a pseudonym can give them the chance to be taken seriously. Using the name Publius makes the Federalists Papers relatable to the people because of the meaning. This pseudonym puts the focus on all the people instead of just a few individuals. The authors are writing things that the people want and are coming together as a whole. Having many different opinions and ideas from the authors can open up the minds of people and willingly listen to others.
Reply
Seth Wadsworth
11/5/2015 09:49:39 am
Using the pseudonym is a good way of saying that the authors of the Federalist Papers aren't the only ones getting affected by the papers. In other words, we as a people come together to create something that the people or the world would want that is beneficial to it. If not a tool of coming together, then it's also a way to present themselves in a quicker way and it lets the people know that they are a part of it, not just the authors. Not only was it a mix of the beliefs of the authors, but it was imaginatively intended to be a mix of the people's religions and beliefs.
Reply
blake
11/5/2015 09:49:57 am
I believe the effect and reason for using the pseudonym was to show that they where the ones to create this document of importance. They didn't want to recognize just one person for the federal papers but recognize them as a whole. I also believe that they stayed anonymous so that they wouldn't be targeted by someone that didn't agree or dint like these documents being made. Another reason to remain pseudonym would be to show that there was more one person so it was more that just one persons ideas.
Reply
william h
11/5/2015 09:52:43 am
it is a suiting pseudonym because the founding fathers wanted to make the people equal, but they didn't want to give up their rights to make everyone equal. if you are a free white land owning middle class and up american citizen then you are equal.
Reply
Wyatt
11/5/2015 09:54:55 am
The name Publius is a fitting pseudonym because of its definition. For the people that could comprehend it at the time, this name would have been insightful. More commonly than not pseudonyms are you used to keep the authors anonymous, where as in this case, I feel Hamilton is going for the exact opposite. Hamilton is using the name Publius, not to remain anonymous, but more to get his ideas and point across without facing political persecution.
Reply
Billy :D
11/5/2015 09:55:09 am
using the pseudonym makes everything seem more "intense" because it shows us how people become one or how the rally in a time of need. When they would come together they would all share their opinions with each other, help make a decision, then come up with some sort of compromise. Some of the people can even inspire someone else's ideas or actions. Sometimes the people that make those inspirational thoughts will inspire the entire public to do the same thing that those people did, they would become one. If those people to become one then there would be nothing that would stop anybody from "stomping on them" or "running them over" because a there is a saying that says, " A single twig breaks, but the bundle of twigs is strong." -Tecumseh
Reply
LiNG LiNG
11/5/2015 09:57:08 am
Personally i think that using a pseudonym makes the reader feel as if its not being written by persons with political pull, but somebody who is just trying to change the minds of the nation. Now the reason why they used the alias Publius was used i think is because of Publius Valerius Publicola. Publicola was one of four Roman aristocrats who led the overthrow of the monarchy. Publicola also means friend of the people. So just by using the name Publius helps change the minds of the people.
Reply
Layne Harris
11/5/2015 10:01:00 am
I believe the founding fathers who used this pseudonym meant for it to make the document less 'preachy'. By saying that the document came from the people/for the people, is is thought of as a commonly held view, even though it still came from 3 people. This is used to gain support for the cause, and inspire the audience to spread the word. In this case, Publius was used to bridge the gap between the writers and the audience.
Reply
leighton
11/5/2015 10:05:37 am
I believe they did this to be anonymous in case the people that read the paper didn't agree they wouldn't be looked at for the work of the paper and also it let them all bring there thoughts together which is huge for the papers they were all very smart men that would make good decisions for the country
Reply
Allie
11/5/2015 10:07:41 am
The pseudonym was used to write the Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison. It was reassuring to everyone else that rather than it being just one guy speaking for community as a whole, there were three individuals. With that being said, the reason the pseudonym fits the Founding Fathers is because they are speaking for everyone and the name Publius means "of the people".
Reply
Hunter
11/5/2015 02:29:49 pm
I think that using a pseudonym makes everything seem more complete. They combined more than one opinion together and come together to state things that the people would want. They are representing the people and doing the things they need to make it right for them.
Reply
Chris Loo
11/6/2015 08:25:56 am
the reason the founding fathers used the pseudonym, publius, is because they were writing for America as a whole, not just a couple of people.the federalist papers were a series of documents for the ratification of the U.S. constitution. this was done for the good of the people. they wanted to make it like the many people of America wrote it.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
InstructionsRespond to the Weebly questions in 200-300 word explanations. Respond to two other people's posts in a meaningful and constructive way. Archives
April 2016
Categories |