The Independent Journal
Encyclopedia
The Independent Journal, occasionally known as The General Advertiser, was a semi-weekly New York
journal and newspaper
edited and published by John McLean and Archibald McLean in the late 18th century. The newspaper's content included contemporary essay
s and notices.
The Independent is primarily remembered for being one of several newspapers to have published the Federalist Papers
– a series of eighty-five articles and essays discussing and advocating the ratification of the United States Constitution
, written by John Jay
, James Madison
and Alexander Hamilton
. It was, in fact, the first newspaper to publish any such material, when it released the first Federalist essay on October 27, 1787. The release was accompanied by the following notice:
Over the following month, the next seven essays were published by The Independent Journal, and two other newspapers, The New York Packet and The Daily Advertiser. The essays appeared on Saturdays and Wednesdays in The Independent Journal, and a few days later in the other two. Following its publication of the seventh Federalist, The Independent made an announcement:
In its announcement, the newspaper omitted to note its own publication dates, which continued to be on Wednesdays and Saturdays. However, the plan as outlined in The Independent was not consistently followed; The Daily Advertiser stopped publishing in the agreed order after the release of the tenth essay. From November 30 onward, The New York Packet published on Tuesday and Friday, rather than only Tuesday.
By January 8, 1788, thirty-six Federalist essays had been published between the newspapers. John McLean bundled these thirty six together and published them as Volume I, on March 22, 1788. Publication of the essays resumed on 11 January, and essays thirty-seven to seventy-seven were published from that time through to April 2, 1788. Before the final eight could be published publicly in the newspapers, John McLean compiled and released Volume II of the Federalist essays, which consisted of essays thirty-seven through eighty-five, on May 28, 1788. The eight unpublished essays appeared in The Independent Journal and New York Packet between June 14 and August 16.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
journal and newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
edited and published by John McLean and Archibald McLean in the late 18th century. The newspaper's content included contemporary essay
Essay
An essay is a piece of writing which is often written from an author's personal point of view. Essays can consist of a number of elements, including: literary criticism, political manifestos, learned arguments, observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author. The definition...
s and notices.
The Independent is primarily remembered for being one of several newspapers to have published the Federalist Papers
Federalist Papers
The Federalist Papers are a series of 85 articles or essays promoting the ratification of the United States Constitution. Seventy-seven of the essays were published serially in The Independent Journal and The New York Packet between October 1787 and August 1788...
– a series of eighty-five articles and essays discussing and advocating the ratification of the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
, written by John Jay
John Jay
John Jay was an American politician, statesman, revolutionary, diplomat, a Founding Father of the United States, and the first Chief Justice of the United States ....
, James Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
and Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
. It was, in fact, the first newspaper to publish any such material, when it released the first Federalist essay on October 27, 1787. The release was accompanied by the following notice:
Over the following month, the next seven essays were published by The Independent Journal, and two other newspapers, The New York Packet and The Daily Advertiser. The essays appeared on Saturdays and Wednesdays in The Independent Journal, and a few days later in the other two. Following its publication of the seventh Federalist, The Independent made an announcement:
In its announcement, the newspaper omitted to note its own publication dates, which continued to be on Wednesdays and Saturdays. However, the plan as outlined in The Independent was not consistently followed; The Daily Advertiser stopped publishing in the agreed order after the release of the tenth essay. From November 30 onward, The New York Packet published on Tuesday and Friday, rather than only Tuesday.
By January 8, 1788, thirty-six Federalist essays had been published between the newspapers. John McLean bundled these thirty six together and published them as Volume I, on March 22, 1788. Publication of the essays resumed on 11 January, and essays thirty-seven to seventy-seven were published from that time through to April 2, 1788. Before the final eight could be published publicly in the newspapers, John McLean compiled and released Volume II of the Federalist essays, which consisted of essays thirty-seven through eighty-five, on May 28, 1788. The eight unpublished essays appeared in The Independent Journal and New York Packet between June 14 and August 16.