The Constitution established America's national government and basic laws, guaranteeing the rights of its citizens. America's first governing document, the Articles of Confederation, the national government was weak and the states operated as independent countries. The Articles of Confederation gave Congress the power to govern foreign affairs, wage wars, and regulate currency. The delegates, known as the “framers” of the Constitution, were a group of educated people that included merchants, farmers, bankers, and lawyers. James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay wrote a series of essays to convince people to approve the Constitution. The "Federalist Papers," which detailed the workings of the new government, were published publicly in newspapers throughout the states starting in the fall of