Final answer:
The Federalist Papers were authored by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to support ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Federalist Papers were written by three important figures in American history: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. These influential essays played a crucial role in the ratification of the United States Constitution. Hamilton, Madison, and Jay wrote these essays under the pseudonym 'Publius' to advocate for a stronger central government while reassuring the public of the proposed government's federal structure with checks and balances. The correct answer to the student's question about who wrote the Federalist Papers is 1) Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay.