In September 1787, a new Constitution had miraculously come forth from the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. But it would remain mere paper until ratified by 9 of the 13 states. Criticism of the Constitution began pouring into the press even before the Constitution was made public. In response, over the next 8 months, 3 founders, under the pseudonym "Publius," published 85 essays in New York newspapers defending and explaining the proposed Constitution.