The Federalist Papers generated support for ratifying the Constitution primarily by explaining how the Constitution would protect states’ rights, while also emphasizing the necessity of a stronger national government to promote unity and stability. The papers, particularly those written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, articulated the idea that a strong federal government was essential to addressing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, while still preserving the autonomy of the states.
While the authors acknowledged concerns about the potential for federal overreach, they argued that the Constitution included checks and balances through its three branches of government, which would prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. The Federalist Papers did not advocate for a bill of rights as a prerequisite for ratification; this issue arose later and was addressed in subsequent amendments.
In summary, the Federalist Papers primarily aimed to demonstrate that the new Constitution would create a functional and balanced federal government while still respecting the rights of the states.