What were the Federalist Papers written to defend?

The Federalist Papers were a series of essays written to advocate for the ratification of the proposed United States Constitution. Authored mainly by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, these essays aimed to address the concerns of skeptics who were apprehensive about the new framework of government being established.

The papers discussed the need for a strong central government to maintain order, prevent tyranny, and ensure the country's survival and prosperity, in contrast to the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation which had proven insufficient in governing the newly independent states. The Federalist Papers provide insight into the intentions of the framers of the Constitution and articulate the justification for a robust federal government, making them crucial to understanding the rationale behind the Constitution itself. Thus, their primary purpose was to defend the proposed Constitution and encourage its ratification by the states.