Madison knew that the delegates’ work was not complete simply because they had finished and signed the new Constitution. They had to convince the different states of the need and importance of this new constitution. They had to convince the states to ratify this new constitution, which radically changed the power of the central government.

Using pseudonyms, Madison—along with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay—drafted a series of essays called The Federalist Papers, which advanced forceful arguments for the necessity of the new Constitution. Madison also argued in the Virginia legislature for the need for Virginia to ratify the Constitution. Madison argued directly against Virginia governor Patrick Henry.