Eleanor Finch
The Federalists were supporters of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, advocating for a strong central government and a more unified nation. They believed that the economic and social issues faced by America in the late 1780s were due to the weak federal government under the Articles of Confederation. Alexander Hamilton, a prominent Federalist, defended the Constitution and urged his allies to support it. The Federalists published a series of 85 articles, known as the Federalist Papers, written by Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, to promote the ratification of the Constitution. They argued that the Constitution, with its checks and balances, was effectively a Bill of Rights and that it did not include a bill of rights because it did not give the government the authority to suppress individual liberties.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Stronger national government | Federalist |
| Weaker state governments | Anti-Federalist |
| Checks and balances | Federalist |
| Indirect election of government officials | Federalist |
| Longer term limits for officeholders | Federalist |
| Representative democracy | Federalist |
| Stronger central government | Federalist |
| Expansion of congressional powers | Federalist |
| Mercantile economy | Federalist |
| Agrarianism | Anti-Federalist |
| Individual liberties | Anti-Federalist |
| Individual states' rights | Anti-Federalist |
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What You'll Learn
Federalists believed a strong central government was necessary to unite the states
The Federalists, including big property owners in the North, conservative small farmers and businessmen, wealthy merchants, clergymen, judges, lawyers, and professionals, believed that a strong central government was necessary to unite the states. They argued that the economic problems and internal unrest America faced in the late 1780s were due in part to the weakness and ineffectiveness of the federal government under the Articles of Confederation. They pointed to Congress's inability to fund any projects as one example of this ineffectiveness: under the Articles, Congress could not levy taxes, forcing it to ask the states for any money it needed. States, however, were not required to provide any help. Although Congress asked for millions in the 1780s, it received less than 1.5 million from the states between 1781 and 1784.
The Federalists believed that a stronger national government would improve relationships between states and help create, as the Constitution stated, a "more perfect union." They supported the ratification of the new Constitution and believed a more robust national government with greater powers was necessary to unite the individual states and create a stronger country. They also argued that the entire Constitution, with its institutional restraints and checks and balances, was, in effect, a Bill of Rights. They further argued that because it would be impossible to list all the rights afforded to Americans, it would be best to list none.
The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, worried that a federal government with more power would be prone to tyranny and that the new Constitution did not include adequate protections for the rights of individuals and states. They also demanded a bill of rights and fought to preserve the autonomy of the state against federal encroachments. They believed that power should be concentrated with the states rather than with the federal government. They also resented Federalist monetary policies, which they believed gave advantages to the upper class.
The Federalists and Anti-Federalists held meetings and marches to gain support, which sometimes became violent. The Federalists published a series of 85 articles in New York City newspapers advocating for the ratification of the Constitution. The Federalist Papers, written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the pseudonym "Publius", were a collection of 85 articles and essays promoting the ratification of the Constitution.
Federalists' Strategies for Gaining Support for the Constitution
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Federalists supported a mercantile economy
The Federalists, supporters of the ratification of the US Constitution, were in favour of a strong national government, with weaker state governments, and a mercantile economy. The Federalist Party was formed by supporters of Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton's aggressive fiscal policies. The Federalists were a coalition of bankers and businessmen who supported a fiscally sound and nationalistic government. They were in favour of a national bank, tariffs, and good relations with Great Britain, which was the country's biggest trading partner.
The Federalists supported a mercantile economy, with policies that included funding the old Revolutionary War debt and the assumption of state debts, the passage of excise laws, the creation of a central bank, the maintenance of a tariff system, and favourable treatment of American shipping. They believed in economic growth and fostering friendly relationships with Great Britain, in opposition to Revolutionary France.
The Federalists were opposed by the Anti-Federalists, who fought to preserve the autonomy of the state against federal encroachments and sought less drastic changes to the Articles of Confederation, the predecessor of the Constitution. The Anti-Federalists, led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, tended to emphasise states' rights and agrarianism. They demanded a bill of rights and, during the debate in Massachusetts, forced the Federalists to promise to consider amendments protecting the liberties of the people after the Constitution was ratified.
The Federalists published a series of 85 articles in New York City newspapers advocating for the ratification of the Constitution and stressing the need for a strong central government. They argued that a stronger central government would provide a solid base for New York to grow and prosper. The Federalist Papers, as the combined essays are called, were written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, and were instrumental in persuading the public of the necessity of the Constitution.
The Federalists controlled the national government until 1801 when they were overwhelmed by the Democratic-Republican opposition led by Thomas Jefferson. The Federalists lost appeal with voters due to their lack of political organisation and internal divisions, and they never held power again after 1801.
Federalists' View on the New Constitution: A Positive Outlook
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Federalists believed the Constitution was a Bill of Rights
The Federalists were supporters of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. They believed that a stronger national government with greater powers was necessary to unite the individual states and create a stronger country. They argued that the economic problems and internal unrest America faced in the late 1780s were due in part to the weakness and ineffectiveness of the federal government under the Articles of Confederation.
When challenged over the lack of individual liberties, the Federalists argued that the entire Constitution, with its institutional restraints and checks and balances, was, in effect, a Bill of Rights. They pointed out that the Constitution already contained some protections in Article I, Sections 9 and 10, which limited Congress and the states, respectively. They also argued that it would be impossible to list all the rights afforded to Americans, so it was best to list none.
The Federalists included big property owners in the North, conservative small farmers and businessmen, wealthy merchants, clergymen, judges, lawyers, and professionals. They favored weaker state governments, a strong centralized government, the indirect election of government officials, longer term limits for officeholders, and representative democracy.
To gain support for the ratification of the Constitution, the Federalists published a series of 85 articles and essays known as The Federalist Papers. Written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the pseudonym "Publius," these documents advocated for the ratification of the Constitution and a stronger central government. They argued that a stronger central government would provide a solid base for states like New York to grow and prosper. The Federalist Papers were successful in encouraging Americans to adopt the newly written Constitution.
Federalists' Interpretation: Loose or Strict Constitution Reading?
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Federalists wanted to create a central bank
The Federalists, who supported the ratification of the US Constitution, wanted to create a central bank. They believed in a strong national government, an expansive interpretation of congressional powers, and a mercantile economy. Alexander Hamilton, a prominent Federalist and the first secretary of the Treasury under the new Constitution, played a crucial role in this endeavour.
Hamilton had long been an advocate for central banks, dating back to as early as 1780 when he wrote a letter expressing his desire for an "American bank". In 1784, he helped found the Bank of New York, and after becoming the nation's first Treasury Secretary, he began advocating for a national bank. Hamilton's vision for a central bank was driven by his ambitious economic agenda, which aimed to address the challenges facing the fledgling country, including reestablishing commerce and industry, repaying war debts, restoring the value of the currency, and curbing inflation.
In December 1790, Hamilton submitted a proposal to Congress for the establishment of the Bank of the United States with a capital of $10 million, surpassing the combined capital of all other American banks at the time. He envisioned the bank to be headquartered in Philadelphia and chartered for 20 years. Hamilton's proposal included a unique governance structure, with the federal government holding a minority stake while private individuals comprised the board of directors, blending public oversight with private enterprise.
The Federalists' support for a central bank was met with opposition from the Anti-Federalists, who fought to preserve state autonomy and individual liberties. Thomas Jefferson, a prominent Anti-Federalist, vehemently opposed the banking industry and urged a veto of the Bank bill on constitutional grounds. Despite this opposition, the Federalists succeeded in establishing the First Bank of the United States, which operated from 1791 until its charter expired in 1811. The bank played a significant role in shaping the country's monetary policy and provided a stable national currency backed by substantial gold reserves.
Federalist Papers: Constitution's Objections and Their Refutations
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Federalists believed the Articles of Confederation were ineffective
The Federalists and the Anti-Federalists were divided in their views on the Constitution. The Federalists, who included big property owners in the North, conservative small farmers and businessmen, wealthy merchants, clergymen, judges, lawyers, and professionals, supported the Constitution and wanted a stronger federal government. They believed that the Articles of Confederation, the predecessor of the Constitution, were ineffective. They argued that a stronger central government would provide a solid base for the country to grow and prosper. They supported a strong union and the adoption of the Constitution, advocating for weaker state governments, a strong centralised government, the indirect election of government officials, longer term limits for officeholders, and representative democracy.
The Federalists also argued that the Constitution, with its institutional restraints and checks and balances, was effectively a Bill of Rights. They believed that because it would be impossible to list all the rights afforded to Americans, it was best to list none. They contended that the new government did not have the authority to suppress individual liberties. To gain support for their position, the Federalists published a series of 85 articles in New York City newspapers advocating for the ratification of the Constitution.
The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, opposed the creation of a stronger national government and sought less drastic changes to the Articles of Confederation. They believed that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government and took away power from the states. They worried that the new "president" role, as the leader of the executive branch, could consolidate too much power and become "King-like", converting the government into a pseudo-monarchy. As a result, they called for a means to codify individual rights and demanded amendments to the Constitution to protect the liberties of the people.
Despite their differences, the Federalists and Anti-Federalists were able to reach a compromise through the Bill of Rights, which led to the adoption of the Constitution. However, this harmony did not extend into the presidency of George Washington, as political divisions emerged within the cabinet of the newly created government over national fiscal policy.
Madison's Federalist Papers: Constitution's Evolution and Legacy
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Frequently asked questions
The Federalists supported the ratification of the Constitution, believing that a stronger national government with greater powers was necessary to unite the individual states and create a stronger country. They also believed that the economic problems and civil unrest America faced in the late 1780s were due to the weakness of the federal government under the Articles of Confederation.
The Federalists argued that a stronger central government would provide a solid base for states to grow and prosper. They also believed that the Constitution, with its institutional restraints and checks and balances, was effectively a Bill of Rights. They further argued that it would be impossible to list all the rights afforded to Americans, so it was best to list none.
Notable Federalists included Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay, and Ben Franklin.
The Federalists were successful in advocating for the ratification of the Constitution. They also convinced the Washington administration to assume national and state debts, pass tax laws, and create a central bank, saving the fledgling democracy from potential destruction. However, the Federalist Party began to decline after John Adams, their presidential candidate, was elected in 1796. The party never rose to power again after Thomas Jefferson's landslide reelection in 1804.
