Omar Bennett
The Federalists were supporters of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, which was written in 1787 and ratified in 1788. They believed that the Constitution was necessary to safeguard the liberty and independence that the American Revolution had created. Federalists included big property owners, conservative small farmers and businessmen, wealthy merchants, clergymen, judges, lawyers, and professionals. They were well-organised, well-funded, and had strong support in the press, publishing a series of 85 articles in New York City newspapers to advocate for the ratification of the Constitution. Notable Federalists included Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, who wrote a series of essays known as The Federalist Papers to lay out the ideology of the Federalists during the creation of the U.S. Constitution.
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The Federalist Papers
While the authors of The Federalist Papers initially attempted to hide their identities, using pseudonyms such as "Publius," their true identities as Hamilton, Madison, and Jay were eventually discerned. There has been some debate over the specific authorship of certain essays within the collection, with some scholars attributing specific essays to either Hamilton or Madison. However, the overall impact of The Federalist Papers is undeniable, and they continue to be a vital resource for understanding the foundations of American government and politics.
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Alexander Hamilton
Hamilton's contributions to the Federalist Papers covered topics such as "Dangers from Dissensions Between the States," "Defects of the Present Confederation," and the "General Power of Taxation." The essays were published in various New York state newspapers, such as The New York Packet and The Independent Journal, and proved effective in convincing people to support the Constitution. Hamilton's performance at the New York ratifying convention in Albany in 1788 was particularly notable, as he successfully made the case for ratification despite facing strong opposition from Anti-Federalists.
Hamilton was also a delegate at the Constitutional Convention, where he was selected to represent New York at just 30 years old. At the convention, Hamilton and the other delegates abandoned the task of revising the Articles of Confederation and instead created the United States Constitution. Hamilton was not a fan of the Articles of Confederation and believed that a stronger central government was necessary. He preferred a constitutional monarchy and left Philadelphia before the finalisation of the Constitution.
Hamilton's influence extended beyond the ratification of the Constitution. As Treasury Secretary under President George Washington, he played a crucial role in building the economic system of the new nation. Hamilton recognised the importance of business and industry for America's future and worked to develop a powerful economic system to support its transformation into an industrial power. Hamilton's aggressive fiscal policies later formed the basis of the Federalist Party, which supported a strong national government and an expansive interpretation of congressional powers.
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James Madison
Madison was an influential figure in shaping the early American republic. He is credited with authoring several essays in The Federalist Papers, including Federalist No. 10, which is considered one of the most important contributions to political theory and governance. In Federalist No. 10, Madison addressed the concerns of critics who argued that the proposed federal government was too large and would be unresponsive to the people. He explored the relationship between majority rule and minority rights, countering that the large number of factions and diversity would prevent tyranny. Madison argued that the greater number of factions would require groups to negotiate and compromise, ultimately protecting the rights of minorities.
In addition to his written contributions, Madison actively participated in the political debates surrounding the ratification of the Constitution. He was present at the Federal Constitutional Convention of 1787, where he worked tirelessly on the Virginia Constitution and later served as a Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress. Madison's "Notes of Debates in the Continental Congress" provide valuable insights into the activities of Congress during the years leading up to the American Revolution and the subsequent plans for a new federal Constitution.
Madison's impact extended beyond the ratification process. He is known for his efforts in ensuring the inclusion of a Bill of Rights in the Constitution. Recognizing the political imperative, Madison, despite believing that individual rights were already protected by the Constitution, led the push for amendments. He introduced proposals that were incorporated into 12 amendments by Congress in 1789, 10 of which were ratified by the states and became the Bill of Rights in 1791.
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John Jay
Jay was a proponent of a strong, centralized government and worked to ratify the US Constitution in New York in 1788. He co-authored The Federalist Papers with Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, writing five of the eighty-five essays. These essays were written under the pseudonym "Publius" and aimed to persuade New York state convention members to ratify the proposed Constitution. Jay's major literary contribution to the campaign for ratification was his seminal paper, "An Address to the People of the State of New York, On the Subject of the Constitution, Agreed upon at Philadelphia, the 17th of September, 1787." This address appeared as an anonymous pamphlet and was considered more important than The Federalist Papers to the political battle to get the Constitution ratified in New York.
Jay also wrote "Federalist No. 64," which appeared in March 1788, and was seriously injured in the Doctors' Riot that occurred in mid-April of the same year. Despite this, he continued to advocate for the Constitution, writing to John Adams on July 4, 1788, that he was cautiously optimistic about the trend in public opinion towards the Constitution.
After the establishment of the new federal government, Jay was appointed by President George Washington as the first Chief Justice of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1795. As Chief Justice, he negotiated the highly controversial Jay Treaty with Britain in 1794. He also served as the governor of New York from 1795 to 1801, during which he passed gradual emancipation legislation.
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Ratification debates
The ratification debates of the U.S. Constitution in 1787-88 saw a clash between Federalists and Anti-Federalists. The Federalists, supporters of ratification, believed that the nation might not survive without the passage of the Constitution and that a stronger national government was necessary after the failed Articles of Confederation. They argued that the Constitution provided a system of checks and balances, with separation of powers into three equal branches, preventing any one branch or person from becoming too powerful. They also believed that the greatest threat to the future of the United States was not in the abuse of central power but in the excesses of democracy, as evidenced by popular disturbances like Shays' Rebellion.
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 argued that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government, taking away power from state and local governments. They believed that the federal government would be too far removed to effectively represent the average citizen and address their concerns. The Anti-Federalists also worried that the original text of the Constitution lacked a bill of rights, omitting guarantees of certain basic liberties such as freedom of speech and trial by jury.
The Federalist supporters included big property owners in the North, conservative small farmers and businessmen, wealthy merchants, clergymen, judges, lawyers, and professionals. They were well-organised, well-funded, and had strong support in the press, with most newspapers publishing articles and pamphlets advocating for the ratification of the Constitution. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay were influential Federalists who wrote the Federalist Papers, a collection of 85 essays that articulated the Federalist ideology and proposed an alternative to the Articles of Confederation.
The Anti-Federalists, meanwhile, mounted an effective opposition in essays and debates, with writers contributing important reflections on human nature and the character of a republican government. Despite their efforts, the Federalists ultimately prevailed in the state ratification debates, and the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1788 and went into effect in 1789. To gain support, the Federalists promised to add amendments protecting individual liberties, and the Bill of Rights was added in 1791.
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Frequently asked questions
The Federalists were the supporters of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. They believed that a centralized republic was the best solution for the future and that a strong union was necessary. They included big property owners in the North, conservative small farmers and businessmen, wealthy merchants, clergymen, judges, lawyers, and professionals.
Some of the leaders of the Federalists were James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. Benjamin Franklin and George Washington also supported the Constitution.
The Federalists believed that the nation might not survive without the passage of the Constitution and that a stronger national government was necessary after the failed Articles of Confederation. They argued that the Constitution provided a system of checks and balances, preventing the potential for tyranny. They also promised to add amendments to protect individual liberties, which became the Bill of Rights.
