Federalists: The Constitution's Key Supporters And Their Impact

The Federalists were supporters of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1788. They believed that the nation might not survive without the passage of the Constitution and that a stronger national government was necessary to safeguard the liberty and independence that the American Revolution had created. They were well-organised, well-funded, and included big property owners in the North, conservative small farmers and businessmen, wealthy merchants, clergymen, judges, lawyers, and professionals. They were also supported by some of the most talented leaders of the era, including Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay, and Benjamin Franklin. To advocate for their position, the Federalists published a series of 85 articles in New York City newspapers, known as The Federalist Papers, which were written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay under the pseudonym Publius.

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The Federalist Papers

The Federalists, on the other hand, supported a strong central government and the adoption of the Constitution. They 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. To gain the support of the Anti-Federalists, the Federalists promised to add a bill of rights if the Anti-Federalists would vote for the Constitution.

Alexander Hamilton

Hamilton's performance at the New York ratifying convention in Albany in 1788 was particularly notable. He faced a group of 47 Anti-Federalists, presenting his case for ratification with supreme logic and persuasive abilities. His efforts proved critical in ensuring the Constitution's approval in New York, which was essential to preventing the new government from splitting into separate confederacies.

Hamilton's Plan of Government, proposed on June 18, 1787, included a controversial suggestion for the president and senators to serve for life, which many denounced as a form of monarchy. However, historians argue that this radical plan was a strategic move to make the Virginia Plan more acceptable to the delegates.

Hamilton's writings and speeches covered various topics, such as "Dangers from Dissensions Between the States," "Defects of the Present Confederation," and the "General Power of Taxation." He believed that the greatest threat to the United States was not the abuse of central power but the excesses of democracy, as seen in popular disturbances like Shays' Rebellion. Hamilton's support for a robust national government and his aggressive fiscal policies later formed the basis of the Federalist Party's ideology.

James Madison

Madison was a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1780-83 and 1787-88, and during this time he helped steer the nation to victory in the American Revolution. His "Notes of Debates in the Continental Congress" are considered one of the best sources of information for the activities of Congress during the years leading up to the military victory and the plans for a new federal Constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation.

Madison was also a key figure in the drafting of the Virginia Constitution in 1776. He joined Alexander Hamilton and John Jay in writing the Federalist Papers, which were published in various New York state newspapers between October 1787 and May 1788. These papers were written to urge New Yorkers to ratify the proposed Constitution, and they explain in detail the particular provisions of the Constitution. Madison wrote fewer than 20 of the 85 essays, while Hamilton wrote more than 50.

Madison initially argued against having a Bill of Rights, fearing that they would limit the people's rights. However, he later recognised that drafting a Bill of Rights was politically imperative, and he introduced proposals that were incorporated into 12 amendments by Congress in 1789. Ten of these amendments were ratified by the states in 1791 and have become known as the Bill of Rights.

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Checks and balances

The Federalists were supporters of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, which was written in 1787 at the Philadelphia convention. They believed that the Constitution was required to safeguard the liberty and independence that the American Revolution had created. The Federalists were well-organised and well-funded, and they made effective use of the printed word to spread their message. They included big property owners in the North, conservative small farmers and businessmen, wealthy merchants, clergymen, judges, lawyers, and professionals.

The Federalists argued that the Constitution provided a system of checks and balances, with each of the three branches of government—the Legislative, the Executive, and the Judicial—being able to check or limit the power of the other branches. This, they believed, would prevent tyranny by ensuring that no one branch or person became too powerful. They also 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.

To counter Anti-Federalist arguments that the new government created by the Constitution was too powerful, the Federalists pointed to the document's built-in safeguards, such as limited government and federalism. Federalists argued that the national government only had the powers specifically granted to it and that federal courts had limited jurisdiction, leaving many areas of the law to state and local courts.

The Federalists ultimately prevailed in the ratification debates, and the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1788 and went into effect in 1789. However, to gain the support of the Anti-Federalists, the Federalists promised to add amendments specifically protecting individual liberties, including freedom of speech, press, and religion. These amendments were incorporated into the Bill of Rights, which was added to the Constitution in 1791.

Ratification debates

The ratification debates refer to the period during which the US Constitution was being considered for ratification by the states. The supporters of ratification were known as Federalists, and their opponents were the Anti-Federalists.

The Federalists were well-organised and well-funded, and they enjoyed support from most newspapers, which published articles and pamphlets explaining why the Constitution should be approved. The Federalists believed that the nation might not survive without the passage of the Constitution, and that a stronger national government was necessary to prevent the excesses of democracy, such as popular disturbances and pro-debtor policies. They also believed that the greatest threat to the future of the United States was not the abuse of central power, but the excesses of democracy.

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay were influential Federalists who wrote many of the 85 essays in The Federalist, published in 1788, advocating for the ratification of the Constitution. George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, the only two national-level celebrities of the period, also supported the Constitution.

The Federalists argued that the Constitution provided a system of checks and balances, with each of the three branches of government able to check or limit the other branches. They also believed that the national government only had the powers specifically granted to it under the Constitution and was prohibited from certain actions.

The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, believed that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government at the expense of state and local governments. They also worried that the original text of the Constitution did not contain a bill of rights guaranteeing certain basic liberties, such as freedom of speech and trial by jury.

The ratification debates took place in homes, taverns, and on the printed page, with both sides publishing essays and pamphlets articulating their positions. The Federalists ultimately prevailed, and the US Constitution was ratified in 1788 and went into effect in 1789. However, to gain the support of the Anti-Federalists, the Federalists promised to add amendments specifically protecting individual liberties, and a Bill of Rights was added in 1791.

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