Simone Lawson
The Federalists were a group of influential figures who supported the ratification of the US Constitution and the formation of a strong central government. They were well-organised, well-funded, and included many prominent leaders of the time, such as Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison, and national celebrities Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. The Federalist Papers, a collection of 85 essays written by Hamilton, Jay, and Madison, were instrumental in articulating the Federalist ideology and advocating for the adoption of the Constitution. The Federalists believed in a fiscally sound and nationalistic government, with strong support from bankers, businessmen, and the press. They favoured a national bank, tariffs, and good relations with Great Britain. The Federalist Party controlled the national government until 1801 when it was overtaken by the Democratic-Republican opposition led by Thomas Jefferson.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Supporters | Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Fisher Ames |
| Political beliefs | A strong central government, a national bank, tariffs, good relations with Great Britain, aggressive fiscal policies, a more mercantile economy, longer term limits for officeholders, representative democracy |
| Other | Well-funded, well-organised, strong support in the press, supporters of the Constitution and its ratification |
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What You'll Learn
Federalists supported a strong national government
The Federalists, supporters of the Constitution, were a group of influential leaders, including the era's only two national celebrities, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. They were well-funded, well-organised, and had the support of most newspapers, which they used to publish articles and pamphlets explaining why the Constitution should be ratified.
Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison also published 85 essays collectively known as the Federalist Papers, which urged support for the ratification of the Constitution. These papers laid out the ideology of the Federalists during the creation of the U.S. Constitution. The Federalists believed in a strong national government, with weaker state governments, and a strong central authority. They wanted a fiscally sound and nationalistic government, with the power to pass tax laws, create a central bank, and regulate commerce. They also wanted to foster good relations with Great Britain.
The Federalist Party, which supported Hamilton's fiscal policies, was a coalition of bankers and businessmen. They worked in every state to build an organised party committed to their nationalist and financial goals. The Federalists argued that a strong national government was necessary for the United States to function as an independent nation. They believed that the Articles of Confederation, the predecessor of the Constitution, were inadequate and required drastic changes.
The Federalists were opposed by the Anti-Federalists, who fought against the creation of a stronger national government and sought to preserve the rights of states and individuals. The Anti-Federalists wrote essays expressing their concerns about creating a strong central government and no Bill of Rights. They feared that a concentration of federal power represented a dangerous threat to liberty and that Federalist policies gave advantages to the upper class.
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Federalists were in favour of the US Constitution
The Federalists were a group of influential leaders, writers, and thinkers who supported the ratification of the US Constitution. They were well-organised, well-funded, and had strong support in the press, which they used to their advantage to advocate for the Constitution's adoption. The Federalists believed in a strong central government, with powers to pass laws, regulate commerce, print and coin money, conduct international trade, and settle disputes among the states. They saw a strong national government as necessary for the United States to function effectively as an independent nation.
The Federalist supporters included big property owners, conservative small farmers and businessmen, wealthy merchants, clergymen, judges, lawyers, and professionals. They favoured weaker state governments, indirect elections of government officials, longer term limits for officeholders, and representative democracy. The Federalists were also known for their monetary policies, which some believed gave advantages to the upper class.
Alexander Hamilton, one of the most prominent Federalists, wrote many essays in "The Federalist" (also known as the Federalist Papers), urging support for the ratification of the Constitution. Other influential Federalists included John Jay and James Madison, who also contributed to the Federalist Papers. Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and John Adams broadly supported Federalist policies, although Washington remained officially non-partisan during his presidency.
The Federalists faced opposition from the Anti-Federalists, who feared that a strong central government would infringe on individual liberties and states' rights. The Anti-Federalists published essays expressing their concerns and arguing for a Bill of Rights to protect individual freedoms. Despite this opposition, the Federalists ultimately prevailed in the state ratification debates, and their ideas shaped the US Constitution and the early American political system.
Overall, the Federalists played a crucial role in advocating for the US Constitution and establishing a strong central government in the United States, believing it to be essential for the country's success and stability.
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Federalists were against the French Revolution
The Federalists, who supported the ratification of the US Constitution, were against the French Revolution. The Federalists included big property owners in the North, conservative small farmers and businessmen, wealthy merchants, clergymen, judges, lawyers, and professionals. They favored a strong central government, weaker state governments, and a more mercantile economy.
The French Revolution began in 1789 with the storming of the Bastille and, from 1790 to 1794, the revolutionaries became increasingly radical. While Americans were initially enthusiastic about the revolution, divisions of opinion soon became apparent between Federalists and Anti-Federalists. The Anti-Federalists, led by figures such as Thomas Jefferson, supported the French Revolution and saw it as a continuation of the American Revolution, with the French imitating the American colonists in their desire for freedom. They also believed that the French would win a greater degree of autonomy, which would result in a new Constitution and a strong federal government in the United States.
The Federalists, on the other hand, were not sympathetic to the French Revolution. Led by figures such as Alexander Hamilton, they generally favored England over France in foreign policy. They saw a profound difference between the French Revolution and the American Revolution. The Federalists were concerned that too many Americans were ready to follow in French footsteps and that the French Revolution threatened the stability of the young American nation. They also believed that the French Revolution could lead to a "'corrupting' English influence" on the United States and potentially even the establishment of a monarchy.
The Federalists in power, including President John Adams, passed the Alien and Sedition Laws in 1798. These laws were designed to curb the movement and rights of immigrants entering the United States, as there were fears that they could "swell" a French army in the event of an invasion. The Federalists also targeted the Republican and Anti-Federalist press with these laws, as they saw the press as a tool to spread pro-French sentiments and attack the Washington administration.
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Federalists were for commercial and diplomatic harmony with Britain
The Federalists were a group of influential leaders, writers, and thinkers who supported the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and the formation of a strong national government. They were well-organized, well-funded, and effectively utilized the printed word to spread their ideas. Among them were prominent figures such as Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, who authored the Federalist Papers, a collection of 85 essays advocating for the adoption of the Constitution.
Federalists believed in commercial and diplomatic harmony with Britain, especially after the signing of the 1794 Jay Treaty. They emphasized the importance of maintaining strong commercial ties with Europe, particularly Britain, to ensure economic prosperity and stability. This stance was driven by their understanding of the critical role that international commerce played in the country's development and their desire to protect U.S. merchant vessels.
The Federalist Party, which emerged as one of the first two political parties in the United States, was closely associated with Alexander Hamilton, the Secretary of the Treasury. Hamilton's monetary and economic policies, including the assumption of national and state debts, the establishment of a central bank, and support for manufactures and industrial development, aligned with the Federalists' goals. They sought to strengthen the federal government and enhance its power, particularly in the economic sphere.
In contrast to the Jeffersonians, who favored expansion across the continent, the Federalists prioritized strong international commerce and the creation of a capable navy. They recognized the importance of commercial ties with Europe and sought to maintain harmonious relations with Britain. This stance was influenced by their belief in the benefits of stable diplomatic relations and their support for a robust national government.
The Federalists' preference for Britain over France in foreign policy was also influenced by their opposition to the French Revolution. They engaged in an undeclared naval war with France in 1798–99, further solidifying their stance. Additionally, the Federalists' monetary policies and belief in a strong central government aligned more closely with Britain's political and economic landscape at the time.
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Federalists were against individual liberties
The Federalists were a group of supporters of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, which 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 of the day.
The Federalists argued against the necessity of a bill of rights, claiming that the Constitution already contained protections for individual liberties in Article I, Sections 9 and 10, which limited the powers of Congress and the states. They believed that the entire Constitution, with its checks and balances, was effectively 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.
However, Anti-Federalists like Patrick Henry, George Mason, and James Monroe, as well as supporters of the new constitution like Thomas Jefferson, disagreed and argued that the people were entitled to more explicit declarations of their rights under the new government. They believed that a bill of rights was necessary to protect individual liberties, as they feared that the concentration of power in a strong central government threatened individual freedoms.
The Federalists' rejection of a bill of rights was also influenced by their belief that historical bills of rights had been ineffective and that rights were better secured through auxiliary precautions, such as the division and separation of powers, bicameralism, and a representative form of government. They also made a clear distinction between state constitutions and the U.S. Constitution, arguing that the people had delegated to the state all rights and powers not explicitly retained.
In summary, while the Federalists did not explicitly oppose individual liberties, their resistance to a bill of rights and their support for a strong central government raised concerns among Anti-Federalists about the potential threat to individual freedoms.
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Frequently asked questions
The Federalists were supporters of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and members of one of the nation’s first two political parties. They included big property owners in the North, conservative small farmers and businessmen, wealthy merchants, clergymen, judges, lawyers, and professionals.
The Federalists believed in a strong central government, weaker state governments, longer term limits for officeholders, and representative democracy. They supported a national bank, tariffs, and good relations with Great Britain. They also believed that the entire Constitution, with its institutional restraints and checks and balances, was a Bill of Rights.
The Federalists were led by influential figures such as Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison, and John Adams. George Washington broadly supported Federalist policies but remained officially non-partisan during his presidency.
