Federalist Party

THE FEDERALIST PARTY wasoneofthe first two political parties in America, formed in support of the adoption of the U.S. Constitution. Party members believed in a strong federal government. George Washington and John Adams were Federalists, but after these presidents, the party was not able to put another candidate in the White House. Members of the party were chiefly conservatives, and often represented wealthy business interests. Following the Revolutionary War, the colonies loosely united under the Articles of Confederation. Reticent to place themselves under the type of strong government they had just rebelled against, the newly formed states wanted to preserve their rights and limit the power of centralized government. However, faced with war debts, trade problems among states, disputes concerning state borders, and no federal judicial system, a number of leaders from the Revolution saw the need to revise and strengthen the Articles of the Confederation. As early as 1783, George Washington sent a letter to state governors about the need for a strong central government if the nation were to survive.

By 1785, the nation was in the midst of a depression. When Massachusetts farmers revolted in 1786, the need for action was evident. Yet, only five states sent representatives to a convention in Annapolis to discuss trade agreements. James Madison from Virginia and Alexander Hamilton from Massachusetts attended this meeting, pleading for a convention that would work to establish a strong federal government. Growing sentiment favorable to a central government led to a Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. After four months, delegates sent a new U.S. Constitution to states for ratification. The Federalist Party was largely responsible for this document. James Madison, who wrote much of the document, is often called the Father of the Constitution. Madison, together with John Jay and Alexander Hamilton, also wrote the 85 articles known collectively as the Federalist Papers that argued convincingly for the ratification of the constitution, and from which the Federalist Party takes its name. Before the Constitution was ratified, however, the first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were added.

George Washington, a strong Federalist, was elected the nation's first president. Washington is the only president to have been elected unanimously by the Electoral College. John Adams was elected vice president. Federalist initiatives in the new government included the establishment of a federal banking system under the leadership of Alexander Hamilton, helping to bring the new nation into sound financial order. Washington was also able to develop a workable administrative program for the new federal system. The Federalist Congress passed the Alien and Sedition Acts, allegedly for the purpose of protecting the country from foreign plots, but in reality a move to weaken Thomas Jefferson and his followers. The four acts alarmed citizens who were already concerned that the new government might have too much power.

This group developed into an influential faction calling themselves the Anti-Federalists. Later, they began calling themselves the Democratic-Republicans. Ironically, Madison became a member of this party and opposed many legislative initiatives of the Federalists. Thomas Jefferson, a strong believer in states' rights, led the Democratic-Republican Party. Jefferson and Madison [Page 239]prevailed upon Philip Freneau to begin the National Gazette, a newspaper with Anti-Federalist views.

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