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Federalist Facts

Federalist Facts
Federalist refers to a set of political beliefs or to the supporters and leaders of such a party. This type of government combines the federal government with regional governments to create a political system. Two levels of government divide powers equally. The Federalist Party in the United States originated during the first administration of President George Washington (1789-1793) in opposition of the Democratic Republican Party. The Federalist Party and Democratic Republican Party did not exist when George Washington was elected in 1789. The Federalist Party was founded by John Adams, and Alexander Hamilton. Although George Washington agreed with much of the Federalist Party's ideas, he remained unaffiliated. The only Federalist United States President was John Adams.
Interesting Federalist Facts:
Most of the Founding Fathers of the United States were Federalists, including Alexander Hamilton and James Madison.
The Federalists believed that a working government could not be sustained by the Articles of Confederation because they felt they were too weak.
The Federalists wanted harmony with Britain, both commercially and diplomatically.
John Adams was inaugurated in 1797 as the first Federalist United States President.
Under John Adams the United States engaged in an undeclared naval war.
In the 1798 elections the Federalists gained control of Congress. This led to the Alien and Sedition Act being passed, as well as the Naturalization Act of 1798. This increased the time of residency for immigrants to become citizens and banned malicious publications against the government.
John Adams was defeated in his bid for re-election in 1800.
The Federalists continued to contest the presidency until 1816.
Although the Federalist Party did not last, it had a major impact on creating the national economy, foreign policy principles, and the national judicial system in the United States.
When the Federalist Party began to lose steam in the early 1800s the members either went to the Whig Party or Democratic Party.
Until the 1820s there were still some states with Federalist support.
Many in the Federalist Party believed that the elite should be running the government, as they had been raised in privilege.
The Federalist Party believed in concepts common to industrialization and nationalism.
Industrialization involves moving away from a society that depends on agriculture for primary support to one of monetary policies.
Federalists believed that the national government should have had more power than the states, however this would have been a nationalist party.
Alexander Hamilton, one of the Federalist Party founders, believed in government subsidies and a national bank.
Some of the most notable Federalists included John Marshall, Thomas Pinkney, Gouverneur Morris, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, John Adams, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and Timothy Pickering.
Notable anti-Federalists included George Clinton, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, and George Mason.
The Hartford Convention that took place between December 15, 1814 and January 5, 1815 essentially branded the Federalists as traitors and they lost their standing after being discredited.
The Federalist Party was essentially dead by 1828. It had lost steam because of its focus on national institutions and commerce which did not sit well with those working the land or with those worried about the state influence.


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