Federalist Party (United States)

The Federalist Party was a political party in the early history of the United States. It was formed in the first Washington administration (1789?1793) to support the fiscal policies of Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, and came to support a strong national government, a loose construction of the constitution, and a more mercantile, less agricultural economy. Its early leaders included John Adams and Alexander Hamilton. It was opposed by the Republican Party, led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. (Sometimes labeled the "Democratic-Republican Party" by historians, this Republican Party has no relationship to the modern Republican Party.)

Related Topics:
Political party - 1789 - 1793 - Treasury Secretary - John Adams - Alexander Hamilton - Republican Party - Thomas Jefferson - James Madison - Modern Republican Party

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For most of the existence of the Federalist Party, Great Britain and France were fighting a series of wars that would become known as the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. This European struggle kept threatening to spill over into North America, and the two parties became identified with support with one or the other of the combatants: Federalists tended to be Anglophiles, while Republicans tended to favor the French Republic. The Federalists controlled the government for most of the 1790s, and, by 1798, they were arming the country to fight a war with France that never happened. The Quasi-War with France was one factor that contributed to the Republican takeover of Congress and the Presidency in the "Revolution of 1800". The Federalists withdrew to their New England strongholds until the War of 1812 aroused enough opposition to the Republicans to give them another chance. The Federalists were unable to capitalize on this opportunity, however, and, with the end of the war, the party collapsed nearly everywhere.

Related Topics:
Great Britain - France - French Revolution - Napoleonic Wars - 1798 - Quasi-War - Revolution of 1800 - War of 1812

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