Federalist Party Facts for Kids

This page is about the late 18th- to early 19th-century American political party. For similarly named parties, see Federal Party.

Quick facts for kids Federalist Party

Other name	Federalists
Leader	Alexander Hamilton (1789–1792) John Jay (1792–1795) John Adams (1795–1802) Charles C. Pinckney (1802–1806) DeWitt Clinton (1806–1813) Rufus King (1813–1824)
Founder	Alexander Hamilton
Founded	c. 1789
Dissolved	c. 1824
Preceded by	Pro-Administration party
Succeeded by	National Republican Party
Headquarters	Washington D.C., U.S.
Essays	The Federalist Papers
Newspaper	Gazette of the United States
Ideology	Hamiltonianism • Federalism • Conservatism • Centralization • Modernization • American School • Protectionism • Implied powers • Pro-Jay Treaty • Nationalism
Political position	Center-right to right-wing
Religion	Congregational church
Senate (1799) (6th U.S. Congress)	22 / 32
House (1799) (6th U.S. Congress)	60 / 106
Politics of United States Political parties ^ a: The Federalist Party appealed to businesses and to conservatives who favored a strong central government led by a vigorous executive branch, a strong commercial economy, government-controlled banks, domestic manufacturing, strong military, and in world affairs preferred friendly relationships with Great Britain in opposition to the Revolutionary French Republic.

A portrait of Alexander Hamilton by John Trumbull, 1792.

The Federalist Party was an important American political party that existed from about 1792 to 1816. This party played a big role in the early years of the United States government. They were in charge of the federal government until 1801.

The party was started by Alexander Hamilton during George Washington's first term as president. Hamilton wanted a strong national government. He also believed the country needed a solid financial system. Many of his supporters were merchants and bankers from cities. They helped form the Federalist Party.

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What the Federalists Believed In

The Federalists had clear ideas about how the country should be run. They wanted a strong central government. This meant the national government would have more power than individual states.

Strong Economy and Trade

They believed in a strong economy based on business and trade. They supported creating a national bank. This bank would help manage the country's money. They also wanted to encourage manufacturing within the United States. This would make the country less dependent on other nations.

National Unity and Power

Federalists were strong supporters of American nationalism. This means they wanted the United States to be a powerful and united country. They also believed in having a strong military. This would protect the nation and its interests.

Foreign Relations

In terms of foreign policy, Federalists generally preferred friendly relations with Great Britain. They were often against the Revolutionary French Republic. This was different from other groups at the time.

Key Figures and Their Roles

Alexander Hamilton was the main founder of the Federalist Party. He was President George Washington's first Secretary of the Treasury. He worked hard to create a stable financial system for the new country.

The Federalist Papers

Hamilton, along with James Madison and John Jay, wrote a series of essays. These essays are known as The Federalist Papers. They were written to explain and defend the new Constitution. They helped convince people to support a strong federal government.

Other Important Leaders

After Hamilton, other leaders guided the party. These included John Jay, who was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. John Adams was also a key leader and became the second President of the United States.

The Party's Decline

The Federalist Party faced challenges over time. One major issue was their opposition to the War of 1812. Many Americans supported the war. The Federalists' stance made them less popular.

After the War of 1812 ended in 1815, the party lost much of its support. By 1816, the Federalist Party had largely faded away. However, their ideas about a strong national government and economy continued to influence American politics.

Images for kids

A portrait of Alexander Hamilton by John Trumbull, 1806
The Apotheosis of Washington as seen looking up from the Capitol rotunda in Washington, D.C.
Gilbert Stuart, John Adams, c. 1800-1815
President Thomas Jefferson
President James Madison