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[[image:alexhamilton.jpg|thumb|The Federalist Party was founded by Treasury Secretary [[Alexander Hamilton]] in 1791.]]

[[image:alexhamilton.jpg|thumb|The Federalist Party was founded by Treasury Secretary [[Alexander Hamilton]] in 1791.]]

The '''Federalist Party''' was a U.S. political party founded in 1791 by Treasury Secretary [[Alexander Hamilton]]. It rallied support for the administration of George Washington and for various policies designed to promote a stronger national government. It was the world's first political party. Notable spokesmen included [[John Jay]], [[John Adams]] and author [[Noah Webster]]. Washington was never a member, but he did endorse most of its policies. The Federalists were opposed by the [[Republicans (Jeffersonian)|Republicans]], a rival party led by [[Thomas Jefferson]] and [[James Madison]]. The Federalists elected John Adams president in 1796, but he was defeated for reelection in 1800. The Jeffersonians were better campaigners and more willing to listen to the voice of the people. Despite too-late efforts by younger Federalists, that party relied too much on eminent elderly elites who were reluctant to seek the views of the voters.

The '''Federalist Party''' was a U.S. political party founded in 1791 by Treasury Secretary [[Alexander Hamilton]]. It rallied support for the administrations of [[George Washington]] and [[John Adams]] and it promoted various policies designed to strengthen the national government. It was the world's first political party. Notable spokesmen included [[John Jay]] and author [[Noah Webster]]. Washington was never a member, but he did endorse most of its policies. The Federalists were opposed by the [[Republicans (Jeffersonian)|Republicans]], a rival party led by [[Thomas Jefferson]] and [[James Madison]]. The Federalists elected John Adams president in 1796, but he was defeated for reelection in 1800. The Jeffersonians were better campaigners and more willing to listen to the voice of the people. Despite too-late efforts by younger Federalists, that party relied too much on eminent elderly elites who were reluctant to seek the views of the voters.

==History==

==History==

The Federalist Party was the first [[political party]] in the [[United States]]. In 1790, U.S. [[Secretary of the Treasury]] [[Alexander Hamilton]] proposed a set of reforms designed to put the new federal government on a strong financial basis. The plan divided Congress, and those who supported Hamilton became the Federalist Party. After a period of dominance under presidents George Washington and John Adams, a succession of misfortunes left the party without outstanding leaders: Washington died in 1799, Adams retired in 1801, and Hamilton was killed by [[Aaron Burr]] in 1804. The party drew most of its support from New England, a region that largely opposed the [[War of 1812]]. Many of the Federalist Party's leaders labeled the conflict “Mr. Madison’s War.” The Federalists were among the interests that called the [[Hartford Convention]] in 1814 for the purpose of amending the Constitution, and carried with it the implied threat of secession. However, the convention dissolved with news of the [[Treaty of Ghent]] and [[Andrew Jackson]]’s victory at the [[Battle of New Orleans]]. The war demonstrated that the Federalists had been right about the need for a stronger national government. In 1816, the Republican congress rechartered the Bank of the United States and enacted protective tariffs. The policies of the Federalists turned out to be far more popular than the Federalists ever were themselves; Republican [[James Monroe]] won the 1816 election in a landslide. New Hampshire Congressman [[Daniel Webster]], the most promising of the young Federalist leaders at this point, switched parties. In 1820, the Federalists failed to nominate a presidential candidate and Monroe was reelected without opposition. Defeat in the Massachusetts governor's race of 1823 ended the party's history. [[Chief Justice]] [[John Marshall]] was the last Federalist in the federal government, serving until his death in 1835.

The Federalist Party was the first [[political party]] in the [[United States]]. In 1790, U.S. Hamilton proposed a set of reforms designed to put the new federal government on a strong financial basis. The plan divided Congress, and those who supported Hamilton became the Federalist Party. After a period of dominance under presidents Washington and Adams, a succession of misfortunes left the party without outstanding leaders. Washington died in 1799, Adams retired in 1801, and Hamilton was killed by [[Aaron Burr]] in 1804. The party base of support was in New England, a region that largely opposed the [[War of 1812]]. Many of the Federalist Party's leaders labeled the conflict “Mr. Madison’s War.” The Federalists were among the interests that called the [[Hartford Convention]] in 1814 for the purpose of amending the Constitution, and carried with it the implied threat of secession. However, the convention dissolved with news of the [[Treaty of Ghent]] and [[Andrew Jackson]]’s victory at the [[Battle of New Orleans]]. After the treaty, the peace-with-Britain vs westward expansion issue, which had driven partisan rivalry up to this point, disappeared. The war demonstrated that the Federalists had been right about the need for a stronger national government. In 1816, the Republican congress rechartered the Bank of the United States and enacted protective tariffs. The policies of the Federalists turned out to be far more popular than the Federalists ever were themselves; Republican [[James Monroe]] won the 1816 election in a landslide. New Hampshire Congressman [[Daniel Webster]], the most promising of the young Federalist leaders at this point, switched parties. In 1820, the Federalists failed to nominate a presidential candidate and Monroe was reelected without opposition. Defeat in the Massachusetts governor's race of 1823 ended the party's history. [[Chief Justice]] [[John Marshall]] was the last Federalist in the federal government, serving until his death in 1835.

==Platform==

==Platform==