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[[image:alexhamilton.jpg|thumb|The Federalist Party was founded by Treasury Secretary [[Alexander Hamilton]] in 1791. After he was killed in dual in 1804, the party drifted without outstanding leaders.]]

[[image:alexhamilton.jpg|thumb|The Federalist Party was founded by Treasury Secretary [[Alexander Hamilton]] in 1791. After he was killed in duel in 1804, the party drifted without outstanding leaders.]]

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 Adams president in 1796. In 1799, the party was at the peak of its power. It controlled all branches of government, including Congress, the presidency, and the courts. But Adams was defeated by Jefferson in the "Revolution of 1800." With the loss of Adams and Hamilton, who was killed in 1804, the Federalists became an antiquated, backward-looking party that merely went through the motions of contesting elections. Rufus King, nominated in 1816, was the party's last presidential candidate.

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 Adams president in 1796. In 1799, the party was at the peak of its power. It controlled all branches of government, including Congress, the presidency, and the courts. But Adams was defeated by Jefferson in the "Revolution of 1800." With the loss of Adams and Hamilton, who was killed in 1804, the Federalists became an antiquated, backward-looking party that merely went through the motions of contesting elections. Rufus King, nominated in 1816, was the party's last presidential candidate.

The Federalist Party was the first [[political party]] in the [[United States]]. In 1790, Hamilton proposed a set of reforms designed to put the new federal government on a strong financial basis. The plan divided Congress into factions. Those Congressmen who supported Hamilton's reforms became the Federalist Party. The opposition was led by Madison. Although Madison had been a leading federalist in the fight for ratification, he was not a member of Hamilton's Federalist Party. Conversely, [[Patrick Henry]], the most prominent critic of ratification, did join Hamilton's party. (Both positions reflect Henry's longstanding rivalry with Madison.)

The Federalist Party was the first [[political party]] in the [[United States]]. In 1790, Hamilton proposed a set of reforms designed to put the new federal government on a strong financial basis. The plan divided Congress into factions. Those Congressmen who supported Hamilton's reforms became the Federalist Party. The opposition was led by Madison. Although Madison had been a leading federalist in the fight for ratification, he was not a member of Hamilton's Federalist Party. Conversely, [[Patrick Henry]], the most prominent critic of ratification, did join Hamilton's party. (Both positions reflect Henry's longstanding rivalry with Madison.)

After a period of dominance under presidents Washington and Adams, the Federalists found themselves in opposition and without outstanding leaders. After Washington died in 1799, intense rivalry between Adams and Hamilton surfaced. In the election of 1800, Jefferson narrowly triumphed over Adams. After his defeat, Adams retired to his farm in Massachusetts and the party veered toward the "High Federalism" of Hamilton. Although Hamilton was the party's intellectual engine, his confidence and talent worried those who saw him as a potential king or dictator. Hamilton was killed by [[Aaron Burr]] in 1804. The party's base of support was in New England, a region dependent on trade with Britain. Meanwhile, Republican "war hawks" in the West and South saw war with Britain as a way of acquiring agricultural land in Canada and in the West. Federalist fortunes revived briefly during the War of 1812 due to the party's anti-war stand. With the war going poorly, the Federalists sponsored the [[Hartford Convention]] in 1814 to propose constitutional amendments. After the [[Treaty of Ghent]] and the [[Battle of New Orleans]] in 1815, the fear of defeat that inspired the convention was forgotten and involvement opened former participants to the accusation of treason.

After a period of dominance under presidents Washington and Adams, the Federalists found themselves in opposition and without outstanding leaders. After Washington died in 1799, intense rivalry between Adams and Hamilton surfaced. In the election of 1800, Jefferson narrowly triumphed over Adams. After his defeat, Adams retired to his farm in Massachusetts and the party veered toward the "High Federalism" of Hamilton. Although Hamilton was the party's intellectual engine, his confidence and talent worried those who saw him as a potential king or dictator. Hamilton was killed by Vice President [[Aaron Burr]] in 1804. The party's base of support was in New England, a region dependent on trade with Britain. Meanwhile, Republican "war hawks" in the West and South saw war with Britain as a way of acquiring agricultural land in Canada and in the West. Federalist fortunes revived briefly during the War of 1812 due to the party's anti-war stand. With the war going poorly, the Federalists sponsored the [[Hartford Convention]] in 1814 to propose constitutional amendments. After the [[Treaty of Ghent]] and the [[Battle of New Orleans]] in 1815, the fear of defeat that inspired the convention was forgotten and involvement opened former participants to the accusation of treason.

With victory in hand, the peace-with-Britain vs westward expansion issue, which had driven partisan rivalry up to this point, disappeared. The difficulties the U.S. encountered early in the war demonstrated that the Federalists had been right about the need for a stronger national government. In 1816, 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. In the spring of 1816, Rufus King, the last Federalist nominee for president, wrote, "I presume that the failure will, as I think it should, discourage the Federalists from maintaining a fruitless struggle."<ref>Seltzer, Richard, ''[https://books.google.com.sg/books?id=Ig9zBQAAQBAJ&dq= The Death of the Federalist Party]'' (2014)</ref> As King predicted, Republican [[James Monroe]] won the 1816 election in a landslide, kicking off a non-partisan "era of good feelings." New Hampshire Congressman [[Daniel Webster]], the most promising of the young Federalist leaders at this point, switched parties. In 1820, 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.

With victory in hand, the peace-with-Britain vs westward expansion issue, which had driven partisan rivalry up to this point, disappeared. The difficulties the U.S. encountered early in the war demonstrated that the Federalists had been right about the need for a stronger national government. In 1816, 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. In the spring of 1816, Rufus King, the last Federalist nominee for president, wrote, "I presume that the failure will, as I think it should, discourage the Federalists from maintaining a fruitless struggle."<ref>Seltzer, Richard, ''[https://books.google.com.sg/books?id=Ig9zBQAAQBAJ&dq= The Death of the Federalist Party]'' (2014)</ref> As King predicted, Republican [[James Monroe]] won the 1816 election in a landslide, kicking off a non-partisan "era of good feelings." New Hampshire Congressman [[Daniel Webster]], the most promising of the young Federalist leaders at this point, switched parties. In 1820, 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.