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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.)

Hamilton's reputation suffered in 1797 when it was revealed that he had had an extramarital affair. After Washington died in 1799, rivalry between Adams and Hamilton grew intense. Hamilton wrote a pamphlet that accused Adams of being mentally unstable. The pamphlet succeeded in undermining Adams' bid for reelection, but it also effectively ended Hamilton's political career. Following Jefferson's triumph in the election of 1800, Adams retired to his farm in Massachusetts. After twelve years of dominance under presidents Washington and Adams, the Federalists found themselves in opposition and without outstanding leaders.

Hamilton's reputation suffered in 1797 when it was revealed that he had had an extramarital affair. Hamilton was the brains of the party, but he had an impulsive and moody side as well. Washington knew when to intervene to moderate such recklessness. After Washington died in 1799, rivalry between Adams and Hamilton grew intense. Hamilton wrote a pamphlet that accused Adams of being mentally unstable. The pamphlet succeeded in undermining Adams' bid for reelection, but it also effectively ended Hamilton's political career. Following Jefferson's triumph in the election of 1800, Adams retired to his farm in Massachusetts. After twelve years of dominance under presidents Washington and Adams, the Federalists found themselves in opposition and without outstanding leaders.

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. In the 1812 election, DeWitt Clinton received 48 percent of the vote as the anti-war candidate. With the war continuing to go 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.

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. In the 1812 election, DeWitt Clinton received 48 percent of the vote as the anti-war candidate. With the war continuing to go 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.