Difference between revisions of "Federalist Party"
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==History== | ==History== | ||
| − | The Federalist Party was the first [[political parties]] 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. Washington died in 1799, Adams retired in 1801, and Hamilton was killed by [[Aaron Burr]] in 1804 | + | The Federalist Party was the first [[political parties]] 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. |
==Platform== | ==Platform== | ||
Revision as of 00:18, January 20, 2015
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, 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
The Federalist Party was the first political parties 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.
Platform
The Federalists advocated a strong national government, capable of holding its own in a world at war. At the state level they promoted strong state governments. Foreign policy was a decisive issue in the 1790s and the Federalists promoted friendship and trade with Britain, especially through the Jay Treaty, which was highly controversial but ratified in 1795. The Jeffersonians admired the French Revolution and feared that close ties with Britain would threaten republicanism and move the new republic back toward monarchy. In terms of economics, federalists subscribed to the Hamiltonian notion that the United States must engage in manufacturing and commerce in order to become a great power.
Confusion on name
The name "federalist" is derived from The Federalist Papers, a collection of newspaper columns that supported ratification of U.S. Constitution. The columns were written in 1787 by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. The Federalist Party of the 1790s is often confused with the "federalists" of 1787-88, because of overlapping membership. The federalists of 1787-88 were a loose coalition led by Hamilton and Madison that supported ratification of the Constitution. They were opposed by an even looser coalition called the "anti-federalists." Neither group was a party and neither ran candidates. Both disappeared after the Constitution was ratified in 1788. Madison was a leader of the federalists of 1787-88, but broke with Hamilton in 1790.
Federalist presidents
- John Adams (1797-1801)
See also
Bibliography
- Banner, James M. To the Hartford Convention: The Federalists and the Origins of Party Politics in Massachusetts, 1789–1815 (1970)
- Bassett, John Spencer. The Federalist System, 1789-1801 (1906) 374 pp older scholarly history online edition
- Beeman, Richard R. The Old Dominion and the New Nation, 1788–1801 (1972)
- Broussard, James H. The Southern Federalists: 1800–1816 (1978)
- Buel Jr., Richard. Securing the Revolution: Ideology in American Politics, 1789–1815 (1972)
- Chambers, William Nisbet. Political Parties in a New Nation: The American Experience, 1776-1809 (1963)
- Chambers, William Nisbet, ed. The First Party System: Federalists and Republicans (1972)
- Chernow, Ron. Alexander Hamilton (2004), most recent major biography excerpt and text search
- Cunningham Jr., Noble E., ed. The Making of the American Party System 1789 to 1809 1965. Excerpts from primary sources
- Dunn, Susan. Jefferson's Second Revolution: The Election Crisis of 1800 and the Triumph of Republicanism (2004) excerpt and text search
- Elkins, Stanley, and Eric McKitrick. The Age of Federalism: The Early American Republic, 1788–1800 1993, the most detailed and sophisticated political history of the era. online edition
- Ferling, John. Adams vs. Jefferson: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, (2004) online edition
- Fischer, David Hackett. The Revolution of American Conservatism: The Federalist Party in the Era of Jeffersonian Democracy 1965
- Formisano, Ronald. The Transformation of Political Culture: Massachusetts Parties, 1790s–1840s (1983)
- Fox, Dixon Ryan. The Decline of Aristocracy in the Politics of New York, 1801–1840 (1919)
- Hildreth, Richard. History of the United States (1851) vol 4 covering 1790s. online edition, by leading conservative historian of 1840s
- Humphrey, Carol Sue The Press of the Young Republic, 1783–1833 1996 online edition
- Knudson, Jerry W. Jefferson And the Press: Crucible of Liberty (2006) how 4 Republican and 4 Federalist papers covered election of 1800; Thomas Paine; Louisiana Purchase; Hamilton-Burr duel; impeachment of Chase; and the embargo excerpt and text search
- Larson, Edward J. A Magnificent Catastrophe: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, America's First Presidential Campaign. (2007). 333 pp. on 1800 online review
- McCormick, Richard P. The Second Party System: Party Formation in the Jacksonian Era (1966) details the collapse state by state
- McCullough, David. John Adams (2002), very well written popular biography; Pulitzer Prize; excerpt and text search
- McDonald, Forrest. The Presidency of George Washington (1974), by leading conservative historian
- McDonald, Forrest. Alexander Hamilton: A Biography (1979) online edition biography focused on intellectual history esp on AH's republicanism.
- McDonald, Forrest. "Hamilton, Alexander"; American National Biography Online 2000, 5000 words
- Miller, John C. Alexander Hamilton: Portrait in Paradox (1959), full-length scholarly biography; online edition
- Miller, John C. The Federalist Era: 1789–1801 (1960) political history by leading scholar.
- Mitchell, Broadus. Alexander Hamilton: The National Adventure, 1788–1804 (1962), most detailed scholarly biography
- Morison, Samuel Eliot. The Life and Letters of Harrison Gray Otis, Federalist, 1765-1848 (1913) 378 pages complete text online
- Risjord, Norman, ed. The Early American Party System (1969) excerpts from essays by scholars
- Risjord, Norman. Chesapeake Politics, 1781-1800 (1978), covers Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina in depth; online edition
- Sharp, James Rogers. American Politics in the Early Republic: The New Nation in Crisis, 1993 , detailed political history of 1790s
- Sheehan, Colleen. “Madison v. Hamilton: The Battle Over Republicanism and the Role of Public Opinion” American Political Science Review 2004 98(3): 405-424. abstract
- Smelser, Marshall. The Democratic Republic 1801–1815 1968 general survey
- Tinkcom, Harry M. The Republicans and Federalists in Pennsylvania, 1790–1801 1950 online edition