FEDERALISTS VS REPUBLICANS
                     FEDERALISTS VS 
REPUBLICANS
The Federalist Party
Federalism was born in 1787, when Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, 
and James Madison wrote 85 essays collectively known as the 
Federalist papers. These eloquent political documents encouraged 
Americans to adopt the newly-written Constitution and its stronger 
central government. 
Source: www.pbs.org
Ideas of Alexander Hamilton
Largely influenced by the ideas of Alexander Hamilton, 
the Federalists succeeded in convincing the 
Washington administration to assume national and 
state debts, pass tax laws, and create a central bank. 
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Anti-Federalists
Anti-Federalists such as Thomas Jefferson feared that a 
concentration of central authority might lead to a loss of 
individual and states rights. They resented Federalist monetary 
policies, which they believed gave advantages to the upper class. 
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Revolution
In foreign policy, the Republicans leaned toward 
France, which had supported the American cause 
during the Revolution. 
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Federalists' suppression
After John Adams, their candidate, was elected president 
in 1796, the Federalists began to decline. The Federalists' 
suppression of free speech under the Alien and Sedition 
Acts, and the assumption of closer relations with Britain 
instead of France, inflamed Jeffersonian Republicans. In 
1801 Jefferson, with Vice President Aaron Burr at his side, 
assumed the presidency. 
Source: www.pbs.org
The Republican Party
Known informally as the Jeffersonian Republicans, this 
group of politicians organized in opposition to the 
policies of Federalists such as Alexander Hamilton, 
who favored a strong central government. 
Source: www.pbs.org
Individual freedoms 
Led by Thomas Jefferson, whom they helped elect to 
the presidency for two terms (1801-1809), the 
Republicans believed in individual freedoms and the 
rights of states. 
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Concentration of federal power
They feared that the concentration of federal power 
under George Washington and John Adams 
represented a dangerous threat to liberty. In foreign 
policy, the Republicans favored France, which had 
supported the Colonies during the Revolution, over 
Great Britain.
Source: www.pbs.org
Monetary policies
These ideas represented a departure from the policies 
of the Federalists under the administrations of 
Washington and Adams. 
The Federalists had established monetary policies that 
gave more power to the federal government and had 
rejected ties with France in favor of closer links to 
Britain. 
Source: www.pbs.org
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