Federalist Party

The Federalist Party was founded in 1791 by Alexander Hamilton. It's primary leaders included Hamilton, John Jay, John Adams, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, DeWitt Clinton, Rufus King and John Marshall.

Federalists believed in a strong centralized government, a loose interpretation of the Constitution and unmentioned rights of the people not specifically stated in the Constitution. They also supported tariffs, positive relations with Great Britain and a Bank of the United States.

The party collapsed in 1816 after much of America viewed them as traitors when they signed for peace with Great Britain in the Treaty of Ghent in 1814. They officially dissolved in 1824.

John Adams was the only official Federalist president, but George Washington, even though he remained politically neutral, he tended to sway more towards the Federalists when it came to making decisions.