Early U.S. political party that advocated a strong central government.
Federalist was first used in 1787 to describe supporters of the Constitution of the United States , with its emphasis on a federal union; the Federalist papers was a series of 85 papers (178788) published by Alexander Hamilton , James Madison , and John Jay to persuade New York voters to ratify the Constitution. By the 1790s other policies defined the party, including Hamilton's fiscal program, creation of a central bank, a tariff system, favourable treatment for U.S. shipping, friendship with Britain, and neutrality in foreign affairs. The party elected John Adams as president in 1796 but was unable to organize effectively after 1801. It lost favour for its opposition to the Embargo Act and the War of 1812 ; an internal split by the New England faction (see Hartford Convention ) further weakened the party. By the 1820s most of its original principles had been adopted by the opposition Democratic Party, and the Federalist Party disappeared. Notable Federalists included John Marshall , Rufus King , Timothy Pickering , and Charles Pinckney .