The Routledge Dictionary of Politics, Third Edition
‘Federalist’ may be used as a general term for those who favour a federal system of government (see federalism). More narrowly the term refers to an American political faction or party which emerged at the beginning of the Republic’s history and advocated a strong national government for the USA.
Its main strength lay in the North, and its emphasis on the need for commercial expansion made it the natural partyof the trading and manufacturing classes. Its opponents advocated a weaker role for the national government vis-a'-vis the states, and were supported by agricultural interests. The Federalist Party was dominant during the administrations of George Washington and John Adams (1789–1801), but after Thomas Jefferson’s election to the presidency in 1800, the Federalists declined, and the party ceased to be important.
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