Federalist

the name of an early political party in the United States. After the acknowledgment of the independence of the 13 colonies by the mother country, the first task that confronted the succe ful revolutionists was the erection of a government and the formulation of a constitution. When the deliberative body on whom devolved this duty met, it was discovered that there were various sentiments entertained by its members, these differences of opinion aligning themselves on opposite sides of: the great question of organic union. One faction favored the erection of a nation with more or le absence of independence of its constituent members, while the other urged. a federation of sovereign states, each one of which should retain its autonomy, and not be amenable to the general government any further than it by actual ce ion gave that government suthority. ‘Those favoring a strong or national organic union were called Federalists, and numbered in their ranks such men as George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and others, while those favoring the sovereignty of the States were called Republicans, among them being Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and others equally distinguished. Later in the history of the country the Federalists became known as Whigs, while the Republicans were called Democrats.