Federalists

Federalists are individuals or groups who advocate federalism, a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units such as states or provinces. Federalists seek to balance national cohesion with regional autonomy, aiming to prevent tyranny by dispersing power and allowing local self-government within a unified framework.

In United States history, the term most often refers to supporters of the U.S. Constitution during the late 1780s who argued for a stronger central government than that proposed under the Articles of Confederation. The Federalists defended ratification in part through The Federalist Papers, a series of essays written to persuade states to adopt the new framework. They faced opposition from Anti-Federalists, who feared consolidation of power and favored greater states’ rights. After ratification, the Federalist Party emerged in the 1790s, led by figures such as Alexander Hamilton and John Adams, and promoted a strong national government, a national bank, and support for commerce and industry. The party weakened in the early 1800s and largely dissolved by the 1810s, but its influence helped shape the early federal structure and fiscal policy of the United States.

More broadly, federalists can refer to advocates of federalism in any country with a federal system, such as Canada, Germany, India, or Australia. In these contexts, federalists typically argue for a division of powers that preserves local autonomy while enabling national unity and shared constitutional protections. See also: Federalism, Federalist Papers, Federalist Party.