what did the federalists believe

The Federalists were a political party in the United States that held power from 1789 to 1801, during the rise of the countrys political party system. They were supporters of the newly written Constitution, who emphasized the federal character of the proposed union. The Federalists believed in a strong national government that promoted economic growth and fostered friendly relationships with Great Britain in opposition to Revolutionary France. They argued for counterbalancing branches of government and stressed the need for an adequate central government. The Federalist papers, written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, emphasized the importance of a strong central government and argued that the republican form of government could easily be corrupted without it. The Federalists challenged the common belief that a republic could only function efficiently if it was small and localized, and claimed that a strong national republic would better preserve the individual liberties of the people. The Federalists organized themselves well, were well funded, and made especially careful use of the printed word. They established traditions of federal fiscal integrity and credit worthiness, and initiated the important doctrine of neutrality in foreign affairs, allowing the infant nation to avoid being drawn into the wars between Britain and France.