For the first few years of Constitutional government, under the leadership of George Washington, there was a unity, commonly called Federalism that even James Madison (the future architect of the Republican Party) acknowledged in describing the Republican form of government-- " And according to the degree of pleasure and pride we feel in being republicans, ought to be our zeal in cherishing the spirit and supporting the character of Federalists." ... James Madison wrote in Federalist Papers #10, "By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of ...

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• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Party competition first emerged, when James Madison and Thomas Jefferson sought to create a political opposition to Alexander Hamilton, John Adams and the Federalists. Madison who originally had been the leading federalist in the country became the leader of a more antifederalist Jeffersonian Republican party who embraced parties and factions in order to protect and preserve the future of federalism and the separation of powers. He feared that Hamilton's view of the Constitution and the unitary system that he advocated would destroy the delicate balance of powers that Madison's unde...

• Word Count: 1647
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Ratifying the Constitution - Arguments for and Against People against the constitution were the Anti-Federalists. In 1787, several prominent Anti-Federalists published editorials in the New York Times under pen names such as Cato and Brutus. ... The Federalist Papers are a strong retort to the objections voiced against the fresh new Constitution. ... Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay wrote a series of 85 essays that appeared in New York newspapers. ... The Federalists won, of course. ...

• Word Count: 681
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate