American Political Thought: An Analysis of Federalist Ideas

This essay examines the Federalist ideas within the context of American political and legal thought, emphasizing the Federalist Papers and their impact on society. It discusses the role of Federalist leaders like George Washington and their efforts to shape the country through federalism, addressing initial challenges from anti-Federalists and the significance of the Declaration of Independence in drafting the new Constitution. The essay explores the questions surrounding the 'science of politics,' 'reflection and choice,' and 'accident and force,' as well as the Federalist Party's economic policies, including funding the debt of the Revolutionary War, establishing the Central Bank, and maintaining neutrality during the conflict between Great Britain and France. It concludes by highlighting the crucial role of Federalism in the formation of the New Constitution and its lasting impact on American politics.

Running head: AMERICAN HISTORY
American History
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The aim of the following paper is to discuss about the political and legal thoughts of
America. The political and legal thought that would be discussed in this paper is the Federalist
ideas within the context of the America. The Federalist Papers are significant sources to
understand the impact on society and people. The legendary Federalist leader like George
Washington was a great leader of the country who wanted to shape the country by implementing
the concepts of federalism. Initially they faced some problems by anti-Federalists but
Declaration of Independence was in their favor for drafting the new Constitution for the country.
The ideas of Federalism always stressed on the making formal treaties on preserving the
rights of the unions. There were some questions hovering regarding the fate of the American
Government. At first it must be mentioned that the party in the name of Federalist Party was set
up in the 1789 but it was later dissolved in the year 1824 (Kramnick, and Lowi: 34). After this
incident, this party has been succeeded by the name of the Republican Party of America i.e.
currently the opposition force to the Democrats in the country. The questions that hover around
this party are regarding the possibility of the ‘science of politics’. The other things were
‘reflection and choice’ and ‘accident and force’. It had been mentioned in the Declaration made
by the Government that the need for creating a new Constitution for America had been a grave
need because the Federal Government was not efficient enough. The welfare and safety of the
areas were required (Kramnick, and Lowi: 46).
According to some experts of politics, the point of view of the Federalists did not suit the
purpose of the country because they always depended on the theory of accident and force so they
can be able to set up a good government indeed. This political constitution of the accident and
force has not been properly suitable for the betterment of the situation. The party held the power
in the government from 1789 to 1801. This term of the Federalist had been used to define the

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supporters of the newly written constitution (Kramnick, and Lowi: 67). They always gave the
focus on the Federal character of the newly proposed union. The Declaration of Independence
had a positive impact on the society. It is because the state will dispose of all the vexations and
disappointments. In the society, s system will have to be put up in which the all the hopes and
fears of the common men can be discarded. The Constitution will also guide the common people
of the society and it will increase their confidence in social system of United States. If the
difference gets greater, all the distrust will be on the authority. However, common people of
society should always keep the trust on the Constitution of the country.
The President of the newly formed government by the Federalists was George
Washington. He went on to exercise the non partisan leadership style in the beginning years of
the new government. A huge ideological difference had grown within the part (Kramnick, and
Lowi: 89). This strong division had been developed due to the fiscal program being developed by
the Secretary of the party treasury. They had grown an ideological difference with the opposition
party on the basis of the attitudes and approaches towards the French Revolution in the year
1789. The Constitution is the fundamental law of United States of America. However, the
Declaration and Constitution do not have much conflict with each other since both of them
answer basic political questions of common people. These are the pillars of the country and
political organizations. However, both these foundations present the fundamental rights of the
human beings. These were drafted for the benefits of both current and future generations.
The Federalist Party of the country had a strong belief on some of the assumptions on
some of the economic policies. These economic policies included the funding for the debt of the
old Revolutionary War and assuming debts of the state, passages for the laws on excise, treating
the American shipping in a favorable manner and establishing the Central Bank for the country.

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As per the political thoughts of the Federalist Party, they chose to stay neutral when the Great
War between Great Britain and France had broken out (Kramnick, and Lowi: 37). They also
wanted to maintain their tariff system for the benefits of the common people. There had been
some barriers when the New Constitution had been implemented. The matter of jealousy will be
one of the biggest challenges in this discourse and the fellow feeling between the different states
of USA will be lost. A line can be quoted or cited from the Constitution in this context. It is ‘men
are governed by opinion; this opinion is as much influenced by appearances as by real’.
In this scenario, the views and beliefs of the Federalist Party would be very crucial to
map the changes within this scenario. The overall utility of the UNION will be in great risk due
to the attitudes of some people (Kramnick, and Lowi: 98). The Federalists had a very strong
belief that the small territory was needed to form the Government. However, it had been very
much important for the New Constitution to form the Government in an extensive territory. On
the contrary, the opposition of Federalists was afraid that the New Constitution would abolish the
states in the country. As per the Declaration of Independence it can be quoted that, ‘The only
remedy is to take away the power, by controlling the selfish avidity of the governor, by the
senate and house; of the senate, by the governor and house; and of the house, by the governor
and senate.’
On a concluding note it can be said that the Federalism in the United States had been very
much crucial to denote the formation of the New Constitution by the Federalist Government. The
anti-Federalists believed that this New Constitution would be a severe threat to the states within
the country (Kramnick, and Lowi: 93). Apart from that the beliefs of the Federalists were related
with the formation of the UNION within the country. The Federalism led a huge impact on the
overall politics of the country in a huge manner. The economic policies taken by the Federalist

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Government had been very much crucial for the development of the country from several
viewpoints. The leadership of George Washington also enhanced their opposition in the political
affairs of the country.

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References
Kramnick, Isaac, and Theodore J Lowi. American Political Thought. W.W. Norton, 2009.