The Federalist Era

After the passage and ratification of the Constitution and subsequent Bill of Rights, the Legislative Branch began to resemble what it is today. While organized political parties were nonexistent during the presidency of George Washington, informal factions formed between congressmen that were either ‘Pro-Administration’ or ‘Anti-Administration’. After George Washington stepped down as President, the informal coalitions in Congress became officially organized, transforming the ‘Pro-Administration’ faction into the Federalist Party and the ‘Anti-Administration’ faction into the Jeffersonian Party (Also known as the Democratic-Republicans or Anti-Federalists).

The Federalist Party was formed by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison who all authored many of the Federalist Papers. Hamilton was a key ideological figure for this political party, influencing other party members with his previous experience as the Secretary of the Treasury under Washington. Thus, the party advocated for a stronger national government centered around the Executive Branch among other federal entities. The main base of support for this party came from the urban cities as well as the New England area. The supporters were of the mind that the national government was superior to the state government, thus establishing a governmental hierarchy.

The Federalist Party had many successes throughout the late 1700s in the Legislative Branch. In the Executive Branch, the second President of the United States, John Adams, was a member of the Federalist Party and was to be the only Federalist president in US history. Once the early 1800s arrived, the Federalists began to lose support among the American voters, allowing the rival Jeffersonian Party to garner support. However, Supreme Court Chief Justice, and moderate Federalist, John Marshall continued the party’s legacy of federal supremacy long after the party’s dissolution.

This Lesson Plan can be used as a prepared resource by following this curriculum plan which aligns to NCSS and Common Core Standards.

This Lesson Plan's assets can also be used on their own as supplemental resources. The display format is prepared for easy access, exploring, and learning.

Curriculum Modules

Module | 5 Lesson Plans

1783-1812 Module

This set of lesson plans focuses on historic events between the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783 and the beginning of the War of 1812, with a...

Upon completion of this lesson, the students will be able to:

1. Knowledge

Recognize some of the key events and leaders of the Federalist Era.

2. Comprehension/Application/Analysis

Examine a primary source and note the triumphs or difficulties of the Federalist Era.

3. Evaluation

Evaluate the different perspectives on government that the Federalists and Anti-Federalists/Democratic-Republicans offered and how a difference of opinion could be beneficial at times.

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The Federalist Era Lesson Plan Teaching Guide.pdf

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The Federalist Era PowerPoint.pptx

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The Federalist Era Lesson Plan Worksheet.pdf

Check out the Lesson Plan Teaching Guide for more instructions on using the prepared Lesson Plan.

Lesson Plan Primary Source Activity

Use the Lesson’s PowerPoint to explore the context and history; the PowerPoint introduces an Essential Question and lays foundational knowledge about the Federalist Era.
Let students choose a primary source. The primary sources are available on the Lesson Plan Page, under the category “Primary Sources.”
Distribute the primary source worksheet.
Students will read their selected primary source and fill out or discuss the questions.
Encourage a class discussion around the findings and reflections, particularly from Section 5 of the worksheet.

OPTIONAL HOMEWORK/ASSESSMENT/ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES:

Option 1: A Federalist Timeline

Using the Articles and the Primary Sources on the Lesson Plan Page, students create a timeline of key events during the Federalist Era (focusing on the years of Washington and Adams’ administrations). Students can create a paper timeline or a digital timeline and share about their favorite event on the timeline with the group.

Option 2: Profile of a Federalist

Students select the biography of a historical figure from the Federalist Era. (There are 6 biographies ready on the Lesson Plan Page, or students can do further research on their own for other figures.)

As short written answers or verbal answers, students can analyze and summary this historical person’s life:

Who was this person?
What role did they play in the Federalist Era?
What were their views on government?
What major events or policies were they involved in?
Did they support or oppose the U.S. Constitution? Why?
What was their position on the Bill of Rights?
How did they contribute to the development of political parties?
What were their most important writings or speeches?
How did their actions impact the future of the United States?
What is their legacy today?

Common Core State Standards- ELA & History/Social Studies

Grades 6-8

Key Ideas and Details:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.1
  - Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.2
  - Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
Craft and Structure:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.5
  - Describe how a text presents information (e.g., sequentially, comparatively, causally).
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.6
  - Identify aspects of a text that reveal an author's point of view or purpose (e.g., loaded language, inclusion or avoidance of particular facts).
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.8
  - Distinguish among fact, opinion, and reasoned judgment in a text.

Grades 9-10

Key Ideas and Details:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.1
  - Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, attending to such features as the date and origin of the information.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.2
  - Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text.
Craft and Structure:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.5
  - Analyze how a text uses structure to emphasize key points or advance an explanation or analysis.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.8
  - Assess the extent to which the reasoning and evidence in a text support the author's claims.

Grades 11-12

Key Ideas and Details:
- CSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.1
  - Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, connecting insights gained from specific details to an understanding of the text as a whole.
- CSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.2
  - Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary that makes clear the relationships among the key details and ideas.
Craft and Structure:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.5
  - Analyze in detail how a complex primary source is structured, including how key sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text contribute to the whole.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.8
  - Evaluate an author's premises, claims, and evidence by corroborating or challenging them with other information.

Social Studies - National Council for the Social Studies