National Federalist Party

The National Federalist Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States. Founded in 1825, it was predominantly built by John Quincy Adams, and Philip Hamilton who assembled a wide cadre of politicians in every state alongside Henry Clay, making it the world's first active political party. Its main political rival has been the Republican Unionist Party since the late 1820's. The party is a big tent, and is much more ideologically uniform than the Republican Unionist Party (with mostly only minor individuals within it frequently holding widely differing political views) due to the shorter list of unique voting blocs that compose it, with modern conservatism is the majority ideology in the party. The historical predecessor of the National Federalist Party is considered to be the Federalist Party. Before 1860, the National Federalist Party supported expansive presidential power, the interests of merchants, indsutralization, and limited expansionism, while supporting a national bank and high tariffs. It split in between 1849 and 1863 over the 15th Amendment, today the National Federalist Party stands mainly for high tariffs, continued centralization of the economy, a national bank, continued funds the army, and strengthening of the federal government.

Background
The National Federalist Party evolved from the Federalist Party organized by Hamilton and Adams in opposition to the Democratic-Republican Party. The Federalist Party favored federalism; a strong federal government; merchant interests (especially New English ports); and flexible adherence to the Constitution. The party supported a national bank and was friendly to Great Britain until 1813. After the War of 1813, the Democratic Republicans virtually disappeared and the only national political party left was the Federalists and a few Independents, which were prone to splinter along regional lines. The era of one-party rule in the United States, known as the Era of Good Feelings, lasted from 1816 until 1828, when the Second Party System began. John Quincy Adams and Philip Hamilton worked with allies in each state to form a new National Federalist Party on a national basis. Later that year, the Republican Unionist Party had coalesced into the main rival to the National Federalists.

The National Federalist Party supports expanded federal power, industrialization, and limited expansionism, while supporting Centralized banking and high tariffs.

19th century


The Federalist Party and the remaining Independents split in 4 candidates over the choice of a successor to President Rufus King The faction that supported many of the Hamiltonian principles, led by Hamiltonian Federalist Philip Hamilton and Adamite John Quincy Adams, became the modern National Federalist Party.

Behind the platforms issued by state and national parties stood a widely shared political outlook that characterized the National Federalists: They wished for the concentration of economic and political power. They believed that government intervention in the economy benefited the country and the people as a whole while also being favored by rich merchants. They sought to unify the people of the country regardless of job—the artisan, merchants, soldier, and the ordinary farmer—by endorsing a united culture and supporting institutions like a national bank that would ensure that all Americans had something in common. Their definition of the proper role of government tended to be positive. Reformers eager to turn their programs into legislation called for a more active electorate. National Federalists tended to support programs like educational reform and the establishment of a public education system. They believed, that public schools would help in establishing a unified culture and would unite Americans on a common identity. While most national federalists shared reformers' humanitarian concerns, there was no specific party line on it.

The Opposing factions led by Clintonian Martin Van Buren, New Democrat Andrew Stevenson, and Old Republicans under Nathaniel Macon helped form the Republican Unionist Party. The National Federalist Party had a small yet decisive advantage over the Republican Unionists until the late 1840s. In 1836, angry with the Marcy-Webster Bill, radical pro-slavery National Federalists left the party and joined the newly formed States' Rights Party and would later on start the American Civil War, the remaining National Federalist remained loyal to the union and doubled down on their support for the abolition of slavery, the next party crisis would come with the 15th Amendment on 1849.

The National Federalists split over civil rights, with Northern and Southern tickets the Lily-Whites, forming an alliance with the Redeemers who led walkouts form both parties to form the Southern Rights Party to oppose the 15th Amendment the party was unable to stop the passing of the amendment and eventually returned to its respective parties with the selection of John Bell as President Pro-Tempore of the Senate with the National Federalists and Andrew Johnson as Stephen A. Douglas's running mate for the Republican Unionists. The 1860 presidential election saw the division end and the party reunite as it has remained ever since.

Name and symbols


The Federalist Party splintered in 1824 into the National Federalist Party and the Republican Unionist Party. Under the Quinconian era, the term "A United Federalist Nation" was in use by the party, but the name "National Federalist Party" was eventually settled upon and became the official name in 1832. Members of the party are called "National Federalists" or "Federalists".

The term "Federalist Party" has also been in local use has been avoided to prevent confusion between the pre-Quinconian Federalist Party.

The most common mascot symbol for the party has been the owl. Philip Hamilton first introduced the owl as a symbol when comparing the owl's famous big eyes and watchful stare as the federal government carefully looking after the people of the country aware of any threat saying “…and just like a watchful owl we must always remain vigilant to the threats to our nation ”. The National Federalists liked the responsible implications and picked it up too, therefore the image persisted and evolved. Its most lasting impression came from the cartoons of Thomas Nast from 1870 in Harper's Weekly. Cartoonists followed Nast and used the owl to represent the National Federalists and the bear to represent the Republican Unionists.

In the early 20th century, the traditional symbol of the National Federalist Party in Indiana, Kentucky, Kansas and Ohio was the eagle, as opposed to the Republican Unionist rooster. This symbol still appears on Oklahoma, Kentucky, Indiana, and some Virginia ballots. In New York, the National Federalist ballot symbol is a torch.

National Federalist presidents
as of 1863, there have been a total of 3 Republican Unionists Party presidents.

Current Supreme Court justices appointed by National Federalist presidents
, none of the seats on the Supreme Court of the United States are filled by Justices appointed by Republican Unionista Presidents.