The federalists wanted a strong national government because the acts of confederation failed. Federalists called for a national bank and good relations with Great Britain, this was expressed in the jay treaty in 1794. Alexander Hamilton was the leader of the federalists and backed their beliefs fully. The only federalist president was John Adams. After the jay treaty passed the federalists won most of the major legislative battles in the 1790s. The federalists left a strong government behind after they disappeared. The antifederalists were a political party that opposed a big, strong government. They wanted to stay under the articles of confederation because the states had more power than the actual government. They were led by Patrick Henry,
