Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam 2025 - Free AP US History Practice Questions and Study Guide

Supporters of the Constitution were known as Federalists. This term refers to individuals who advocated for the ratification of the Constitution after it was drafted in 1787. The Federalists believed in a stronger national government as a means of maintaining order and providing for the common defense. Key figures among the Federalists included Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, who collectively authored the Federalist Papers, a series of essays that argued in favor of the Constitution and sought to address concerns of those who were worried about the balance of power between the states and the federal government.

The Federalists played a crucial role in shaping the new governmental system in the post-Revolutionary period, emphasizing the need for a robust central authority to replace the weak confederation that had existed under the Articles of Confederation. Their debates and efforts were essential in persuading the states to ratify the Constitution, thus establishing the foundation for the current United States government.