The Federalist Party called a strong national government for six years.
 Some Federalist leaders (Essex Junto) began courting Jefferson's vice president and Hamilton's nemesis Aaron Burr in an attempt to swing New York into an independent confederation with the New England states, which along with New York were supposed to secede from the United States after Burr's election to Governor
The Federalists were dominated by businessmen and merchants in the major cities who supported a strong national government

