As secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton wanted to strengthen the nation's economy.

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The views of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson about the powers of the federal government were often in conflict.

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The Framers of the Constitution were opposed to the idea of political parties. Find out why on today's podcast.

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The Bill of Rights was passed by the first Congress. It contains ten amendments.

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Article III of the Constitution provided for a U.S. Supreme Court and said that Congress could establish lower courts as needed.

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George Washington, the nation's first president, could not run the executive branch alone. To help Washington fulfill his responsibilities, Congress created three departments: the Department of State, the Department of War, and the Department of the Treasury.

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George Washington had a strong sense of civic responsibility and felt that it was his duty to serve his country.

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The Federalists and Anti-Federalists disagreed over whether a bill of rights is needed for the Constitution.

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During the debates over ratification of the Constitution, Federalists and Anti-Federalists disagreed over whether the national government would have too much power.

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One area of contention between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists was over the question of whether the Constitution would maintain republican government. The Federalists argued that it would; the Anti-Federalists argued that it would not.

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