After George Washington became President of the United States in 1789, it became apparent that differences existed between those who favored a strong federal government and those who opposed it. Those in favor of the strong federal government were led by Alexander Hamilton, Washington's secretary of the treasury. Their only president was John Adams, elected in 1796. The Federalists were opposed by Thomas Jefferson, whose followers created the Democratic-Republican Party which defeated the Federalists in 1800. The Federalist Party remained as an opposition party until it broke apart in 1816.
