# data[].attributes.body
In conclusion, since the people were divided between the Federalists and the Republicans, people were not completely sure what it meant to be an American. The Republicans thought that they were Americans because they were following the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation by rejecting a central, national authority. However, the Federalists felt that they were more American because they were doing what they thought was best for the country as a whole. They thought that as long as they were free from England, they could have any type of government as long as no single person or group had a dominance over the power.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Articles, the Constitution, and Federalism

# data[].attributes.subject
The Articles, the Constitution, and Federalism

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Constitution, the Articles, and Federalism: Crash Course US History #8

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Federalists vs Anti-Federalists in Five Minutes

# data[].attributes.body
Originally, the colonists wanted to gain independence from the tyrannical power that was England and the English government. The colonists won their independence and made sure to stay away from a centralized authority. However, in doing this, issues arose that showed the shortcomings of not having a national government. Therefore, the idea emerged to reform the existing government and create a new, national government. In doing this, the Americans went against what was originally stated as their purpose for the Revolution and created a central authority. This truly posed the question as to what it meant to be an American since the American government was beginning to turn into that of England.

# data[].attributes.headline
Political Disagreements and Their Affect on National Identity

# data[].attributes.subject
Political Disagreements and Their Affect on National Identity

# data[].attributes.body
The political disagreements that emerged in early America caused questions about what it meant to be an American because it divided Americans based on their view of what the government should be. The American population was divided into two groups, both of which had differing views of what the new national government should be.

# data[].attributes.body
Federalists believed in a strong, national government. This group  believed that the country's mission was to become a genuine connected nation-state.  This group was led by Alexander Hamilton. The new government remained in the hands of the federalists for a long time due to the leadership of George Washington. Washington was one of the Federalists greatest assets. The president, George Washington, stayed out of direct political affairs and therefore the key figure of in the administration became the Secretary of Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, who dealt with both foreign and domestic political affairs.

# data[].attributes.body
Leaders of this political party were James Madison and Thomas Jefferson. The reason why this party formed was that of the "menacing and tyrannical structure of power" of the Federalist party. The Republicans banded together to influence state and local elections. Jefferson and Madison had similar political philosophies. Jefferson believed in an agrarian republic, where most citizens would be sturdy, independent farmer-citizens tilling their own soil. Jefferson also assumed farmers would market their crops in the national and even international markets.