In the 1790's Alexander Hamilton and the Federalist Party favored a strong centralized federal government and wanted the individual states to ratify the constitution, even though it meant the states had to give up some of their powers to the federal government.
No, the original concept was to have power in the control of the States, with a Union of the states making up the Federal government. Originally, the United States was intended to protect us from the dangers that might come from outside our borders. There was to be a very small Federal government, just enough to provide for that protection. What we have now is totally foreign to what the founding fathers intended.
Henry clay
strengthen the power of the federal government
In the context of the American Civil War, Republicans passed laws to strengthen the power of the federal government. The war was fought from 1861 to 1865.
federal
Delegates at the Constitutional Convention also wanted to divide power within the federal government.
They wanted to limit the federal government's power
he wanted to limit their power.
Federalists
They wanted to limit the federal government's power
the McChulloch vs. Maryland court case
the McChulloch vs. Maryland court case
To strengthen the power of the central government. The preceding Articles of the Confederation gave too much power to the states, and left too little power to the central government, as shown by Shays' Rebellion. A stronger central power was necessary, and thus the Constitution was born.
Jefferson wanted small Federal Government, but larger State Governments. He didn't want the Federal Government to make all of the decisions, he wanted the states to focus on the people of that state instead of the Federal Government to control everything.