Final answer:
The Federalists advocated for a strong federal government with broad powers as outlined in the Federalist Papers, whereas the Republicans favored more limited central government and greater state autonomy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Federalists believed in a strong federal government that would ensure social stability, mainly through promoting the interests of wealthy individuals who they thought would provide benefits for all, which in turn would create a strong national union. Figures like Alexander Hamilton and John Adams, among others, lent their support to this vision. They backed a broad construction of the Constitution, advocating for federally funded internal improvements and other national projects, as delineated in the Federalist Papers. A strong federal government was seen as a necessity for defending the nation, maintaining economic prosperity, and preventing domestic faction and insurrection, which could stem from weak inter-state relations or the lack of a unified national policy.
By contrast, their political opponents, the Republicans (also known as Democratic-Republicans), preferred more limited central government powers, placing greater trust in the states and in the ability of the people to govern themselves more directly. However, the Federalist belief in a strong central government which was articulated in the Federalist Papers and during the implementation of the Constitution, remains the defining aspect of their ideology.