The First Political Parties

1. The First Political Parties Chapter 8, Section 3 Notes

2. Opposing Views • Although hailed as one of our countries greatest leaders, Washington did not escape criticism as president. • From time to time, harsh attacks on his policies and personality appeared in newspapers. • One paper even called Washington “the scourge and misfortune of his country”.

3. Opposing Views • Most of attacks on Washington had come from supporters of Thomas Jefferson. • They were attempting to discredit the policies of Hamilton and Washington by attacking Washington. • By 1796, Americans were beginning to divide into political parties.

4. Opposing Views • Most Americans considered political parties (PP) to be harmful. • PP, or factions as they were called, were to be avoided as much as strong central governments. They were not even mentioned in the Constitution. • Washington had warned that PP’s would divide the nation. • Others thought it was only natural that people would disagree on issues and that they would band together.

5. Opposing Views • In Washington’s cabinet, Jefferson and Hamilton often took opposing sides on issues. • They disagreed on economic policy, foreign relations, the power of the federal government, and interpretations of the Constitution. • Even GW had been partisan, favoring one side of an issue. He usually sided with Hamilton.

6. Poltical Parties Emerge • In Congress and the nation, similar differences existed. By the mid-1790’s, two distinct parties took shape. • The name Federalist was originally someone who supported the new constitution. • By 1790, the same word was being applied to people who supported GW’s policies.

7. Poltical Parties Emerge: FEDERALISTS • Federalists believed in the following: • strong federal government • Pro-British (stability), Anti-French (violence of the FR) • favored banking and shipping interest • Strong support in Northeast, especially New England, and among Southern plantation owners • Implied powers in Constitution

8. Political Parties Emerge: Democratic-Republicans • By 1791, efforts to turn public opinion against Federalist policies began when Phillip Freneau began publishing the National Gazette. • Jefferson, then Sec. of State, helped the newspaper get started. • Later, TJ and James Madison organized people who disagreed with Hamilton. • They called their party the Democratic- Republicans (or Republicans)

9. Democratic- Republicans • The Democratic- Republicans believed in: • Limited power of the national government (pro-States) • Pro-French • Supported by small farmers and urban workers, especially in the Mid-Atlantic states and the South • Strict interpretation of the Constitution

10. Federalists v. Republicans • The biggest fundamental difference between these two PP’s was the role ordinary people should play in government. • Federalists= Public office should be held by honest, educated men of property who would protect everyone’s rights. Ordinary people were likely to be swayed by agitators.

11. Federalists v. Republicans • In contrast, Republicans feared a strong central government controlled by a few rich and powerful people. • They believed that liberty would only be safe if ordinary people participated in government.

12. Washington’s Dilemma • Washington tried to get TJ and AH to work out their differences. • But neither were happy and both resigned their position before the end of GW’s second term.

13. Election of 1796 • For the first time, candidates ran as members of PP’s. • Both parties held caucuses to chose their parties’ candidates. • The Federalists chose VP John Adams for Pres and Charles Pickney for VP candidates. • The Republicans chose Thomas Jefferson for Pres and Aaron Burr for VP

14. The Election of 1796 • Jefferson and Adams who once were good friends now became political rivals. • In the end Adams received 71 electoral college votes to Jefferson’s 68. • Under the provisions of the Constitution at the time, Adams became President and Jefferson Vice-President

15. President John Adams • Resume: patriot, ambassador to Britain and France, negotiated Treaty of Paris (1783), two terms as VP

16. XYZ Affair • When Adams took over as Pres. he inherited a dispute with France. • The French regarded Jay’s Treaty as an attempt by America to help the British win the war against them. • Adams wanted to avoid war with France so he sent a delegation to try to work out the problems with France.

17. XYZ Affair • the French Foreign Minister, Charles de Talleyrand, refused to even meet with the American delegation. • Instead, Talleyrand sent three agents (known as X,Y, and Z) who demanded a bribe and a loan for France. • The delegation refused and sent a report of the incident to Adams. • Adams was furious. the incident is known as “The XYZ Affair”

18. Undeclared War With France • Congress responded to the XYZ Affair, by establishing the Navy Department and set aside $$ for building warships and increasing the size of the Army. GW was appointed commanding general. • Between 1798 and 1800, French and US naval vessels clashed on numerous occassions.

19. Undeclared War With France • War between the two countries was never formally declared. • In the view of many Americans, France had become the enemy. As a result, many Republicans were voted out of office in the 1798 elections. • In September 1800, Adams successfully negotiated a peace treaty with France.

20. Alien and Sedition Acts • The threat of war with France made Americans more suspicious of aliens (immigrants living in the country who were not citizens) • Some Americans questioned whether these aliens would remain loyal to the US if we went to war with France.

21. Alien and Sedition Acts • Federalists responded with strict laws to protect the nation’s security. • In 1798, they passed a group of measures known together as the Alien and Sedition Acts. • Sedition refers to acts aimed at weakening the established government.

22. The Alien and Sedition Acts • Naturalization Act raised the length of time aliens needed to be residents of the US from 5 to 14 years. • Alien Actsallowed the president to imprison aliens, or send those considered dangerous out of the country. • Sedition Actmade it a crime to speak, write or publish “false, scandalous, and malicious criticisms” of the government

23. The Alien and Sedition Acts • The Alien and Sedition Acts were passed by the Federalist controlled Congress because they wanted to: • Strengthen the federal government • silence Republican opposition • Foreigners were discouraged from immigrating to the US, many left. 10 Republican newspaper editors were convicted of criticizing the gov’t.

24. Reaction to the Alien and Sedition Acts • Opposition to the Federalist Party grew • Led to movement to allow states to overturn federal laws

25. Domestic and Foreign Affairs • The Republican fears that a strong central government would abuse its power seemed to becoming true. • The Republicans looked to the states to stand up for people’s rights and against the tyranny of the federal gov’t • TJ and JM drafted the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions (1798, 1799).

26. Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions (1798, 1799) • spelled out a theory of states’ rights • suggested that a state may overthrow a federal law it deems unconstitutional

27. Foreign Affairs- The War with France • As the election of 1800 approached, the Federalists found themselves under attack. • They urged Adams to step up the war with France hoping that the war would unleash patriotic feelings. • Adams refused to rush to war for his own political gains. Instead he sought peace.

28. Foreign Affairs- The War with France • In 1800, the French agreed to a treaty in which they agreed to stop attacking American ships. • Although the treaty was in the best interest of the US, Adams’ chance for re-election were hurt. • Instead of applauding the president, Federalist leaders (AH) now opposed their own president improving the chance of a D-R to win the election.