Federalist Era

1. Federalist Era

2. PARTIES DEVELOP “I will now tell you what I do not like. First, the omission of a bill of rights…Let me add, that a bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth.” ~Dem.-Rep. Thomas Jefferson • -Hamilton and Jefferson had opposing views of government • Hamilton distrusted ordinary • Jefferson more power to the people Hamilton Jefferson

3. PARTIES DEVELOP • -Federalists- led by Hamilton • -supported strong Nat’l Gov’t • -NE businessmen / merchants • Less rights to people and states • -Democratic-Republicans- led by Jefferson and Madison • -supported limited role of Gov’t • -southerners/common people • -yeoman farmers • Favored small federal gov. with limited power (strong state governments) “It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one part against another; foments [incites] occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption.” ~George Washington, Farewell Address

4. ADAMS IS ELECTED • -1796 election (winner is top two vote-getters) • Adams elected President • Federalist • Jefferson elected V.P. • Democratic-Republican • -They were from different political parties • Both had different ideas about how the gov. should work • -This problem fixed by 12th Amendment • Pres./VP from same party In the presidential election of 1796, Federalists nominated Vice President John Adams for president and Thomas Pinckney for vice president. The Democratic-Republicans nominated Thomas Jefferson for president and Aaron Burr for vice president. Adams received 71 electoral votes, and Jefferson received 68. Because the Constitution stated that the runner-up should be vice president, the country found itself with two leaders from two political parties.

5. The election map of 1796 shows a new politically-divided nation. This election also underscored the growing danger of sectionalism, placing all the interests of one region over those of the nation as a whole. Almost all the electors from the southern states voted for Jefferson, while all the electors from the northern states voted for Adams. What problems will this lead to later?

6. XYZ AFFAIR • -Neutrality strained relations with France and Britain • War with them closer, U.S. not strong enough • -U.S sends ambassadors to France to patch relations • -bribes were demanded by the French • Sent out agents X,Y, and Z instead of ambassador • Demand money to see him • -US was outraged as story emerged • U.S. not taken seriously • “See you on the seas” “Cinque-tetes, or the Paris Monster,” is the title of this political cartoon satirizing the XYZ Affair. On the right, the five members of the French Directory, or the ruling executive body, are depicted as a five-headed monster demanding money. The three American representatives, Gerry, Pinckney, and Marshall, are on the left, exclaiming, “Cease bawling, monster! We will not give you six-pence!”

7. The XYZ Affair - Maiden America ravaged by the French

8. XYZ AFFAIR -Political Parties oppose each other -Federalists align with British -Dem-Republicans align with French -nearly leads to war Two year undeclared war with France -Convention of 1800 avoids war Adams makes peace with French Federalists angry with Adams “Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!” After the XYZ Affair, Congress created a navy department and authorized American ships to seize French vessels. 1200 men marched to Washington to volunteer for war, and Congress authorized the creation of an army of 50,000 troops. While war was never officially declared, for the next two years an undeclared naval war raged between France and the U.S.

9. ALIEN & SEDITION ACTS • -Federalists passed laws to limit criticism of gov’t by those sensitive to the French (Dem-Republicans) and restrict citizenship rights • -would have limited freedom of speech and allowed deportation of unpopular aliens • Could not speak out against the government • Quieted all opposition Anti-French feeling flourished, and many Federalists believed that French agents were everywhere, plotting to overthrow the government. New arrivals from foreign countries were held in particular suspicion, especially because immigrants were active in the Dem.-Rep. party. Some of the most vocal critics of Adams were foreign-born and immigrants. To counter what they saw as a growing threat against government, the Federalists passed the Alien and Sedition Acts.

10. ALIEN & SEDITION ACTS • -Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions • -issued to declare the laws unconstitutional – violates the First Amendment • -Written by Jefferson and Madison • Sent to state governments for approval; fed. gov. enforcing laws • -presented idea ofnullification • Declare unfair laws null and void; idea of states’ rights “Let the honest advocate of confidence [in government] read the alien and sedition acts, and say if the Constitution has not been wise in fixing limits to the government it created, and whether we should be wise in destroying those limits.” ~8th Resolution, the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

11. Washington’s death was instrumental in improving conditions with France. Napoleon Bonaparte, now first consul of France, hoped to lure American friendship away from the British and back to the French. Napoleon ordered ten days of mourning to be observed in the French armies for the American leader. Soon, Napoleon would offer even greater concessions to the Americans.