Political Parties
American people’s opinion:
● many thought they were harmful, served no positive good, and were divisive.
● others thought that they were natural because people with similar ideas tend to band together
Partisan = firmly favoring one party or faction
Washington tried to avoid being partisan, but tended to agree with Hamilton more than Jefferson.
However, Washington warned against the forming of political parties in his Farewell Address.
Political Party
Federalists
Founder
Core Beliefs
Alexande
●
strong central government with “implied” powers
r
●
“loose” interpretation of Constitution
Hamilton
●
creating a National Bank was an implied power
●
the educated and the wealthy should hold office
Democratic-
Thomas
●
“strict” interpretation of Constitution
Republican
Jefferson
●
a National Bank should not be created, not in the Constitution
●
all people should be able take part in government, Bill of Rights
●
the government closest to the people is the best (state government
is superior to central government)
Washington’s cabinet (1789-1797)
- Hamilton & Jefferson could not work out their differences
- Jefferson resigned in December 1793 (replaced by Edmund Randolph)
- Hamilton resigned in January 1795 (replaced by Oliver Wolcott, Jr.)
Election of 1796
Political parties became structured organizations.
They held caucuses to choose their candidates for office.
Remember: Presidential elections still had the 2nd place winner become Vice President.
The Federalists nominated both John Adams and Charles Pinckney to run for President.
The Democratic-Republicans nominated both Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr to run.
A close election: John Adams = 71 electoral votes vs. Thomas Jefferson = 68 electoral votes
So political rivals got to be President (John Adams) and Vice President (Thomas Jefferson).
John and Abigail Adams
the first President and First Lady to live in the White House
XYZ Affair
-a musical review-
Cartoon Opera:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw0KcA59_8s
80’s song remake:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXdBP8Nol8U
Possible war with France?
People became suspicious of French aliens.
Would they remain loyal to the U.S.? or Are they trying to undermine the new country?
q. 4
q. 5
q. 4
States Rights & Nullification
States’ Rights = the idea that states should have all powers that the Constitution does not give to
the federal government or forbid to the states
so…
Some believed that states have the power to nullify a federal law that they believed to be
unconstitutional.
● The Virginia Resolution, written by Madison, said that the Alien and Sedition Acts
were unconstitutional.
● The Kentucky Resolution, written by Jefferson, said the same thing + that a state
had a right to nullify a federal law.
Read the 10th
Amendment, peeps!
Nope, not right!
Nullification is
unconstitutional.
Peace with France
- ended hostilities between France and the
U.S.
- no seizing of American ships
- all goods would be returned to the U.S.
- peaceful trade would begin again
France liked this because they were in
desperate need of grain.
This reaffirmed that U.S. would remain
neutral and free of any permanent alliance.