Name:
Class:
Date:
Guided Reading
The Federalist Era
Lesson 3 - The First Political Parties (p. 256-261)
OPPOSING PARTIES
As you read the section, answer the questions.
1. How did many Americans feel about political parties?
____________________________________________________________________________
__
2. President Washington tried not to be “partisan.” Explain.
____________________________________________________________________________
__
3. Name the first two political parties, who began them, and their beliefs.
Political Party
Founder
Core Beliefs
4. What happened to Washington’s cabinet because of political in-fighting?
____________________________________________________________________________
__
5. How did political parties affect the Presidential election of 1796? What were the results?
____________________________________________________________________________
__
____________________________________________________________________________
__
JOHN ADAMS AS PRESIDENT
As you read the section, answer the questions.
1. Why is the White House significant to the John Adams presidency?
____________________________________________________________________________
__
2. Why was a scandal named the “XYZ Affair?” Explain the events behind it. Why do you
think the French agents were acting like that?
____________________________________________________________________________
__
____________________________________________________________________________
__
____________________________________________________________________________
__
3. What concerns led to the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798?
____________________________________________________________________________
__
4. What did the Alien and Sedition Acts allow to government to do?
____________________________________________________________________________
__
5. Why do you think there was a movement to overturn these federal laws?
____________________________________________________________________________
__
6. Define “states’ rights.” What does it have to do with the Virginia and Kentucky
Resolutions?
____________________________________________________________________________
__
____________________________________________________________________________
__
7. Define “nullify.” In your opinion, who should be able to declare federal acts
unconstitutional: the Supreme Court, the states through nullification, both, or neither?
Explain.
____________________________________________________________________________
__
____________________________________________________________________________
__
____________________________________________________________________________
__
8. We almost went to war with France when John Adams was president. Explain how that
was avoided. Why did some people agree and some disagree with this action?
____________________________________________________________________________
__
____________________________________________________________________________
__
____________________________________________________________________________
__