The Constitution in Crisis
1797-1801
Explain how the fundamental principle
of limited government is protected by
the Constitution and the Bill of Rights,
including democracy, republicanism,
federalism, the separation of powers,
the system of checks and balances,
and individual rights.
Analyze the development of the twoparty system during the presidency of
George
Washington,
including
controversies over domestic and
foreign policies and the regional
interests
of
the
[Jeffersonian]
Republicans and the Federalists.
WARNINGS:
Political Partisanship
Sectionalism
Foreign Entanglements
Respect the Constitution
ACTIONS:
Political Partisanship
Sectionalism
Foreign Entanglements
Respect the Constitution
John Adams
Thomas Jefferson
FEDERALIST
REPUBLICAN
S
E
C
T
I
O
N
A
L
I
S
M
1796
1800
The Constitution, as originally written,
made no provisions for political parties.
The original formula for the selection of the
President and Vice President reflected this.
John Adams,
Thomas Jefferson,
President
Vice President
Partisan Newspapers
Gazette of the United States
(Federalist)
National Gazette
(Republican)
tOOTHLESS
old
BLIND
crippled
Bald
Adams
Querulous
1798
I’ve got 99 problems…
Partisanship’s only one.
FEDERALISTS
HAMILTON
John Adams
The First Party System
Leaders
REPUBLICANS
JEFFERSON
James Madison
Strong CENTRAL Gov.
Federalism
States’ Rights
Anarchy / Mob Rule
Fears
Tyranny
LOOSE Construction
Constitution
STRICT Construction
YES
Gov. Involvement
in Economy
NO
VERY YES
National Bank
NO
YES
Protective Tariff
NO
YES
Federal Assumption
NO
Urban (Commerce)
Support Base
Rural (Agrarian)
Anglophiles
Foreign Policy
Francophiles
of State War Debts
Undeclared naval conflict
between the US and France
(1798-1800).
http://www.orangesmile.com/ru/foto/ocean-maps-eng.htm
The XYZ
Affair
To the wicked,
everything serves
as a pretext.
Voltaire
1798
• Allowed the President to
deport undesirable aliens
• Extended the residency
requirement for
citizenship from 5 to 14
years
Naturalization Act
Alien Friends Act
Alien Enemies Act
Were the Alien Acts
constitutional?
From Article I, Section 8:
To establish an uniform
Rule of Naturalization…
DELEGATED
1798
Sedition Act
Outlawed the
publication of "false,
scandalous, and
malicious writing"
against the government
Was the Sedition Act
constitutional?
From Amendment I:
Congress shall make no law…
abridging the freedom of speech,
or of the press…
RESERVED
EPIC FAIL
The Sedition Act violated
the Constitution on two
counts:
• Free Speech & Press (1st)
• States’ Rights (10th)
Clip from HBO’s John Adams
(2:46)
Federalist No. 10
AMONG the numerous
advantages promised by a well
constructed Union, none deserves to
be more accurately developed than
its tendency to break and control
the violence of faction…
Passed by
state legislatures
The Constitution is a
compact (agreement)
between the states, and
they have the authority
to interpret it.
How far can states go
in resisting
unconstitutional laws
passed by the federal
government?
INTERPOSITION
NULLIFICATION
Kentucky Resolutions
In questions of power,
then, let no more be heard of
confidence in man, but
bind him down…by the
chains of the Constitution.
Jefferson
to John Taylor of Caroline
“A little patience, and we
shall see the reign of witches
pass over, their spells dissolve,
and the people, recovering their
true sight, restore their
government to its true
principles.”
R
E
V
O
L
U
T
I
O
N
?
1796 1800
Parties in the U.S. Senate
Sixth and Seventh
Congresses
25
Parties in the U.S. House
Sixth and Seventh
Congresses
70
Federalists
20
60
Federalists
50
15
40
Republicans
10
Republicans
30
20
5
10
0
0
1798
1800
1798
1800