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3
The Federalists
in Charge
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
MAIN IDEA
The split between Hamilton and
Jefferson led to the growth of
political parties.
The two-party system is still a
major feature of politics in the
United States.
TERMS & NAMES
foreign policy
Alien and Sedition Acts
political party
states’ rights
XYZ Affair
ONE AMERICAN’S STORY
In 1796, President George Washington decided that two terms in office
was enough. But as he left office, he feared the growth of political
parties would split the nation into enemy camps. In 1796,
he wrote a final address to the nation.
A V O I C E F R O M T H E PA S T
8.3.4 Understand how the conflicts
between Thomas Jefferson and
Alexander Hamilton resulted in the
emergence of two political parties
(e.g., view of foreign policy, Alien
and Sedition Acts, economic policy,
National Bank, funding and assumption of the revolutionary debt).
8.3.7 Understand the functions and
responsibilities of a free press.
Let me now . . . warn you . . . against the
[harmful] effects of the spirit
of party. . . . This spirit, unfortunately . . . exists
in different shapes in all governments . . . but
in those of the popular form, it is seen in its
greatest rankness and is truly their worst
enemy.
George Washington, Farewell Address
CALIFORNIA STANDARDS
8.4.2 Explain the policy significance of
famous speeches (e.g., Washington's
Farewell Address, Jefferson's 1801
Inaugural Address, John Q. Adams's
Fourth of July 1821 Address).
This painting portrays Mount
Vernon in 1792.
In his address, Washington warned of the dangers of political division,
or what he termed “the spirit of party.” As you will see in this section, few
people took his advice.
Washington Retires
Washington had come to the presidency greatly admired by the
American people. Throughout his eight years in office (1789 –1797), he
had tried to serve as a symbol of national unity. In large part, he succeeded. During his second term, however, opponents of Jay’s Treaty led
attacks on the president. Thomas Paine called Washington “treacherous
in private friendship . . . and a hypocrite in public life” because he failed
to support the French Revolution.
Washington saw such attacks as the outcome of political disagreements. In his farewell address, he warned that such differences could
weaken the nation. Despite his advice, political parties became a part of
American politics.
8.5.2 Know the changing boundaries
of the United States and describe the
relationships the country had with its
neighbors (current Mexico and
Canada) and Europe, including the
influence of the Monroe Doctrine,
and how those relationships influenced westward expansion and the
Mexican-American War.
8.10.3 Identify the constitutional
issues posed by the doctrine of
nullification and secession and the
earliest origins of that doctrine.
Taking Notes
Use your chart to
take notes about
the Federalists and
the establishment of
a two-party system.
Economics
Politics
Foreign Affairs
Relations with
Native Americans
Launching a New Republic 303
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Americans listened more closely to Washington’s parting advice on
foreign policy—relations with the governments of other countries. He
urged the nation’s leaders to remain neutral and “steer clear of permanent
alliances with any portion of the foreign world.” He warned that agreements with foreign nations might work against U.S. interests. His advice
served to guide U.S. foreign policy into the twentieth century.
Growth of Political Parties
Despite Washington’s warning against political parties, Americans were
deeply divided over how the nation should be run. During Washington’s
first term (1789–1792), Hamilton and Jefferson had hotly debated the
direction the new nation should take. Then Jefferson returned to
Virginia in 1793. During Washington’s second term, Madison took
Jefferson’s place in the debates with Hamilton.
Both sides disagreed on how to interpret the Constitution and on
economic policy. Hamilton favored the British government and opposed
the French Revolution. Jefferson and Madison were the opposite.
Hamilton fought for a strong central government. Jefferson and
Madison feared such a government might lead to tyranny. They had different visions of what the nation should become. Hamilton wanted a
United States in which trade, manufacturing, and cities grew. Jefferson
and Madison pictured a rural nation of planters and farmers.
These differences on foreign and domestic policy led to the nation’s
first political parties. A political party is a group of people that tries to
promote its ideas and influence government. It also backs candidates for
office. Together, Jefferson and Madison founded the DemocraticRepublican Party. The party name reflected their strong belief in democracy and the republican system. Their ideas drew farmers and workers to
the new party. Hamilton and his friends formed the Federalist Party.
Many Northern merchants and manufacturers became Federalists.
The First Political Parties
Skillbuilder
Answers
1. Federalists
served the economic interests of
business and manufacturing; the
propertied classes.
2. Federalists
favored a ruling
elite; DemocraticRepublicans put
more trust in the
common people.
304 CHAPTER 9
FEDERALISTS
D E M O C R AT I C - R E P U B L I C A N S
Strong national government
Limited national government
Fear of mob rule
Fear of rule by one person or a
powerful few
Loose construction (interpretation)
of the Constitution
Strict construction (interpretation)
of the Constitution
Favored national bank
Opposed national bank
Economy based on manufacturing
and shipping
Economy based on farming
Supporters: lawyers, merchants,
manufacturers, clergy
Supporters: farmers, tradespeople
SKILLBUILDER Interpreting Charts
1. Which economic interests were served by the Federalists?
2. Which party favored a ruling elite? Which put more trust in the common people?
A. Answer The
Federalists
believed in a
strong national
government, a
national bank,
and a loose interpretation of the
Constitution.
DemocraticRepublicans
believed in a limited government,
an economy
based on farming,
and a strict interpretation of the
Constitution.
A. Summarizing
What were the
major beliefs of
each party?
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WASHINGTON, D.C., AND
BENJAMIN BANNEKER
Benjamin Banneker was a
free African-American farmer.
He was a self-taught
mathematician and astronomer. He also wrote an
almanac (see below). He
was named to the survey
commission appointed to lay
out the boundaries of the
nation’s new capital. Working
with chief planner Pierre
L’Enfant, Banneker helped to
decide where the White
House and Capitol would be
located. Their final design is
shown at the left.
John Adams Takes Office
In 1796, the United States held its first elections in
which political parties competed. The Federalists
picked Washington’s vice-president, John Adams, as
their candidate for president. An experienced public
servant, Adams had been a leader during the
Revolution and at the Continental Congress. He had
also been a diplomat in France, the Netherlands, and
Britain before serving with Washington. The
Democratic-Republicans chose Jefferson.
In the electoral college, Adams received 71 votes
and Jefferson 68. The Constitution stated that the
runner-up should become vice-president. Therefore,
the country had a Federalist president and a
Democratic-Republican vice-president. Adams
became president in 1797. His chief rival,
Jefferson, entered office as his vice-president. In
1800, Adams became the first president to govern
from the nation’s new capital city, Washington, D.C.
Problems with France
When Washington left office in 1797, relations between France and
the United States were tense. With Britain and France still at war, the
French began seizing U.S. ships to prevent them from trading with
the British. Within the year, the French had looted more than 300
U.S. ships.
Although some Federalists called for war with France, Adams hoped
talks would restore calm. To this end, he sent Charles Pinckney, Elbridge
Gerry, and John Marshall to Paris. Arriving there, they requested a meeting with the French minister of foreign affairs. For weeks, they were
Launching a New Republic 305
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American newspapers fueled
public anger over the XYZ
Affair by publishing editorials
and cartoons like this one.
Here the five-man group ruling
France demands money at
dagger point from the three
Americans. The American
diplomats respond, “Cease
bawling, monster! We will not
give you sixpence!”
What attitude does the
cartoonist have toward
France’s role in this affair?
How can you tell?
ignored. Then three French agents—later referred to as X, Y, and Z—
took the Americans aside to tell them the minister would hold talks.
However, the talks would occur only if the Americans agreed to loan
France $10 million and to pay the minister a bribe of $250,000. The
Americans refused. “No, no, not a sixpence,” Pinckney shot back.
Adams received a full report of what became known as the XYZ
Affair. After Congress and an outraged public learned of it, the press
turned Pinckney’s words into a popular slogan: “Millions for defense,
not one cent for tribute!” In 1798, Congress canceled its treaties with
France and allowed U.S. ships to seize French vessels. Congress also set
aside money to expand the navy and the army.
The Alien and Sedition Acts
The conflict with France made Adams and the Federalists popular with
the public. Many Democratic-Republicans, however, were sympathetic
to France. One Democratic-Republican newspaper called Adams “the
blasted tyrant of America.” In turn, Federalists labeled DemocraticRepublicans “democrats, mobcrats, and other kinds of rats.”
Angered by criticism in a time of crisis, Adams blamed the DemocraticRepublican newspapers and new immigrants. Many of the immigrants
were Democratic-Republicans. To silence their critics, the Federalist
Congress passed the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798. These acts targeted
aliens—immigrants who were not yet citizens. One act increased the waiting period for becoming a U.S. citizen from 5 to 14 years. Other acts gave
the president the power to arrest disloyal aliens or order them out of the
country during wartime. A fourth act outlawed sedition, saying or writing
anything false or harmful about the government.
With these acts, the Federalists clamped down on freedom of speech
and the press. About 25 Democratic-Republican newspaper editors were
306 CHAPTER 9
B. Drawing
Conclusions How
did the XYZ
Affair show the
young nation’s
growing
confidence?
B. Answer The
nation was willing
to defy French
power and to
build up its
strength.
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C. Making
Inferences How
might the theory
of states’ rights
undermine the
federal
government?
C. Answer It
might encourage
states to try to
nullify or ignore
federal laws.
charged under this act, and 10 were convicted of
expressing opinions damaging to the government. A
Vermont congressman, Matthew Lyon, was also locked
up for saying that the president should be sent “to a mad
house.” The voters re-elected Lyon while he was in jail.
The Democratic-Republicans, led by Jefferson and
Madison, searched for a way to fight the Alien and
Sedition Acts. They found it in a theory called states’
rights. According to this theory, states had rights that the
federal government could not violate. Jefferson and
Madison wrote resolutions (or statements) passed by the
Kentucky and Virginia legislatures in 1798 and 1799. In
the Kentucky Resolutions, Jefferson proposed nullification, the idea that a state could nullify a federal law
within the state. In the Virginia Resolutions, Madison
said a state could interpose, or place, itself between the
federal government and its citizens. These resolutions
declared that the Alien and Sedition Acts violated the
Constitution. No other states supported Kentucky and
Virginia. However, within two years the DemocraticRepublicans won control of Congress, and they either
repealed the Alien and Sedition Acts or let them expire.
FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
Since the Alien and Sedition Acts,
the Supreme Court has ruled
many times that a free press had
the right to publish information
critical of or harmful to the government or government officials.
A free press has a responsibility
to remain independent, not just
from the government, but from
individuals or groups which
might influence its reporting.
For instance, a newspaper or
television network must be
unafraid to cover a heavy
advertiser accurately, even
if a critical or negative story
causes the company to pull its
advertising. Editors and reporters
must frequently report gifts they
are given and financial holdings
they may have.
To demonstrate accountability,
most media outlets run corrections, when necessary, and letters
from viewers or readers.
Peace with France
While Federalists and Democratic-Republicans battled at home, Adams
reopened talks with France. This time the two sides quickly signed the
Convention of 1800, an agreement to stop all naval attacks.
Adams’s actions made him enemies among the Federalists, but he
spoke proudly of having saved the nation from bloodshed. Adams lost
the presidential election of 1800 to Thomas Jefferson. You will read more
about Jefferson in the next chapter.
Section
3
Assessment
1. Terms & Names
2. Using Graphics
3. Main Ideas
4. Critical Thinking
Explain the
significance of:
Use a cluster diagram to
review details about the
Alien and Sedition Acts.
a. What two pieces of advice
did Washington give in his
Farewell Address? (8.3.4)
Evaluating Do you think
Washington’s warning
about political parties was
good advice? Explain. (REP4)
•
•
•
•
foreign policy
political party
XYZ Affair
Alien and
Sedition Acts
• states’ rights
Alien and
Sedition Acts
What was the worst effect of
the Alien and Sedition Acts?
Why? (HI2)
b. What led to the rise of
political parties? (8.3.4)
c. Why did Congress pass
the Alien and Sedition Acts?
How did Kentucky and
Virginia respond? (8.3.4)
THINK ABOUT
• roles of political parties
• advantages of parties
• disadvantages of parties
ACTIVITY OPTIONS
TECHNOLOGY
SPEECH
Read more about Benjamin Banneker. Plan part of a video presentation on him
or present dramatic readings of excerpts from the almanac he wrote. (REP4)
Launching a New Republic 307
Page 6 of 7
Chapter
9
ASSESSMENT
TERMS & NAMES
CRITICAL THINKING
Briefly explain the significance of each of the following.
1. USING YOUR NOTES: IDENTIFYING AND
SOLVING PROBLEMS
1. inaugurate
6. neutral
2. cabinet
7. foreign policy
3. tariff
8. political party
4. Battle of Fallen Timbers
9. Alien and Sedition Acts
5. Whiskey Rebellion
PROBLEMS
SOLUTIONS
Economics
Politics
10. states’ rights
Foreign Affairs
Relations with
Native Americans
REVIEW QUESTIONS
Washington’s Presidency (pages 293–297)
1. What questions about the judiciary were left open by
the Constitution? How were they answered? (HI1)
2. What financial problems did the new nation face?
(HI1)
3. How did Hamilton and Jefferson interpret the
Constitution differently? (REP5)
Challenges to the New Government
(pages 298–302)
Using your completed chart, answer the questions. (HI2)
a. What were the problems that characterized the
Federalist era?
b. What do the solutions to these problems reveal
about the characteristics of the era?
2. ANALYZING LEADERSHIP
How did Washington’s efforts to serve as a symbol of
national unity help the new nation? (HI1)
3. APPLYING CITIZENSHIP SKILLS
4. What did Washington do to secure the West? (HI1)
5. What were the major arguments regarding
taxation under the new government? (REP5)
How might the farmers in the Whiskey Rebellion have
expressed their disapproval of the whiskey tax while
staying within the law? (HI4)
6. Why did Washington favor neutrality in the conflict
between France and Britain? (HI1)
4. THEME: DEMOCRATIC IDEALS
7. What problems did the Jay and Pinckney treaties
address? (HI1)
Did the formation of political parties make the nation
more or less democratic? (HI1)
Interact with History
The Federalists in Charge (pages 303–307)
8. Why did Washington oppose political parties? (HI1)
9. What was the XYZ Affair? (HI1)
10. Why did Federalists pass the Alien and Sedition
Acts? How did Republicans respond? (HI2)
How did the challenges of setting up a government
that you discussed before you read the chapter compare with the actual challenges you read about?
VISUAL
SUMMARY
The First Presidents
(8.4.1)
WASHINGTON PRESIDENCY
1789–1797
Strong Government
• Cabinet
• Judiciary
Secure the West
Remaining Neutral
• Jay’s Treaty
• Pinckney’s Treaty
308 CHAPTER 9
ADAMS PRESIDENCY
1797–1801
Federalists vs.
Democratic-Republicans
• Battle of
Fallen Timbers
• Differed over
Constitution
• Treaty of Greenville
• Disagreed on
national bank
Problems with France
• XYZ Affair
• Convention of 1800
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STANDARDS-BASED ASSESSMENT
Use the chart and your knowledge of U.S. history to
answer questions 1 and 2.
2. What could the government do to increase
income? (8.3.4)
A. decrease duties and taxes
Additional Test Practice, pp. S1–S33.
B. increase duties and taxes
Financial Problems, 1789–1791
C. increase the national budget
D. pay off the public debt
DEBTS
EXPENSES
INCOME
$77,230,000 =
total public debt
$4,270,000
budget to run
government
$4,400,000
from duties or
taxes imposed
on imported
and exported
goods
This quotation from George Washington’s Farewell
Address is a warning to future leaders. Use this
quotation and your knowledge of U.S. history to
answer question 3.
P R I M A RY S O U R C E
Let me now . . . warn you . . . against the [harmful]
effects of the spirit of party. . . . This spirit,
unfortunately . . . exists in different shapes in all
governments . . . but in those of the popular form,
it is seen in its greatest rankness and is truly their
worst enemy.
Source: Historical Statistics of the United States
1. How much money did the government owe during
the period shown on the chart? (8.3.4)
A. $4,270,000
B. $4,400,000
C. $77,000,000
D. $77,230,000
George Washington, Farewell Address
3. What danger was Washington warning Americans
about in his Farewell Address? (8.3.4)
A. foreign governments
B. Antifederalists
C. political parties
D. taxation
TEST PRACTICE
CL ASSZONE .COM
ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT
INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY
1.
CREATING A CAMPAIGN COMMERCIAL
WRITING ABOUT HISTORY
Imagine that you are a U.S. citizen during the French
Revolution. Write a letter to the secretary of state giving reasons why you think the United States should
aid the French, aid the British, or remain neutral.
Create a 30-second television commercial for either
John Adams, the Federalist party candidate, or Thomas
Jefferson, the Democratic-Republican party candidate.
(REP5)
• On the Internet, find information about your candi-
• Use library resources to research the different sides.
• Use your research to persuade the secretary of state
to your point of view.
2. COOPERATIVE LEARNING
Work with other students to research the Alien and
Sedition Acts and the positions taken by both political
parties. Consider these questions: Were the acts constitutional or an abuse of basic rights? Should criticism of
the government be allowed in a time of possible war?
Choose two group members to debate the Federalist
and Democratic-Republican positions. (REP4)
(REP5)
date that shows why he is a good choice.
• Locate at least two pictures that reveal different
images of the candidate. Also, use the Internet to
find suitable background music for the commercial.
• Use your resource materials to create a 30-second
campaign commercial.
For more about the 1796 election . . .
INTERNET ACTIVITY
CL ASSZONE .COM
Launching a New Republic 309