Political Parties in the
United States
Views of the Founders:
Hamilton
Jefferson
DIRECTIONS
CHART ACTIVITY:
Use your note-taking skills to summarize
the differences between Hamilton and
Jefferson.
SOCIAL BELIEFS
Hamilton
Federalists
• “A powerful government
makes a strong nation”
• Hamilton had little faith
in the common man.
• He thought the common
man was likely to be
short-sighted and to
cast his vote without
much thought or
intelligence.
Jefferson
Democratic-Republicans
• “I‛m for the little guy”
• He believed in the
intelligence of the
“common man”.
• He thought that the
best way to earn a living
was through farming, and
that our nation‛s
economy should be based
on agriculture.
ECONOMIC BELIEFS
Hamilton
Federalists
Jefferson
Democratic-Republicans
• Hamilton thought that
the nation‛s economy
should be based on
MANUFACURING.
• Jefferson thought that
the best way to earn a
living was through
farming, and that our
nation‛s economy should
be based on
AGRICULTURE.
• Hamilton believed that
the nation should be run
by wealthy, welleducated men (elites),
who he thought would
have better judgment
than the common man.
• Jefferson didn‛t trust
banks and big business--he thought they would
just make more money
for rich people and hurt
the common man.
POLITICAL BELIEFS
Hamilton
Federalists
• Hamilton thought that
the EXECUTIVE branch
of the government
should have lots of
power, and that most
government power
should be at the
NATIONAL level.
Jefferson
Democratic-Republicans
• Jefferson believed that
most government power
should be at the STATE
level and in the
LEGISLATIVE branch.
POLITICAL BELIEFS
Hamilton
Federalists
Jefferson
Democratic-Republicans
• Hamilton favored a
LOOSE construction, or
interpretation, of the
Constitution.
• Jefferson favored a
STRICT construction, or
interpretation, of the
Constitution.
• Just like loose clothes
give you room to grow, a
loose interpretation of
the Constitution would
let government grow.
• Just like a strict
teacher, he didn‛t
believe in much “wiggle
room”.
POLITICAL BELIEFS
Hamilton
Federalists
• Alexander Hamilton‛s
beliefs became the
basis for the
FEDERALIST political
party.
Jefferson
Democratic-Republicans
• Thomas Jefferson‛s
beliefs became the basis
for the DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLICAN political
party.
DIRECTIONS
LEFT SIDE ACTIVITY:
Analyze the given quotes and create a
t-chart to categorize who said each quote.
Hamilton
Federalists Jefferson
Democratic-Republicans
(1) Copy 2 sample quotes for each category. (2) Create your own Democratic­Republican quote. (3) Create your own Federalist quote.
PRACTICE QUOTES
1. Our party has strong support in the South and West.
2. Our party believed in strict interpretation of the Constitution in order to
limit the powers of the federal government.
3. Our party favored a strong national government and believed in a loose
interpretation of the Constitution in order to expand the powers of the
federal government.
4. Our party supported Hamilton‛s financial plan because it would prepare
the U.S. to be a strong, industrial nation.
5. Our party opposed Hamilton‛s financial plan because it gave too much
power to the national government.
6. People and states should retain as many rights as possible.
7. Our party has strong support in New England.
8. Our members were made up of wealthy merchants, bankers, and
manufacturers.
9. Alexander Hamilton is the best leader for our party.
10. Power should NEVER be placed in the hands of the common people.
11. Our members were made up of farmers, frontier settlers, small
shopkeepers, and laborers.
12. People and states should retain as many rights as possible.
13. Thomas Jefferson is the best leader for our party.
Create your own Democratic-Republican quote.
Create your own Federalist quote.
Your Task: • Create a bumper sticker for the political party of your choice. (Federalists or Democratic­Republicans) • The bumper sticker should: – Fill the entire front side of your paper. – Contain a slogan and picture/symbol. – Include at least 3 colors. Homework: Worth 100 pts.