POLITICAL PARTIES
Washington's election by unanimous vote of the Electoral College in 1789 underscored the popular belief that political parties
were not needed. The Constitution did not mention political parties, and it was assumed by Framers that none would arise.
They were soon proven wrong. The debates between Federalists & Anti-Federalists in 1787 & 1788 were the first indication that
a two-party system would emerge as an integral & permanent feature of American politics.
Origins of Political Parties
In colonial times, it was common enough for groups of legislators to form temporary factions & vote together for or against a
specific policy. When an issue was settled, the factions would dissolve. The dispute between Federalists & Anti-Federalists over
the ratification of the Constitution resembled closely the factional disputes of an earlier period. What was unusual about this
conflict was that it was organized (at least by the Federalists) across state lines and in that sense prefigured the national parties
that emerged soon afterward. In the 1790s, sometimes called the Federalist Era because it was dominated by two Federalist
presidents, political parties began to form around two leading figures, _____________ & ______________. The Federalist Party
supported Hamilton and his financial program. An opposition party known as the Democratic-Republican Party supported
Jefferson and tried to elect candidates in different states who opposed Hamilton's program. The French Revolution further
solidified the formation of national political parties. Americans divided over whether or not to support France. Many of them
followed Jefferson's lead in openly challenging President Washington's neutrality policy. By 1796, the two major political parties
were already taking shape & becoming better organized.
Issues
1. Political Philosophy
2. Location
3. Leaders
4. View of Constitution
5. View of Federal of Gov't
6. Foreign Policy
7. Military Policy
8. Domestic Policy
9. National Bank
10. Tariffs
11. Chief Supporter
Comparison of Federalist and Democratic-Republican Parties
Federalists
Democratic-Republicans
Growth of _______________
Limit Federal Power (want strong states' rights)
Northeastern States
__________________ & ___________________
______________ & _____________ Thomas Jefferson & James Madison
Loose interpretation
______________________________________
________________________
Weak Central Gov't
Pro-British
____________________________________
_________________________
Small peacetime army & navy
Aid Business
____________________________________
________________________
No National Bank
Pro-Tariffs on Imported Goods
____________________________________
_______________________
Skilled workers
Large Landowners
______________________ & Plantation Owners
Washington's Farewell Address
In 1796, President Washington announced that he intended to retire to private life at the end of his second term. Assisted by
Alexander Hamilton, the retiring president wrote a farewell address for publication in the newspapers in late 1796. In this
message, which had enormous influence because of Washington's prestige, the president spoke about policies and practices
that he considered unwise. He warned Americans of the following:
1. Not to get involved in ____________________________________
2. Against the U.S. making _____________________________________ in foreign affairs
3. Not to form ____________________________________
4. To avoid _______________________________
Impact of Washington's Farewell Address
Future presidents would heed as gospel Washington's warning against "permanent alliances." In the case of political parties,
however, Washington was already behind the times, since political parties were well on their way to becoming a vital part of the
American political system. One long-range consequence of Washington's decision to leave office after two terms was that later
presidents followed his example. In the 19th century, presidents elected to two terms (including Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, &
Jackson) would voluntarily retire even though the original Constitution placed no limit on a president's tenure in office. The twoterm tradition continued unbroken until _______________ when ________________ won election to a third term.
JOHN ADAMS' PRESIDENCY
As Washington was writing his Farewell Address, political parties were active in every state to gain majorities in the two houses
of Congress & line up enough electors from various states to elect the next president. VP John Adams was the Federalists'
candidate, while former Sec. of State Thomas Jefferson was the choice of the Democratic-Republicans. Adams won by just 3
electoral votes. Jefferson became VP since the Constitution stated the candidate receiving the 2nd highest number of electoral
votes would become the vice president. The method for selecting a vice president was changed by the ____ Amendment in ____
The XYZ Affair
- Troubles abroad related to the French Revolution presented Adams with the first big challenge of his presidency
- American were angered by reports that U.S. merchant ships were being seized by French _____________ & _______________
- Seeking a peaceful settlement, Adams sent a delegation to Paris to negotiate with the French government
- French ministers, known as X,Y,Z because their names were never revealed, requested ___________ for entering negotiations
- American delegates refused & reports of the demands by XYZ upset many Americans, who now asked for war against _______
- "Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute" became the slogan in America
- Part of the Federalists led by Hamilton hoped that by going to war the U.S. could gain _____ & ______ lands in North America
- Adams ___________ as he felt our navy & army were not strong enough to fight a big power, so he sent new ministers to Paris
The Alien and Sedition Acts
- Public anger against France strengthened the ______________________________ in the congressional elections of 1798
- Winning a majority of seats in both houses, they hoped to take advantage of their victory by enacting laws that would restrict
their political opponents, the Democratic-Republicans…so the Federalists adopted the following laws:
1. The Naturalization Act: This increased from 5 to 14 the number of years required for immigrants to quality for U.S. citizenship
because most immigrants voted _________________________________
2. Alien Acts: Authorized the president to deport any alien considered _________ and to detain any enemy aliens in time of war
3. Sedition Acts: Made it illegal for newspapers to criticize a _________________ & imposed fines or prison for editors who did
The Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions
- Republicans argued that the Alien & Sedition Acts violated rights guaranteed by the ___________________ of the Constitution
- Republican leaders challenged legislation of Federalist Congress by enacting nullifying laws of their own in state legislatures
- The Kentucky legislature adopted a resolution that had been written by _________________________
- The Virginia legislature adopted a resolution introduced by _____________________
- Both resolutions declared that the states had entered into a "compact" in forming the national government, & therefore, if
any act of the federal government broke the compact, a state could ____________________________________
- Although only Kentucky and Virginia adopted nullifying resolutions in 1799, they set forth an argument & rationale that would
be widely used in the nullification controversy of the ________________
Why the crisis over the Alien and Sedition Acts faded
Federalists lost their majority in Congress after the 1800 election & the new Republican majority either allowed the acts to
expire or repealed them. The Supreme Court under John Marshall asserted its power as the court of last resort in deciding
whether or not a certain federal law was constitutional
The Election of 1800 & a Peaceful Revolution
During Adams' presidency, the Federalists rapidly lost popularity. People disliked the _______________________ & complained
about the new taxes imposed by the Federalists to pay the costs of preparing for a war against France. Adams had avoided war
but persuaded Congress that building up the U.S. Navy was necessary for the nation's defense. The election of 1800 swept the
______________________ in both the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government. A majority of the presidential
electors cast their ballots for two Republicans: ______________________________. Because both these Republican candidates
received the same number of electoral ballots, it was necessary to hold a special election in the _________________________
to break the tie. In December 1800 the Federalists still controlled the House. They debated & voted for days before they finally
gave a majority to Jefferson. Alexander Hamilton had urged his followers to vote for Jefferson, whom he considered
_______________________& of higher character than Aaron Burr. Republican lawmakers elected in 1800 took control of both
the House & the Senate when a new Congress met in March 1801. The passing of power in 1801 from one political party to
another was accomplished __________________________. This was a rare event for the times & a major indication that the
U.S. constitutional system would endure the various strains that were placed upon it. The Federalists quietly accepted their
defeat in the election of 1800 & peacefully relinquished control of the federal government to Jefferson's party, the DemocraticRepublicans. The change from Federalist control to Democratic-Republican control is known as the _______________________.