Unit 7: The Federalist Era Lesson 2: Political Parties Develop

What was Washington worried about at the end of his 2 nd term? That the major differences between political parties would tear the country apart That the major differences between political parties would tear the country apart In his farewell address, he said: In his farewell address, he said:

He had reason to worry His closest advisors, Hamilton & Jefferson, had disagreed so strongly about gov’t policies that both had resigned from Washington’s Cabinet

On most issues, Hamilton & Jefferson disagreed too sharply for any kind of compromise On most issues, Hamilton & Jefferson disagreed too sharply for any kind of compromise Before the end of Washington’s 2 nd term, Before the end of Washington’s 2 nd term, their followers had split into 2 groups their followers had split into 2 groups

Hamilton’s followers were called the Federalists They supported most of the decisions made by the gov’t Jefferson & James Madison led an opposition group, called the Democratic– Republicans (sometimes called Republicans, but not related to today’s Republican party)

So the Federalists & Democratic- Republicans were the country’s first… political parties: political parties: groups of people with similar ideas & beliefs about gov’t groups of people with similar ideas & beliefs about gov’t Members of political parties work together to get their leaders elected & to influence gov’t decisions Members of political parties work together to get their leaders elected & to influence gov’t decisions

Hamilton, much more so than Jefferson, influenced many of Washington’s decisions Hamilton & Washington wanted a strong central gov’t Jefferson, though, wanted a weak central gov’t

Even though Washington tried not to side with either group so he’d be a symbol of national unity, he was thought of as a Federalist Even though Washington tried not to side with either group so he’d be a symbol of national unity, he was thought of as a Federalist

What were we talking about before? Washington tried to remain neutral (not side with either party) but his beliefs fell more in line with the Federalists Washington tried to remain neutral (not side with either party) but his beliefs fell more in line with the Federalists So what makes a Federalist a Federalist? So what makes a Federalist a Federalist?

The Federalists They mostly represented the interests of wealthy people, like manufacturers, bankers, & business owners  wealthy man’s dog walker

The Federalists They were afraid of the idea of popular democracy (pretty much, direct rule by all American people) They were afraid of the idea of popular democracy (pretty much, direct rule by all American people) So they wanted the gov’t to be run by wealthy, successful people So they wanted the gov’t to be run by wealthy, successful people

The Federalists They wanted a strong national gov’t that would hold the states together They followed a “loose construction” of the Constitution to try to increase the national gov’t’s power

“Loose Construction”? Because the Constitution was a very general framework, it didn’t specifically address certain problems Because the Constitution was a very general framework, it didn’t specifically address certain problems The Federalists pretty much believed that if the Constitution didn’t specifically deny the national gov’t the power to do something, The Federalists pretty much believed that if the Constitution didn’t specifically deny the national gov’t the power to do something, the gov’t could do it the gov’t could do it This interpretation of the Constitution therefore allowed the national gov’t to do more, and thus made the national gov’t stronger This interpretation of the Constitution therefore allowed the national gov’t to do more, and thus made the national gov’t stronger

What else did the Federalists want? They wanted the gov’t to support the growth of cities, trade, businesses, & industries  Name the city

How did the Democratic-Republicans differ from Federalists? They represented the interests of less wealthy, more common people like artisans, shopkeepers, & small farmers They represented the interests of less wealthy, more common people like artisans, shopkeepers, & small farmers Much of their support came from the South Much of their support came from the South (small farmers) (small farmers)

They believed that ordinary people could govern themselves Jefferson wanted power to be shared by all the people, not limited to a small, select group He also wanted strong state gov’ts, & a weaker national gov’t

Did Jefferson’s ideas make sense? Yes, if you consider that in the 1790s, about 90% of the U.S. population was small farmers Yes, if you consider that in the 1790s, about 90% of the U.S. population was small farmers He believed that farm families who owned & worked their land were the country’s strength He believed that farm families who owned & worked their land were the country’s strength

But what about the fact that most of those farmers were uneducated? Would they know what rights & freedoms they were entitled to? Would they be able to defend those rights? Would they understand the issues the country was concerned with? Jefferson had a plan for all this

He wanted to establish a system of public education to help farmers better understand & defend their rights & freedoms He wanted to establish a system of public education to help farmers better understand & defend their rights & freedoms

Did they follow a “loose construction” of the Constitution, like the Federalists? Nope. Just the opposite. They followed a “strict construction” to try to increase the power & independence of state gov’ts

By following a “strict construction,” they believed that the national gov’t By following a “strict construction,” they believed that the national gov’t only had the powers that the Constitution said it had only had the powers that the Constitution said it had

While the Federalists wanted the gov’t to support the growth of cities, etc., The D-Rs opposed the growth of cities, trade, businesses, & industries Jefferson actually saw cities as evil places

Major Federalists: Major Federalists: George Washington, Alexander Hamilton George Washington, Alexander Hamilton Major Democratic- Republicans: Major Democratic- Republicans: Thomas Jefferson, James Madison Thomas Jefferson, James Madison

How did the 2 parties get people in the U.S. to follow/join/agree with them? The press (newspapers) played a huge role American newspapers had been very political since colonial times In the 1790s, the number of newspapers more than doubled

The new political parties were quick to sponsor newspapers The new political parties were quick to sponsor newspapers that followed their viewpoints that followed their viewpoints The Federalists’ newspaper for shaping public opinion was the The Federalists’ newspaper for shaping public opinion was the Gazette of the United States Gazette of the United States

The Gazette praised the decisions of Washington’s administration, many of which followed Hamilton’s advice Therefore, the paper was often praising Federalist ideals

The rival newspaper was the National Gazette The rival newspaper was the National Gazette In many of its articles & editorials it: In many of its articles & editorials it: criticized Washington’s administration criticized Washington’s administration called Hamilton an “enemy of true republican gov’t” called Hamilton an “enemy of true republican gov’t” praised Jefferson as a Patriot, Statesman, & Philosopher praised Jefferson as a Patriot, Statesman, & Philosopher

During Washington’s second term, the 2 parties battled for control of Congress The Democratic- Republicans ended up winning the majority of seats in the House of Representatives

The presidential election of 1796 was the first time that The presidential election of 1796 was the first time that political parties chose the presidential candidates political parties chose the presidential candidates The Federalists’ choice was John Adams (VP Thomas Pinckney) The Federalists’ choice was John Adams (VP Thomas Pinckney) The D-Rs’ choice was The D-Rs’ choice was Thomas Jefferson (VP Aaron Burr) Thomas Jefferson (VP Aaron Burr)

According to the Constitution, the presidency & vice presidency would go to the 2 candidates with the most electoral votes The problem was that each elector voted for 2 candidates, without specifying which was for President & which was for VP

John Adams (Federalist) won the most electoral votes (71) John Adams (Federalist) won the most electoral votes (71) Jefferson won the second-most (68) Jefferson won the second-most (68) This meant that the President & VP came from This meant that the President & VP came from opposing political parties opposing political parties

The question was… Would this combination unite the 2 parties? Or would it make governing the country nearly impossible because the 2 leaders disagreed on almost every major issue?