1. America’s First
Political Parties
HUSH Unit 3

2. George Washington
1st President of the United States (April 30, 1789 to March 3, 1797)
Nickname: "Father of His Country
Highly respected around the world as a general and leader

3. The First Cabinet Secretaries
Secretary of State
John Jay then…Thomas Jefferson
Secretary of the Treasury
Alexander Hamilton
Secretary of War
Henry Knox

4. Squabbling in the Cabinet…
How Should the of Constitution be Interpreted???
Federalists believed in…
Loose construction of Constitution
Government could do anything that was not forbidden
Anti-Federalists believed in…
Strict construction of Constitution
Government should not do anything unless specified

5. Two Factions Born
Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, as heads of the Federalist and Anti-Federalist groups respectively, are often considered 'fathers' of the modern party system.

6. Whoops.. The New Government is Broke
The war debt was enormous, and the creditors were demanding payment on the loans they had given during the war
European countries refused to trade with the US worried that they would not be reimbursed for products and services

7. Hamilton’s Beliefs…
Felt that government needed to direct the development of the American economy
Had little faith in the people
Remember…we’re the MOB!

8. Hamilton’s Strategy Alexander Hamilton
The new Secretary of the Treasury worried about the nation’s debt from the war
He wanted the national government to take over the states’ debt to European countries and banks and consolidate
1 large debt instead of 13 smaller debts…
All he had to do was convince the 13 states to take on each others debts!

9. Other Hamilton's Ideas for $$
Get us out of DEBT by…
1. Creating the Bank of United States
Hamilton thought the Bank would help centralize the debt, American finances, and investments
Does anyone remember an article, section in the Constitution concerning a National Bank??
What was the Federalist position on this question??
2. Placing taxes on domestic products, and place tariffs on foreign goods entering the country
How are citizens going to feel about this one??

10. The Whiskey Rebellion
Corn was not profitable as a crop until it was made into whiskey
Whiskey was also used as a kind of currency in certain states and regions
When Hamilton attempted to raise money through a tax on whiskey in 1794, Pennsylvania farmers took to arms
The army was called in by Washington to squash the rebellion

11. War in Europe…Again!! Once again Great Britain and France were at war
The Americans were uncertain of the position they should take..
Side with the French?
Side with the British?
Keep America neutral?
Americans were split as to which side to support.

12. European Influences on the Federalists
Alexander Hamilton and the Federalists were fans of Great Britain- and afraid of their navy!
“Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer”
He was afraid of the problems in France and the Reign of Terror-
The people were considered “rabble” and sometimes referred to as “the mob”

13. European Influences on the Anti-Federalists
Thomas Jefferson and the Anti-Federalists were still fans of France, the country that had helped them during the Revolutionary War
Did not trust the British; thought we should help the French during the was
Saw the current problems in France as a true reaction by a real democracy
Jefferson thought there should be a revolution every 10 years
True democracies were all about change and growth
Throw the bums, out!

14. Washington Decides… Washington declared neutrality in April 1793
The new country would not have to take sides
Angered the French who had sided with the Americans during the Revolution

15. Washington’s Cabinet Breaks Up
The Former Anti-Federalists became a faction within the Washington cabinet
Thomas Jefferson was the most influential opponent.
He resigned his position as Sec. of State in opposition to the ideas
Man of the people and states’ rights
States’ rights advocates

16. The Election of 1796 John Adams
The Federalists and the Jeffersonians competed for the presidency in the 1796 and 1800 elections
Federalists v Jeffersonians
Adams v Jefferson
Winner 1796 –Federalists and Adams
Jefferson was then selected as his Vice-President because he came in second!
John Adams

17. Impressment
Great Britain continued its practice of stopping American ships and searching them for “British citizens”.
This resulted in the practice of impressment.
This angered American traders and businessmen who were losing key personnel.
Chief Justice John Jay was sent to GB to negotiate a treaty

18. “Jay’s Treaty” Major Provisions
The withdrawal of British soldiers from posts in the American West
A commission to be established to settle outstanding border issues between the U.S. and Canada
A commission to be established to resolve American losses in British ship seizures and Loyalist losses during the War for Independence.
Missing from the treaty was a provision for the British to refrain from the arrest of American ships and impressment of American seamen.

19. Reactions to “Jay’s Treaty”
The paper on which "the treaty was written was called a piece of shame."
Jay was accused of having betrayed his country by negotiating a servile treaty with Britain's monarch.
Jay's name became the subject of punning toasts such as, "clipped wings and lame legs" and he was burned in effigy in many states.
He claimed he could have walked the entire eastern seaboard at night and had his way illuminated by protesters burning him in effigy.

20. Federalists…what were you thinking?
But Congress ratified the treaty
The split between factions became larger and…
A new party was born!!

21. The French are MAD!!
The French withdrew their minister from Philadelphia, refused to receive the newly appointed U.S. Minister, Charles Pinckney,
They then began to seize U.S. ships on the high seas bound for Britain.
President Adams responded by sending three Americans to negotiate

22. XYZ Affair The resulting scandal became known as the XYZ Affair
The Americans demanded that the French halt the practice of seizing ships
Three anonymous French agents (X, Y, & Z) were sent by the French Prime Minister Tallyrand to demand a bribe from America
This was common in 18th century Europe, but John Jay refused
The resulting scandal became known as the XYZ Affair

24. Alien Act
President gained the right to imprison or deport citizens of other countries residing in the U.S.
What about the land of liberty and opinion?
Freedom of speech and assembly?
Extremely unpopular among the Anti-Federalists

25. The Sedition Act
Persons who wrote, published, or said anything “of a false, scandalous, and malicious” nature against the American government or its officials could be jailed or fined
Anti-Federalists fumed after the law was signed by President Adams
What happened to freedom of the press?

26. The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
Jefferson, Madison, and others felt the Sedition Act violated free speech
Legislatures of two states came up with “null and void” idea
If we don’t agree with the Act in our state, we will not enforce or obey it
A direct challenge to Federal superiority
The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions were later used as a basis for the creation of the Confederacy

27. In other words… Its all about Federal Superiority vs. States Rights
Should the states have the right to decide whether or not a federal statute is constitutional FOR THEM.
Can they nullify a law if it is not agreeable to the state??
The states versus federal government question began in earnest!

28. Election of 1800 Jefferson versus Adams.. AGAIN!!
Nasty, personal attacks on each man’s character
Jeffersonians called Adams an elitist and Tory
Federalist newspapers claimed that the election of Jefferson would cause the "teaching of murder robbery, rape, adultery and incest".
Sound more like politics today!

29. The Evolution of American Political Parties
The Anti-Federalists became known as the Republican-Democrats in 1800
Sometimes known as the Democratic Republicans or simply the Republicans
Historians have given them the name, “Jeffersonians” to stop confusion with today’s Republican party
FYI…The modern Democratic party actually can trace their roots to the Jeffersonians

31. The Confusing Results of 1800
Neither Adams or Jefferson received the necessary number of electoral votes
Since no one had the majority of votes, and the election was turned over to the House of Representatives.
The House deliberated from February 11th to February 17th
Jefferson was selected on the 36th ballot!!
Aaron Burr came in second and became the new VP

32. Transfer of Power in 1800 Americans disagreed peacefully
Diplomatic …no bloodshed
The Constitution WORKED!!

33. Aaron Burr Jefferson’s greatest rivals were Alexander
Hamilton and Vice President Aaron Burr
Jefferson saw Burr as a clear and present danger, and began a campaign to ruin his reputation
"I never thought him an honest, frank-dealing man, but considered him as a crooked gun, or other perverted machine, whose aim or shot you could never be sure of."
"A great man in little things, he is really small in great ones”
Alexander Hamilton said of Aaron Burr as vice president,
"He is an isolated man, totally without influence."

34. The Burr- Hamilton Duel
Hamilton then sarcastically questioned Burr's integrity.
Sensing a chance to regain political honor, Burr demanded an apology.
Hamilton refused on the grounds that he could not recall the instance.
After an exchange of testy letters, and despite the attempts of mutual friends to avert a confrontation, a duel was scheduled for July 11, 1804 along the bank of the Hudson River beneath a rocky ledge in New Jersey

36. Hamilton Dies of His Wounds
The two men met at dawn
Hamilton's shot was fired into the air away from Burr into the air.
Burr fired at his opponent who was mortally wounded
Hamilton died the next day
The guns were selected by Hamilton and have a hair-trigger setting that may be switched on or off.
He fled the state and returned to Washington as a fugitive to finish his term as Vice President!!

37. The 3rd President
Jefferson reversed much of what the Federalists had done, such as a formal presidential style
Much less formal than GW – just call me Mr. President!!
Very popular during his first term
Reduced taxes
Cut the bureaucracy

38. Read Chapter 6!!!