1. The Federalists in Charge
Chapter 9, Section 3
The Federalists in Charge

2. Objectives Explain how early political parties emerged.
Compare the political views of the Republicans and the Federalists.
Discuss the result of the election of 1796.

3. Key Terms
Foreign policy – relations with the governments of other countries
Political party – a group of people that tries to promote its ideas and influence government, and also backs candidates for office
XYZ Affair – a 1797 incident in which French officials demanded a bribe from U.S. diplomats
Alien and Sedition Acts – a series of four laws enacted in 1798 to reduce the political power of recent immigrants to the United States
States’ rights – theory that said that states had the right to judge when the federal government had passed an unconstitutional law

4. Terms and People faction – an organized political group
James Madison – supported Thomas Jefferson’s Republican views
Thomas Jefferson – Republican candidate for President in 1796 and the nation’s second Vice President
Alexander Hamilton – Washington’s Secretary of the Treasury; supported Federalist ideas

5. Terms and People (continued)
John Adams – Federalist candidate for President in 1796 and the nation’s second President

6. Washington Retires Washington spent 8 years in office
Advised against the formation of political parties in his farewell address
What advice did Washington give the nation on foreign affairs?
To remain neutral and avoid alliances

7. In 1796, Washington published his Farewell Address to fellow Americans.
Washington made two main points:
He feared that political divisions would tear the nation apart.
He believed that the United States should not become involved in European affairs.

8. Washington took pride in his accomplishments.
America had a functioning federal government.
The economy was improving.
He had avoided war.
The Northwest Territory was free from British troops and safe to settle.

9. How did two political parties emerge?
Early political groups were called factions. They were widely thought to be selfish groups.
Washington and others feared that factions would be destructive to the new government.

10. Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury
By the 1790s, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton were quarreling and growing apart.
Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury
Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State

11. Jefferson’s and Hamilton’s differences led to the development of the first political parties.
Republicans supported Thomas Jefferson and his ally, James Madison.
Federalists supported Alexander Hamilton and his ideas.

12. The Democratic-Republicans wanted to keep most power at the state or local level.
Federal government
States
They feared that a strong central government would act like a monarchy.

13. The Federalists said that the United States needed a strong federal government.
They believed the federal government would hold the country together and deal with its problems.
States

14. The two parties also had geographic differences.
Federalists were strong among Northern merchants.
Republicans were supported largely by Southern farmers.

15. Federalists and Republicans disagreed about many issues.
Were led by Thomas Jefferson
Were led by Alexander Hamilton
Believed people should have political power
Believed wealthy and educated should lead
Favored strong state government
Favored strong central government
Emphasized agriculture
Emphasized manufacturing, shipping, and trade
Favored strict interpretation of Constitution
Favored loose interpretation of Constitution
Were pro-French
Were pro-British
Opposed national bank
Favored national bank
Opposed protective tariff
Favored protective tariff

16. In 1796, Washington said he would not seek a third term
In 1796, Washington said he would not seek a third term. There would be an election.
Why was the election of 1796 different from the previous election?
Both political parties nominated a candidate.
Republican Candidate
Thomas Jefferson
Federalist Candidate
John Adams

17. In 1796, the President and Vice President were not elected together, as they are today.
The candidate with the most votes became President.
The second-place candidate became Vice President.

18. Adams finished first and Jefferson finished second
Adams finished first and Jefferson finished second. The nation gained a Federalist President and a Republican Vice President.
John Adams #1
Thomas Jefferson #2
This led to serious tensions during the next four years.

19. Problems with France Relations with France were still tense
Britain and France were still engaged in war
France didn’t want the U.S. trading with Britain
Started seizing American merchant ships
Adams did not want war, sent representatives to Paris
Charles Pinckney, Elbridge Gerry, John Marshall
They tried to meet with the French minister, but were ignored

20. The French snubbed a U.S. diplomat and attacked U.S. ships.
Recent actions by American leaders provoked angry responses from the French people.
The French snubbed a U.S. diplomat and attacked U.S. ships.
U.S. neutrality
the Jay Treaty

21. XYZ Affair What caused the XYZ Affair?
Three French men – X, Y, Z – told the Americans the minister would talk
But…
Only if the Americans agreed to
Loan $10 million to France
Pay a $250,000 bribe to the minister
How did the XYZ Affair affect U.S. relations with France?

22. In 1797, Adams sent a mission to France
In 1797, Adams sent a mission to France. This led to a scandal known as the XYZ Affair.
French agents demanded that the U.S. pay them a large bribe.
bribe $$
The Americans refused. The French agents were anonymously known as X, Y, and Z.

23. The XYZ Affair caused war fever in America.
Adams asked Congress to increase the size of the army and rebuild the navy.
From 1798–1800, the United States fought an undeclared naval war with France.

24. The Alien and Sedition Acts
Democratic-Republicans and Federalists disagreed over the conflict with France – traded barbs in newspapers
Why did Congress pass the Alien and Sedition Acts?

25. In 1798, war fever drove Federalists to pass laws to destroy their political opponents.
aliens
Republicans
The Alien Act was directed at aliens, such as immigrants.
The Sedition Act targeted Republicans.

26. Alien Act
Increased the duration, from 5 to 14 years, that a person had to live in the U.S. to become a citizen.
Gave the President power to deport or imprison any alien considered dangerous.

27. Sedition Act
The harshest law limiting free speech ever passed in the U.S.
Made it a crime for anyone to write or say anything insulting or false about the President, Congress, or the government.

28. Alien and Sedition Acts
Naturalization – the time to become a citizen increased from 5 years to 14 years
Gave the President the power to arrest disloyal aliens (immigrants)
Gave the President the power to order aliens out of the country during time of war
Outlawed sedition – saying to writing anything false or harmful about the government

29. The Alien and Sedition Acts, continued
How were immigrants and members of the press affected by these acts?
How did the Democratic-Republicans use the theory of states’ rights to fight the Alien and Sedition Acts?
To deem the Acts unconstitutional
How did Kentucky and Virginia support the Democratic-Republicans’ position?
Passed resolutions that declared the Acts unconstitutional

30. Arguments for State’s Rights Arguments for Federal Power
Passage of the Alien and Sedition acts renewed the debate over federal versus state power.
Arguments for State’s Rights
Arguments for Federal Power
The federal government derives its power from rights given to it by the states.
Because the states created the United States, individual states have the power to nullify a federal law.
The federal government derives its power from rights given to it by the American people.
States have no power to nullify federal laws.
States cannot revoke federal powers set forth in the Constitution.

31. Republicans fought the Alien and Sedition acts.
Kentucky and Virginia passed resolutions that declared the acts unconstitutional. These state resolutions had little immediate impact, but the Alien and Sedition acts did not last long.
The Sedition Act expired in 1801.
The waiting period to become a citizen was restored to 5 years in 1802.

32. The resolutions also boosted the idea of states’ rights.
The Virginia and Kentucky resolutions were far more important than the laws that provoked them.
They claimed that states could nullify a law passed by Congress.
The resolutions also boosted the idea of states’ rights.

33. Peace with France
How did Adams settle the conflict between the United States and France?
Held peace talks
They reached a deal – both sides would end all naval attacks
Convention of 1800
“Here lies John Adams, who took upon himself the responsibility of the peace with France in the year 1800.”

34. Adams opposed a full-scale war with France.
He sent a new mission to France to meet with dictator Napoleon Bonaparte.
In 1800, Napoleon agreed to stop seizing American ships. Adams had avoided war.