1. 5.2 The Origin of Political Parties
A. A Distrust of Political Parties
1. Americans had seen how factions, or opposing groups within parties, worked in Britain
a) Members of factions often plotted to win government favors and bribes.
b) Many were concerned more about personal gain.
2. Americans also saw political parties as a threat to national unity.
3. Factions grew up around two members of the cabinet, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson.
a) The two men were different in appearance as well as beliefs.

2. 5.2 The Origin of Political Parties
B. Differing Views
1. The two leaders differed on economic policy.
a) Hamilton thought the United States should model itself on Britain.
b) The government should encourage manufacturing and trade.
c) He also encouraged the growth of cities and the merchant class.
2. Jefferson thought that farmers were the backbone of the new nation.
a) He feared that a manufacturing economy would corrupt the United States by concentrating power in the hands of a small group of wealthy Americans.

3. 5.2 The Origin of Political Parties
3. Hamilton and Jefferson also disagreed about the power of the federal government.
a) Hamilton wanted the federal government to have more power than state governments.
b) Jefferson wanted as small a federal government as possible.
4. Hamilton and Jefferson also disagreed over the Bank of the United States.
a) Jefferson worried that the Bank would give too much power to the wealthy investors and the government.
b) Jefferson opposed the law setting up the bank because he claimed that it was unconstitutional, or not permitted by the Constitution.

4. 5.2 The Origin of Political Parties
c) For Jefferson, any power not specifically given to the federal government belonged to the states.
5. Hamilton did not agree with Jefferson’s strict interpretation of the Constitution.
a) Hamilton believed that Congress had the power to make all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out its duties. 
6. Finally, they disagreed over foreign policy.
a) Hamilton wanted closer ties with Britain while Jefferson wanted closer ties with France.
C. Development of Political Parties

5. 5.2 The Origin of Political Parties
1. At first, Hamilton and Jefferson clashed in private.
a) As Hamilton got a lot of his plans passed by Congress, the disagreements were made more public.
b) Jefferson and James Madison decided to organize people together that agreed with them.
2. In 1791, Madison and Jefferson went to NY to meet with leading politicians like Gov. George Clinton and Aaron Burr.
a) They were asked to convince NY voters to support people that agreed with Jefferson’s policies.

6. 5.2 The Origin of Political Parties
3. Soon, leaders in other states were organizing to support either Hamilton or Jefferson.
a) Jefferson supporters called themselves Democratic Republicans.
b) small farmers, artisans, and some wealthy planters.
4. Hamilton and his supporters were called Federalists because they wanted a strong federal government.
a) Federalists drew support from merchants and manufacturers in such cities as New York and Boston.

7. 5.2 The Origin of Political Parties
5. In the late 1700s, the number of American newspapers more than doubled.
a) The public wanted more information.
b) More and more Americans could read and write.
c) A lot of towns had a circulating library.
6. As party rivalry grew, newspapers took sides.
7. Newspapers had great influence on public opinion.
D. Election of 1796
1. Political parties played a large role in the election of George Washington’s successor.

8. 5.2 The Origin of Political Parties
a) In 1796, Dem-Rep backed Thomas Jefferson for President and Aaron Burr for Vice-President.
b) The Federalists backed John Adams for President and Thomas Pinckney for Vice-President.
2. The election had an unexpected outcome.
a) Under the Constitution, the person with the most electoral votes became President and the second became Vice President.
b) John Adams became President and Thomas Jefferson became Vice-President.
c) Having two members from opposing parties be President and Vice-President grew political tensions.