Hamilton and Jefferson

Hamilton Jefferson

Constitution Loose Interpretation

Strict Interpretation

National Government

Strong Federal Government

Supported stronger state governments

Economy Business and Manufacturing

Agriculture and Labor

Foreign Policy Supported Britain, saw US becoming more like Britain

Supported France

The Federalists in ChargeChapter 9-3

Washington Retires

Washington Retires

• Washington’s 2 terms were a success!• Warned American’s about 2 things upon

his retirement:– Warned of the dangers of political parties

(such political differences can weaken the country)

– Warned that agreements with foreign nations might work against U.S. interests (economic agreements should be the only agreement)

Growth of Political Parties

• Political Parties grew out of different beliefs on how the government should run.

• How do we interpret the Constitution??

?

Growth of Political Parties

? Strict Interpretation

v.

Loose Interpretation

Growth of Political Parties

• Alexander Hamilton forms the Federalist Party

• Thomas Jefferson/James Madison form the Democratic-Republican party

The First Political Parties

FEDERALISTSDEMOCRACTIC-REPUBLICANS

Strong National Government Limited National Government

Fear of Mob Rule Fear of rule by one person

  or a powerful few

Loose Construction (interpretation of

Strict Construction (interpretation)

of the Constitution of the Constitution

Favored National Bank Opposed National Bank

Economy based on manufacturing Economy based on farming

and shipping  

Supporters: lawyers, merchants,Supporters: farmers,tradespeople

manufacturers, clergy  

John Adams Takes Office

John Adams Takes Office

• 1796 – 1st election in which political parties compete

• Federalist – John Adams

• Dem. Rep – Thomas Jefferson

• Adams won 71 votes and Jefferson won 68

• According to the Constitution, the runner-up would be the new Vice-President

Problems with France

• France and England still at war

• French began seizing US ships trading with British

• Adams sends Pinkney, Gerry, and Marshall to meet with French minister

• French agents offer to meet with US reps only if they pay a bribe

• Known as XYZ Affair

• US reps refuse, and Congress authorizes US to start seizing French vessels

The Alien and Sedition Acts

• Conflict with France made Adams and Federalists very popular with the public.

• Many Dem-Rep were sympathetic to France– Started blasting Adams in

newspapers

• To silence the critics, Adams passed the Alien and Sedition Acts– targeted aliens-immigrants

who were not yet citizens– Increased waiting time to

become citizen– Gave President power to

arrest disloyal citizens, or kick them out of the country during wartime

– Outlawed sedition, saying or writing anything false or harmful against the government

The Alien and Sedition Acts

The Alien and Sedition Acts

• With these acts, Freedom of Speech and Press were shut down

The Alien and Sedition Acts

• Dem-Rep fought the Alien and Sedition Acts in a theory called state’s rights– States have rights that

the federal government can’t take away

• Jefferson wrote the Kentucky Resolutions, proposing that states had the right to nullify federal law within the state

• Madison wrote Virginia Resolution stating that state could place itself between federal government and the citizens

The Alien and Sedition Acts

• No other states supported Kentucky and Virginia

• However…within two years the Democratic-Republicans won control of Congress, and the repealed the Alien and Sedition Acts, or let them expire between 1800 and 1802.

Peace with France

• Adams resumed talks with France• Two sides quickly signed the

Convention of 1800, an agreement to stop all naval attacks

• This made Adams very unpopular with the Federalists

Peace with France

• Adams then lost the election of 1800 to Thomas Jefferson

• Adams and Jefferson, once close friends, did not speak for many years

• Both died on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence signing, 7/4/1826

“Thomas Jefferson still lives”