Chapter 9, Section 3

The Federalists in Charge

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

Key Terms

These questions focus on Washington’s opposition to political parties.

1. Read the quote from Washington’s Farewell address. What did he mean by the “baneful effects of the spirit of party?” “Let me now…warn you…against the [harmful] effects of the

spirit of party…This spirit, unfortunately…exists in different shapes in all governments…but in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness and is truly their worst enemy.” George Washington, Farewell Address

2. Why might Washington’s advice to avoid political parties be hard to follow?

Bell Ringer

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

• John Adams – Federalist candidate for President in 1796 and the nation’s second President

• Explain how early political parties emerged.

• Compare the political views of the Republicans and the Federalists.

• Discuss the result of the election of 1796.

Objectives

In 1796, Washington published his Farewell Address to fellow Americans.

Washington made two main points:

2. He believed that the United States should not become involved in European affairs.

1. He feared that political divisions would tear the nation apart.

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.

How did two political parties emerge?

Washington and others feared that factions would be destructive to the new government.

Early political groups were called factions. They were widely thought to be selfish groups.

Washington spent 8 years in office

1. What advice did Washington give the nation on foreign affairs? To remain neutral and avoid alliances

2. Over what issues did political parties develop? How the nation should be run How to interpret the Constitution Economic policy

Washington Retires

By the 1790s, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton were quarreling and growing apart.

Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State

Alexander Hamilton,

Secretary of the Treasury

http://www.c-spanclassroom.org/Lesson/938/Bell+Ringer+Hamiltonianism+versus+Jeffersonianism.aspx

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.

The Democratic-Republicans wanted to keep most power at the state or local level.

They feared that a strong central government would act like a monarchy.

Federal government

States

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.

Federal government

States

Federalists were strong among Northern merchants.

Republicans were supported largely by Southern farmers.

The two parties also had geographic differences.

Federalists and Republicans disagreed about many issues.

Republicans Federalists

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

Growth of Political Parties

3. Who were the leaders and the major groups that supported each party? Jefferson & Madison (Democratic-Republican party)

Farmers and workers Hamilton (Federalist party)

Northern merchants and manufacturers

4. What were the major beliefs of each party? Democratic-Republican – democracy and republican

system; saw a nation of rural planters and farmers Federalist – strong central government; emphasis on

trade, manufacturing, and cities

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?

Republican Candidate

Thomas Jefferson

Federalist Candidate

John Adams

Both political parties nominated a candidate.

In 1796, the President and Vice President were not elected together, as they are today.

The second-place candidate became Vice President.

The candidate with the most votes became President.

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.

John Adams Takes Office

5. Why was the election of 1796 different from the previous election? Political parties competed

6. How did Thomas Jefferson, Adams’ rival for president, become his vice president? The Constitution said the runner-up should be vice

president. Jefferson received 68 electoral votes, Adams had 71 John Adams became the first president to reside in

D.C.

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

Problems with 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.

The Americans refused. The French agents were anonymously known as X, Y, and Z.

bribe $$

7. What caused the XYZ Affair?

France was seizing U.S. ships, Adams sent reps to talks

Three French men – X, Y, Z – told the Americans the minister would talk

But… Only if the Americans agreed to

1. Loan $10 million to France2. Pay a $250,000 bribe to the minister

XYZ Affair

8. How did the XYZ Affair

show the young nation’s growing confidence? The nation was willing to

defy French power and to build up its strength

How did the XYZ Affair affect U.S. relations with France? U.S. started seizing

French ships andcancelled its treaties (1798)

XYZ Affair

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.

In 1798, war fever drove Federalists to pass laws to destroy their political opponents.

The Sedition Act targeted Republicans.

The Alien Act was directed at aliens, such as immigrants.

aliens Republicans

Democratic-Republicans

and Federalists disagreed over the conflict with France – traded barbs in newspapers

9. Why did Congress pass the Alien and Sedition Acts? To punish and silence their

critics (immigrants) Congress was Federalist

majority

The Alien and Sedition Acts

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.

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.

1. Naturalization – the time to

become a citizen increased from 5 years to 14 years

2. Gave the President the power to arrest disloyal aliens (immigrants)

3. Gave the President the power to order aliens out of the country during time of war

4. Outlawed sedition – saying to writing anything false or harmful about the government

Alien and Sedition Acts

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.

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.

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.

10. How were immigrants and members of the press

affected by these acts? Charged with expressing opinions damaging to the

government or president

11. How did the Democratic-Republicans use the theory of states’ rights to fight the Alien and Sedition Acts? To deem the Acts unconstitutional

12. How did Kentucky and Virginia support the Democratic-Republicans’ position? Passed resolutions that declared the Acts unconstitutional

The Alien and Sedition Acts, continued

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.

13. 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.”

Peace with France

Chapter 9 Review

Abigail Adams was not only a brilliant woman in her own right, but she also furthered the career of her husband, John.

She was the first woman in history to be the wife of one President and the mother of another, John Quincy (Barbara Bush being the second, wife of George Bush and mother of

George W. Bush). (The White House Historical Association.)