The Two Party System & Adams' Presidency

The Two Party System & Adams' Presidency

Chapters 2 & 3: The Early Republic

Warm-Up Questions

  • 1. Describe how Jefferson and Hamilton viewed the role of the Federal Government.

    • Jefferson: Supported strong state governments, advocating for ordinary Americans' control over government.

    • Hamilton: Desired a strong central government led by the wealthy and educated elite.

  • 2. How would these differences lead to the creation of Political Parties in the United States?

    • Differing philosophies on government roles led to the formation of distinct political factions and ultimately political parties in the U.S.

Learning Target

  • Objective: Explore the development of the Two Party system and its influence on U.S. history.

  • Key Focus Areas: Identify the first two political parties, understand their beliefs, and assess their impact on early American development.

Additional Warm-Up Reflection

  • Quote by Thomas Jefferson:

    • “Men who have been [friends] all their lives cross streets to avoid meeting, and turn their heads another way, lest they should oblige to touch their hats.”

    • Interpretation: This quote reflects the deep divisions caused by political parties. It prompts reflection on whether similar polarization exists today.

Washington's Stance

  • George Washington was initially able to unify Americans with differing political beliefs.

  • Opposed the formation of political parties but was unable to prevent their emergence before leaving office in 1797.

  • Post-Washington, political parties began to polarize the nation significantly.

The Rise of Political Factions

  • Factions Emergence: Despite Washington's warnings, opposing factions, known as parties, formed around two prominent figures in his Cabinet:

    • Alexander Hamilton:

    • Background: Born in the West Indies; worked from poverty to wealth.

    • Beliefs: Advocated for government control by the wealthy and educated; prioritized business and trade as economic drivers.

    • Political Alignment: Favored Britain over France.

    • Thomas Jefferson:

    • Background: Wealthy Virginia planter, owner of large plantations and enslaved people.

    • Beliefs: Advocated for representation of ordinary white people over the elite; focused on public education as a cornerstone of democracy.

    • Political Alignment: Favored France over Britain.

Jefferson's Ideology

  • Central Tenets:

    • Viewed farmers as the backbone of the nation: “Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens.”

    • Warned against a manufacturing economy as a corrupting force.

    • Preferred the political model of France, as it was the nation’s first ally.

Comparative Analysis: Jefferson vs. Hamilton

  • Jefferson’s Views:

    • Advocated for strong state governments.

    • Sympathetic to France.

    • Opposed the establishment of a national bank.

    • Believed that government should be managed by ordinary Americans.

    • Emphasized legal protection for individual liberties.

    • Rejected the idea of modeling U.S. government on the British system.

  • Hamilton’s Views:

    • Desired a strong central government.

    • Sympathetic to England.

    • Supported the establishment of a national bank.

    • Believed that government should be controlled by the elite.

    • Did not prioritize legal protection of individual liberties.

    • Supported adopting British governmental structures.

Development of Political Parties

  • Emergence of Party Support:

    • Leaders began organizing in support of either Hamilton (Federalists) or Jefferson (Democratic Republicans).

    • Jefferson's Party:

    • Name: Democratic Republicans (often just Republicans).

    • Membership: Small farmers, artisans, and some wealthy Southern planters advocating for limited federal power.

    • Note: Today's Republican Party does not relate to Jefferson's party.

    • Hamilton's Party:

    • Name: Federalists.

    • Goal: Strong federal government focused on industrialization and banking policies.

The Election of 1796

  • Key Issues:

    • Federalist perspective: Favored a strong federal government, endorsed industry, supported a national bank, and established relations with Britain.

    • Democratic Republican perspective: Advocated for states' rights, opposed a national bank, supported farming, and favored relations with France.

  • Election Results:

    • Popular Vote:

    • John Adams (Federalist): 35,726 votes (53.4%)

    • Thomas Jefferson (Democratic Republican): 31,115 votes (46.6%)

    • Electoral Vote:

    • Adams: 71

    • Jefferson: 68

    • Others: Thomas Pinckney (Federalist) and Aaron Burr (Democratic Republican).

  • Electoral Vote Distribution by State:

    • Federalist States: Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont.

    • Democratic Republican States: Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia.

Adams and Jefferson: Political Crisis

  • Adams’ Early Challenges:

    • Faced a diplomatic crisis with France over Jay’s Treaty, which angered the French.

    • French actions led to the seizure of American ships in the West Indies.

  • Internal Conflict: Hamilton vs. Adams

    • Federalist faction led by Hamilton sought war with France to weaken Democratic Republicans and build a strong military.

    • Adams resisted war efforts, causing a rift within his party.

XYZ Affair and Quasi-War

  • Incident Details:

    • The XYZ Affair featured secretive demands from French agents for a loan and a bribe to negotiate peace.

    • Adams opted to prepare for war without declaring it, maintaining a stance of peace.

  • Aftermath:

    • Improved relations with France post-Napoleon led to the end of the Quasi-War.

    • Acknowledged the significance of national defense, prompting increased military funding.

The Alien and Sedition Acts

  • Legislative Actions (1798)

    • Federalists enacted the Alien and Sedition Acts during the French crisis.

    • Alien Act: Allowed the President to expel foreigners deemed dangerous.

    • Sedition Act: Criminalized criticism of government and officials.

States vs. Federal Government

  • Jefferson’s Resistance:

    • As Vice President, opposed the Alien and Sedition Acts and urged states to resist federal overreach.

    • Advocated for state nullification of federal laws as a means of protecting state rights.

  • Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions:

    • Drafted by Jefferson and Madison, advocating for states' rights and nullifying federal laws they deemed unconstitutional.

The Election of 1800

  • Campaign Dynamics:

    • With tensions with France decreasing, Democratic Republicans criticized Federalist policies, such as tax increases for war preparedness.

    • Jefferson, with Aaron Burr as his running mate, represented the Democratic Republicans; John Adams was renominated for the Federalists.

  • Twelfth Amendment:

    • Passed to require separate electoral votes for President and Vice President, ratified in 1804.

Key Takeaways from the Election of 1800

  • Signified the first election with a divided party landscape.

  • Concerns existed regarding whether power transfer would be peaceful.

  • Federalists feared retribution from Democratic Republicans, but Adams ensured a peaceful transition.

Jefferson's Presidency

  • Concerns of Federalists:

    • Jefferson’s presidency raised fears of radical change due to his support for revolutions abroad.

  • Policy Changes:

    • Aimed to reduce government size and minimize federal influence.

    • Advocated for the principle of laissez faire, indicating minimal government intervention in the economy.