Federalists & Republicans (Dem)Hamilton & Jefferson

• Rule by the “best” people• Powerful central government,

at the expense of states’ rights• Loose interpretation of the

Constitution• Government to foster business;

concentration of wealth in interests of capitalistic enterprise

• A protective tariff on imports (to protect domestic business)

• Rule by the informed masses• Weak central government to

preserve states’ rights• Strict interpretation of the

Constitution

• Agriculture preferred; no special favors for businesses

• No special favors for manufacturers

Federalists & Republicans (Dem)Hamilton & Jefferson

• Pro-British (conservative tradition, like the Tories)

• Expanding bureaucracy (non-elected officials)

• Powerful central bank• Restrictions on free speech and

press • Concentrated along the east

coast• Strong navy to protect

American shippers

• Pro-French (radical Revolutionary tradition)

• Reduction of federal officeholders

• Encouragement to state banks• Relatively free speech and press• Concentration in South and

Southwest, in agricultural areas and in the backcountry

• Minimal navy for coastal defense

Explain the Battle of Fallen Timbers

• Battle of Fallen Timbers in Ohio, under command of Major Gen “Mad Anthony” Wayne defeated Indians and opened up settlement of the region

• The resulting Treaty of Greenville gave the United States control of Ohio.

In 1789, Americans were divided by the French Revolution.

Federalists worried about the anarchy and public executions. Hamilton feared Democratic Republicans might want to do the same in America.

Jefferson decried the violence but publicly admired the French Revolution’s principles.

Americans worried about the British and French war as most of America’s imports and tariff revenue came from British goods.

But Britain ignored him and began seizing American trading ships at sea.

Americans were outraged but powerless to respond.

President Washington issued a proclamation of neutrality in 1793.

John Jay’s Treaty

• British didn’t want war since US owed so much money to them and afraid new republican France would fight together

• What was involved?• British agreed to evacuate posts in West• Compensate US ship-owners for seizures• No neutrality on seas though• US had to pay pre-war debts to Britain• Valuable treaty but humiliating• US gained most of what legally belonged to it

A more popular treaty was negotiated with Spain in 1795 since afraid of a US-France attack .

• The Pinckney Treaty allowed Americans to use the Mississippi River and the port of New Orleans.

• With access to the Mississippi, removal of the British, and defeat of the Native Americans, settlers poured into the west.

• 400,000 Americans lived beyond the Appalachians by the 1800s.

Farewell

• Washington stepped down in 1796 after 2nd term due to rivalry between Federalists and Republicans

President Washington chose to retire in 1796.

He felt that voluntary retirement after two terms would set an important precedent for the peaceful transfer of the office.

In his farewell address, Washington advised successors to temper political strife in favor of national unity.

In foreign affairs, he suggested Americans avoid “entangling alliances” with European powers.

As first President, Washington:• Established the government

• Opened western land for settlers

• Kept the nation out of war

• Developed foreign trade

• Put the nation on solid financial footing.

Washington helped the young nation survive early tests.

Election of 1796• John Adams was elected President in 1796.• He narrowly defeated Thomas Jefferson who

became his vice president. • Both disliked Hamilton who had made many

enemies with financial policies• The vote was largely along regional lines with the

North favoring Adams, the South favoring Jefferson.• Adams couldn’t unite parties

Americans were angered and insulted by this XYZ Affair and sentiment against France grew.

French officials identified only as X, Y, and Z demanded bribes for the right to negotiate.

Like Britain, France began seizing American ships. Adams sent envoys to negotiate with PM Talleyrand.

Early in his presidency, Adams faced a crisis with France due to Jay Treaty.

XYZ

• Adams refused and became national hero, built 40 or so warships and increased army

• France didn’t really want a war (too many foes already) and Adams realized country was too weak for all-out war

• France agreed to end the Franco-American alliance (1778) and the U.S. agreed to pay their own damage claims

In 1798 Congress passed the Alien and Sedition Acts making it a crime to criticize the government.

Immigrants, most of whom tended to favor Democratic Republicans, could be deported.

No negative comments about government printed.

The Federalists claimed the acts were necessary to stop unhealthy criticism that was undermining trust in the government.

Democratic Republicans charged the acts violated the Constitution and were aimed to silence the opposition.

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

• Statements written to promote nullification, or “refusal to accept unconstitutional laws”

• Federalists said it was up to Supreme Court to decide this, not the people

• Not very effective – Jefferson was just trying to make it an issue, to raise awareness

Shortly before the 1800 election, President Adams sought peace with France.

This angered other Federalists, including Alexander Hamilton who then worked against Adams’ bid for re-election.

Despite a tie in the electoral college, Thomas Jefferson won the presidency.

Election of 1800

• Republicans won 73 to 65• Constitution did not distinguish between

presidential and VP candidates; voted for two candidates only

• Political parties made system impractical• Jefferson and Burr received 73 votes each• House of Representatives chose

Burr

• First vote was a split. Federalists all voted for Burr, afraid of Jefferson and policies

• Burr should have stepped down since voters intended him to be VP

• Hamilton ended up influencing Federalists to vote for Thomas Jefferson

Hamilton

12th Amendment• The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President,

one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and all persons voted for as Vice-President and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate.

• The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted.

• The person having the greatest Number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President.

• The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.

• In short, separate balloting in the Electoral College for president and vice president

• Ratified before 1804 election

Marked an important precedent as the first peaceful transfer of power from one political party to another.

The election of 1800 changed the balance of power and ended the Federalist era in government.