Chapter 9, Section 3
The Federalists in Charge
George Washington First President of the
United StatesServed from 1789 –
17971796, Washington
decides to leave the U.S. Presidency after two termsEstablishes a
precedent for Presidential term limits
George WashingtonFarewell Address
“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.”
“The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is…to have with them as little political connection as possible…Our detached and distant situation invites and enables us to pursue a different course…we may take such an attitude as…neutrality…[and] steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.”
Political party group of people that tries to promote its ideas and influence government Typically back candidates for
political officeThe nation’s first political parties
resulted over disagreements on foreign and domestic policy.
Political parties started to come to prominence during Washington's first term in office
Political Parties
Political PartiesFederalists Democratic-RepublicansAlexander Hamilton Thomas Jefferson
James MadisonStrong national government Limited national governmentFear of mob rule Fear of rule by one person or
powerful fewLoose interpretation of the Constitution
Strict interpretation of the Constitution
Favored national bank Opposed national bankEconomy based on manufacturing/shipping
Economy based on farming
Supporters: lawyers, merchants, manufacturers, clergy
Supporters: farmers, workers
Presidential Election of 1976First election in which political parties
competedTwo candidates
Federalist candidate John Adams Leader during the American Revolution and
the Continental Congress Diplomat in France, Netherlands and
Britain prior to serving with Washington Served as Vice President during George
Washington’s PresidencyDemocratic-Republican candidate
Thomas Jefferson Farmer, diplomat and principal author of
the Declaration of Independence Served as Secretary of State during George
Washington’s Presidency
Political Parties
Electoral college Adam received 71 electoral votesJefferson received 68 votes
The Constitution stated the runner-up should become vice president
Adams became the 2nd President of the U.S. in 1797Jefferson sworn in as Adams’ Vice President
1976 President Election
1797, Britain and France still at war
French began to seizing U.S. ships to prevent them from trading with the British
Adams wanted to avoid war with France and hoped peace talks would be effective Sent: Charles Pinckney,
Elbridge Gerry and John Marshall
Problems with France
U.S. Delegates waited for weeks in Paris to have a meeting with the French minister of foreign affairs
At one point, three French agents – referred to as X, Y, and Z – took the delegation aside and informed them that the minister was willing to talk However, the talks would only occur if the Americans
agreed to loan France $10 million and to pay the minister a bride of $250,000.
The American delegation refused XYZ Affair prompted Congress to cancel its treaties
with France and allow U.S. Ships to seize French vessels
XYZ Affair
Many Democratic-Republicans were sympathetic of France and considered Adams response to France to be tyrannical One Democratic –Republican newspaper called
Adams ‘the blasted tyrant of America’Adams was angered by the criticism – he
blamed the Democratic-Republican newspapers and new immigrants
Pushed the Federalist Congress to pass the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1978.
Alien and Sedition Acts
Passed in 1798, the Alien and Sedition acts were a series of four laws that were mean to reduce the political power of recent immigrants to the United States. Naturalization Act – increased the waiting period for
becoming a U.S. citizen from 5 to 14 yearsAlien Act – gave authorization to the President to deport
aliens “dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States” during peacetime
Alien Enemies Act – during wartime, allowed the arrest, imprisonment and deportation of any alien subject
Sedition Act – outlawed sedition, saying and writing anything false or harmful about the government
Alien and Sedition Acts
The acts allowed Federalists to clamp down on the freedom of speech and the press About 25 Democratic-Republican newspaper editors were charged and
arrest under the Sedition Act Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
Written by the Democratic-Republicans in response to the Alien and Sedition Acts
Declared that the Alien and Sedition Acts violated the Constitution Found in the theory known as states’ right Kentucky Resolution
Written by Thomas Jefferson Proposed nullification
Virginia Resolution Written by James Madison Stated that a state could interpose, or place, itself between the federal
government and its citizens No other states supported the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions
Alien and Sedition Acts
Convention of 1800, Adams reopened peace talks with FranceSigned an agreement to stop naval attacksAdam’s actions made him enemies among the
FederalistAdam’s lost the president election of 1800 to
Thomas Jefferson
Peace with France