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