1

The Rise of Political Parties• In 1789, when Washington took office there was no

political party. By the time he retired there were two political parties competing for power.

• (1) Alexander Hamilton led a group who supported most decisions by the government called the Federalists.

• The Democratic-Republican Party, was led by (2) Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

A political party is a group of people with similar ideas and beliefs about government.

Federal or State Power?• George Washington and (3) Hamilton wanted a

strong federal government. • Hamilton thought this was necessary to increase

commerce and restrain mob violence.

Federal or State Power?• (4) Jefferson favored a weak federal

government. Jefferson felt that the federal government might take over powers that the Constitution gave to the states. Jefferson believed that stronger state governments would protect individual freedoms.

The shield displays a sailing ship (carrying state commerce to all parts of the world), a clay-red plough (signifying rich natural resources), and three sheaves of wheat (suggesting fertile fields and Pennsylvania's wealth of human thought and action).

Hamilton’s views on the what was best for the new nation

• Hamilton favored manufacturing and trade. He also believed that the wealthy and well-educated should lead the nation.

• Hamilton and his supporters were called (5) Federalists.

Organization of supporters• The Federalists drew much of their support from

wealthy people and those living in big cities such as Philadelphia, Boston, and New York.

• Federalists believed in following a (6) loose construction of the Constitution.

merchant

Thomas Jefferson’s view on the what was best for the new nation

• Jefferson believed that farming was the “backbone” of American society. He also believed ordinary people should have political power.

• Those who supported Jefferson were known as Democratic-Republicans and believed in (7) strict construction of the Constitution.

Organization of supporters• Democratic-Republicans often shortened their name to

Republicans and drew much of their support from laborers and those living in the (4) South.

• A champion of the farmer, (5) Thomas Jefferson saw cities as evil, “The mobs of great cities add so much to the support of pure government, as sores do to the strength of the human body.”

Political Parties Hit the Presses• Both parties develop their own newspapers. The

Federalists’ newpaper, Gazette of the United States, was ran by editor (6) John Fenno.

• The Gazette praised Washington’s administration which usually followed Hamilton’s advice.

Political Parties Hit the Presses• Thomas Jefferson and James Madison

chose (7) Philip Freneau to start a rival newspaper called the National Gazette.

• Freneau attacked Hamilton as an enemy of true republican government while praising Jefferson as “that illustrious Patriot, Statesman, and Philospher.”

Election of 1796 Jefferson-vs-Adams• The Federalists supported (8) John Adams for President

and Thomas Pinckney for Vice President.• Democratic-Republicans supported (9) Thomas

Jefferson for President and Aaron Burr for Vice President.

• Under the Constitution, the person with the highest number of electoral votes became President. The person with the 2nd highest votes became Vice-President.

Thomas JeffersonJohn Adams

Slim Victory• In the election of 1796 –(10) John Adams became the

President and Thomas Jefferson became the Vice-President.

• Now the President and Vice-President were from different sides and had different political views and soon a distrust between them grew deeper.