Violence Erupts in Congress"Directly before me stood Mr. Griswold laying onblows with all his might upon Mr. Lyon.... Lyonmade an attempt to catch his cane, but failed-hepressed towards Griswold and endeavoured to closewith him, but Griswold fell back and continued hisblows on the head .... "

- Federalist Representative George Thacher,describing a fight in Congress, 1798

••• Fight between Federalist Representative Griswoldand Republican Representative Lyon

The Birth of Political PartiesObjectives• Explain how early political parties emerged.

• Compare the political views of the Republi-cans and the Federalists.

• Discuss the result of the election of 1796.

\!) Reading SkillInfer Meanings of Similes Similescompare things that may seem unrelated. Thecomparison helps you to see things in a new way.When you read a simile, think about how the itemsbeing compared are similar. Try to determine whatpoint the writer is making.

Key Terms and Peoplefaction Alexander HamiltonJames Madison John AdamsThomas Jefferson

290 Chapter 8 Launching a New Nation

Why It Matters The arguments over Hamilton's financialplan reflected serious disagreements among the newnation's leaders. Americans also disagreed about the role oftheir nation's government.~ Section Focus Question: How did two political partiesemerge?

Political Parties EmergeThe Framers of the Constitution did not expect political

parties to develop in the United States. Rather, they thoughtthat government leaders would rise above personal or localinterests. The leaders, they believed, would work togetherfor the sake of the country.

In those days, people spoke offactions rather than politicalparties. A faction was an organized political group, and theword was not complimentary. James Madison consideredfactions to be selfish groups, unconcerned with the well-being of the whole nation. Madison argued in the FederalistPapers that an effective national government would preventthe growth of factions. As he put it,

"Among the numerous advantages promised by awell-constructed Union, none deserves to be moreaccurately developed than its tendency to breakand control the violence of faction."

-James Madison, The Federalist No. 10, 1787

Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, who wererarely in agreement, both disliked factions. Hamilton warnedthat the" spirit of faction"might work likea spark to bring mobrule and chaos.

No one was more hostile to factions than George Washington. ThePresident watched unhappily as Jefferson and Hamilton, the leadingmembers of his Cabinet, grew apart. Washington tried to reduce thequarreling. In a letter to Henry Lee, he predicted that factions woulddestroy the "best fabric of human government and happiness."

Despite Washington's efforts, by the early 1790s two politicalparties were beginning to form. One group supported ThomasJefferson and his close ally, James Madison. The other supportedAlexander Hamilton and his ideas.

~Checkpoint Why did many of the nation's leaders dislikepolitical parties?

Republicans Against FederalistsThe two parties that took shape during the first half of the 1790s

eventually got the names Republicans and Federalists.The Republicans took their name from political clubs called

Democratic-Republican Societies that had been organized in variousparts of the country. They argued that the federal government wasgrowing too strong under President Washington. They wanted tokeep most power at the state or local level. They feared that a strongcentral government would act like a monarchy.

Republicans

1. Were led by Thomas Jefferson2. Believed people should have

political power

3. Favored strong state government4. Emphasized agriculture

5. Favored strict interpretation ofConstitution

6. Were pro-French7. Opposed national bank8. Opposed protective tariff

Vocabulary Builderhostile (HAHS tihl) adj. unfriendly;adverse or opposed

i!llnfer Meanings~.1 of Similes~. ~

"95 To what is a strong centralgovernment compared to in thefinal sentence of this paragraph?What does the comparison mean?

Federalists

1. Were led by Alexander Hamilton2. Believed wealthy and educated

should lead

3. Favored strong central government4. Emphasized manufacturing, shipping,

and trade5. Favored loose interpretation of

Constitution6. Were pro-British7. Favored national bank

8. Favored protective tariff

Skills ActivitThe nation's first political parties werethe Federalists and the Republicans.They took opposing stands on manypolitical issues.

(a) Read a Chart How did the partiesdiffer on federal power?

(b) Apply Information Why did theparty that favored strong stategovernments insist on a strictinterpretation of the Constitution?

Section 2 The Birth of Political Parties 291

Political Parties Then and Now_ _ ~ _ "''''..J~__ ~,"",. ~ ~_ _ ~ _ ~ _ __ _

17905 Political differences between ThomasJefferson and Alexander Hamilton led to thedevelopment of America's first political parties.18505 By the 1850s, the parties we know todayhad taken shape. Today's Democratic Party actu-ally traces its roots to Jefferson's Republican Party.The modern Republican Party, which was bornduring the 1850s over the issue of slavery, has no

connection to Jefferson's Republicans.

Political Parties Today The two major partiesplaya leading role in the American political system.How do the parties stand on today's political issues?

For: Political parties in the newsVisit: PHSchool.comWeb Code: myc-3042

This early Republican Party drew its main strength from southernplanters and northern farmers and artisans. Key leaders were JamesMadison and Thomas Jefferson. Unhappy with the federal govern-ment's policies,Jefferson resigned as secretary of state in 1793.

The Federalists took their name from the people who hadsupported the adoption of the Constitution after 1787.A prominentleader was Alexander Hamilton. As in the debates over the Constitu-tion, Federalists said the United States needed a strong federalgovernment to hold the country together and deal with its problems.

Federalists drew support mainly from merchants, other propertyowners, and ordinary workers whose jobs depended on manufac-turing and trade. They were especially strong in the North.

Organizing and Arguing At the time that both parties wereorganizing, the Federalists had an advantage. President Washingtonusually supported Hamilton and his policies. One Hamiltonsupporter running for officeproudly said, "I am a FEDERALIST,thefriend of order, of government, and of the present administration."

A newspaper editor who supported the Republicans saw the situa-tion very differently. In 1792,he printed a series of questions in theNational Gazette implying that the Federalists wanted to betray theConstitution and bring back a king. "Are not some amongst us ...advocates for monarchy and aristocracy?" he asked. "Are not the prin-ciples of all such [people] hostile to the principles of the constitution?"

292 Chapter 8 Launching a New Nation

Other Disagreements In addition to their fundamental dis-agreement about the power of the federal government, Federalistsand Republicans disagreed about other issues. Federalists favoredthe national bank and a national tariff. The Republicans opposedboth. Federalists favored close ties with England. Republicans weresympathetic to France, where a revolution overthrew the king in1789.(Youwill read more about the French Revolution in Section 3.)

~Checkpoint How did Federalists and Republicans differ?

The Election of 1796In 1796,George Washington said he would not seek a third term.

This set an important precedent. Not until Franklin Roosevelt ran forand won a third term in 1940would any President seek more thantwo terms. (In 1951,the Twenty-second Amendment legally limitedthe President to two terms.)

The Republican candidate for President in 1796 was ThomasJefferson.The Federalists nominated John Adams, a New Englander,who had been Washington's VicePresident.

In 1796,President and VicePresident were not elected together asa ticket, as they are today. Instead, the candidate getting the mostvotes became President and the second-place candidate became VicePresident.

Adams finished first and Jefferson second. The country thusgained a Federalist President and a Republican Vice President. Notsurprisingly, this led to serious tensions during the next four years.

~Checkpoint Which party won the presidency in 1796?

Looking Back and Ahead The Republicans and Feder-alists had conflicting visions of what the federal government shoulddo. In the next section, you will read how President Washingtondealt with challenges at home and abroad.

Comprehensionand Critical Thinking1. (a) Describe How did the Fram-

ers of the Constitution feel aboutpolitical parties?(b) Draw Conclusions Do youbelieve having political partieshelps or hurts the nation?Explain.

2. (a) Recall What was the funda-mental difference between thetwo political parties?

(b) Detect Points of View Ifyou were a worker at a northerntextile mill during Washington'spresidency, would you have sup-ported the Republicans or theFederalists? Explain.

;a Reading Skill3. Infer Meanings of Similes

Explain the simile in this sentence:Alexander Hamilton acted like afriend to government.

Vocabulary Builderfundamental (fuhn duh MEHN tahl)adj. basic;most important;forming the foundation of anidea or action; essential

Progress Monitoring _nlineFor: Self-test with instant helpVisit: PHSchool.comWeb Code: mya-3042

Key TermsComplete this sentence so it clearlyshows your understanding of thekey term.4. As a result of factions, __ .

Writing5. Use Internet or library resources

to find and read an article givingan overview of the life of GeorgeWashington. Then, create a time-line showing the most importantevents in Washington's life.

Section 2 The Birth of Political Parties 293