Transcript The Jefferson Viewpoint

NAME
POSITION
STATE
Thomas Jefferson
Sec. of State
Virginia
Alexander Hamilton Sec. of Treasury
New York
Henry Knox
Sec. of War
Massachusetts
Edmund Randolph
Attorney General
Virginia
DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLICANS
FEDERALISTS
Hamilton
John Adams
Leaders
Strong Central Gov’t
Absolutely Yes!
Yes
Yes
Urban (Commerce)
Federalism
States’ Rights
Constitution Strict Constructionist
Gov’t Involvement
No
In Economic
Absolutely No!
National Bank
No
Protective Tariffs
Federal Assumption
No
Of State War Debts
Rural (Agrarian)
Supporters
Loose Constructionist
Yes
Jefferson
James Madison
“Those who labor in the
earth are the chosen
people of God, if ever he
had a chosen people,
whose breasts he has
made his peculiar deposit
for substantial and genuine virtue. It is
the focus in which he keeps alive that
sacred fire, which otherwise might
escape from the face of the earth.”
Manufacturing
Agriculture
Jefferson’s economic model depended on a laissezfaire policy of free trade between the U.S. and
Europe. No tariffs would help American farmers.
The national government would assume the debts
of the state governments from the Revolutionary
War. New bond notes would be issued. This
would create legitimacy for the new government.
A private/publicly owned Bank of the United
States would offer loans in order to help promote
economic development. It would also issue
currency in order to stabilize the economy.
The Four Main Goals For Hamilton:
(1) Establish Public Credit
(2) Create a National Bank
(3) Establish Domestic Manufacturing
(4) An Excise Tax on Whiskey
By allowing Britain’s industries to manufacture, the
U.S. could never achieve full potential. By placing
tariffs (import tax) on foreign goods, American
manufacturers would be able to compete.
A tax on whiskey would bring in revenue for the
nation. It would take whiskey, which was made
from the excess of corn supply, and tax the
farmers in the West that would make it.
In 1796, after two terms in office, George
Washington decided not to run for a third term for
President. Constitutionally, there was nothing
that limited Washington from serving a third
term, but Washington wondered of the precedent
he would set.
Washington left advice for the American people.
The advice was to avoid:
(1) Political Parties
(2) Entangling Foreign Alliances
Election between John
Adams (Federalist) and
Thomas
Jefferson
(Democratic Republican).
Sectional divide led to an
Adams victory in first
election featuring the
two political parties.
National Gazette
Democratic-Republican Paper
Gazette of the United States
Federalist Paper
EVENT
WHAT WAS IT?
French Revolution
Declaration of the Rights of Man &
the Citizen triggered bloody
revolution to overthrow monarchy in
France; eventually led to a war by
French against monarchies in Europe
Jay’s Treaty
1794
Stopped a war w/Britain; settled
western land claims; British had
favorable trade status
Citizen Genet
1793-94
Came to America to try to promote
support of French against Britain &
Spain; hurt American neutrality
XYZ Affair
1797-98
To stop war with France, Adams sent
diplomats to France; French
demanded bribes to even talk peace
Alien & Sedition Acts
FEDERALIST POV
DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICAN
POV
Supported British because of
Reminded of American
historical ties & trade relations Revolution; wanted to support
war against monarchies of
Europe
Promoted trade with natural
partner for Americans = Good!
Opposed –thought it would
strengthen Federalists and
hurt republican gov’t
One of the few issues Hamilton &
Jefferson agreed upon – Genet was
bad for the United States
D-R supported French
Federalists were war hungry;
government; questioned
didn’t care about the republic,
loyalty to American gov’t
only their interests
What Was It?
• Naturalization Act – increased citizenship
requirement from 5 to 14 years
• Alien Friends Act – President could deport
or arrest immigrants considered dangerous
• Sedition Act – restricted speech that was
critical of the government
Federalist Reasoning
• Seen as a way to promote national security
in response to French Revolution and the
threat of war with France
• Democratic-Republicans saw it as a way of
restricting their power and influence and
creating
Federalist
stronghold
of
government
An event that highlighted the
sectional differences of the
country and the divisions
between political parties.
Griswold
(Federalist)
supported Adams’s policies
against France at the time.
Lyon (Democratic-Republican)
supported the French and
opposed an American military
buildup against the French.
Lyon was arrested in 1798 for
violation of the Sedition Act.
“In questions of power, then, let no more be
heard of confidence in man, but bind him
down…by the chains of the Constitution.”
Thomas Jefferson, Kentucky Resolutions
The Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions
Written secretly by Madison &
Jefferson in response to Alien &
Sedition Acts
The states created the Union
(Compact Theory) and therefore the
states could nullify laws they felt
were unconstitutional
“A little patience, and we shall see the reign
of the witches pass over, their spells dissolve,
and the people, recovering their true sight,
restore their government to its true
principles.”
Thomas Jefferson Letter to John Taylor
Often times called a
Revolution.
Jefferson’s victory over
Adams means the first
transfer of power, but…
Democratic-Republicans
also win control of
Congress too, however…
25
Parties in the U.S. Senate
Sixth and Seventh
Congresses
Federalists
20
70
Parties in the U.S. House
Sixth and Seventh
Congresses
Federalists
60
50
Jefferson’s
inaugural
speech signals a spirit of
cooperation and moving
forward
15
Republican
s
10
40
Republican
s
30
20
5
10
0
0
1798
1800
1798
1800