The First Political Parties

The First Political Parties

by Mr. HUNN

Pre-Test​

​

Multiple Choice

True or False: The two original political parties were called the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Thomas Jefferson was a member of which party?

• Federalists

• Democratic-Republicans

• Whig

• Libertarian

Multiple Choice

Which of these is the best definition for the word "partisan?"

• favoring one group or political party over another

• a physical barrier protecting federal buildings

• the belief that all people are created equal

• activities aimed at weakening the government

Multiple Choice

Which of these words means "a meeting of a political party where candidates for elections are chosen?"

• Rally

• Committee

• Caucus

• Sedition

Multiple Choice

Which of these was the outcome of the fighting between Hamilton and Jefferson?

• Jefferson killed Hamilton in a duel

• Jefferson and Hamilton both resigned from their positions in Washington's cabinet

• Hamilton left the country in favor of France

• Hamilton and Jefferson worked together peacefully until Washington's death

​Opposing Parties

​President Washington was very popular with the people, but there were still those who disagreed with his leadership.

​

​Supporters of Thomas Jefferson were the biggest critics of Washington (and more specifically, Hamilton -- Washington's Treasury Department leader).

​

​This division between supporters of Jefferson and Hamilton would form the foundation for the formation of political parties.

​Like a Twilight-esque love triangle, but with politics instead of love and old white guys instead of vampires and werewolves.

Opposing Parties cont'd​

​Political parties were unpopular amongst the people, as well as the Founding Fathers like Washington, who viewed them as a threat to the future of democracy.

(In fact, there is no mention of political parties in the Constitution for this reason.)

​

​Others argued that political parties were a natural result of like-minded people banding together over shared causes and beliefs. This partisan way of thinking is reflected in our modern political party system.

Multiple Choice

True or False: George Washington was in favor of political parties

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which of these is the best definition for the word "partisan?"

• favoring one group or political party over another

• a physical barrier protecting federal buildings

• the belief that all people are created equal

• activities aimed at weakening the government

​Hamilton vs Jefferson

​Hamilton and Jefferson held very different views on everything from the economy and foreign affairs to the very meaning of the Constitution.

​

​The heart of their conflict was the role and power of the government:

1. ​Hamilton generally believed in a strong central government that could enforce the will of the people

2. ​Jefferson generally believed in a small central government and strong state governments/individual rights.

​George Washington viewed himself as a man separate of party.

​but...

Washington generally chose to follow Hamilton's decisions in most cases.

​Hamilton: What do you want for dinner, dear President?

​Washington: I'll have whatever you're having.

​Hamilton: A big bowl of Freedom it is, Mr. President, excellent choice.

Multiple Choice

In the conflict over debt, Washington is most likely to...

• follow Jefferson

• follow Hamilton

• follow his wife, Martha

• follow his heart

​Political Parties Emerge

​Over time, differences caused the Congress (as well as the public at large) to split into two distinct, or clearly different, political parties.

​Federalists:

1. ​Led by Alexander Hamilton

2. ​Believed in strong central government

3. ​Believed in "implied" powers given to the government by the Constitution

4. ​Believed Congress could pass laws to give the government the powers it needed to carry out its "proper and necessary" duties.

​Republicans:

1. ​Led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison

2. ​Believed in a strict reading of the Constitution -- nothing "implied"

3. ​Government should only have the powers to do what the Constitution says, nothing more.

Multiple Select

Which two of these men would have believed that, since the Congress has the power to borrow and lend money, then it was implied that the federal government had the power to create a national bank?

• Thomas Jefferson

• Alexander Hamilton

• James Madison

• George Washington

​Washington tried to mend the differences between Hamilton and Jefferson, but their opposition to one another was too strong.

​

​Jefferson resigned from his cabinet position as Secretary of State, and Hamilton followed suit shortly after by resigning as Treasury Secretary.

​

​As elections for a new president approached, the two parties became more distinct and separated than ever.

​

​

​TFW the besties are fighting

​in the group chat

"However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion."

​

WASHINGTON'S FAREWELL ADDRESS | SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1796

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Poll

George Washington was correct in his predictions and fears about political parties.

• Agree

• Neither Agree nor Disagree

• Disagree

The Presidential Election of 1796

​The two emerging parties held caucuses to select their choices for Presidential candidates.

Each caucus chose two presidential nominees.

​- the Federalists chose John Adams and Charles Pinckney (from the treaty)

- the Republicans chose Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr (frienemy of Alexander Hamilton)​

John Adams became president, and the candidate with the second most votes, Thomas Jefferson, became vice president​. At that time, the vice president did not have to be from the same party as the President.

Multiple Choice

Which of these men did NOT run for President in 1796?

• Thomas Jefferson

• Aaron Burr

• Benjamin Franklin

• John Adams

Multiple Choice

True or False: The President and Vice President elected in 1796 were from different political parties.

• True

• False