More handpicked essays just for you.
Federalists versus democratic republicans
Hamilton and Jefferson opposing views
What was the impact of Hamiltons and jeffersons different views on the national governent
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Although national political parties were considered “divisive and disloyal”, the first two-party system of the United States, Hamiltonian-Federalists and Jeffersonian Republicans, emerged during George Washington’s administration. The political division was later sharpened with Jay’s Treaty. They differ from each other in various aspects. Nevertheless, the political turbulent during the 1790s greatly expanded the public sphere. The Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, believed in supremacy of national government, broad and loose interpretation of the Constitution, and commercial and industrial development. They were pro-British. They favored national bank and protective tariffs. Therefore, they gained support mainly from American financiers, manufacturers, merchants, and established political leaders mainly outside the South. On the contrary, the Republicans, led by Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Madison, were suspicious of national government. They believed in strong state governments led by the “common man” and strict interpretation of the Constitution. They were pro-French, and opposed to the national bank and protective tariffs. Since they put emphasis on agriculture, they gained support from wealthy southern planters and ordinary farmers throughout the country. The political divisions between the Federalists and the Republicans first surfaced when Hamilton proposed his financial plan. It is no doubt that George Washington fortified the new government, but at that time, the United States suffered from severe fiscal problem. The government was in huge debt to foreign power and individual bond and securities holders. Aiming to establish financial stability in the short run and to establish the United States as a “major commer... ... middle of paper ... ...iate with the British, hoping the issue could be settled peacefully. According to the Jay’s Treaty in 1794, the British agreed to abandon outposts on the western frontier, and in return, the US guaranteed favored treatment to British imported goods. In the eyes of the Federalists, the treaty was almost perfect, since they could avoid another war, and expand westward, in addition to stop the British harassment. However, from the perspective of the Republicans, Jay’s Treaty was ridiculous, they believed that not only did the British benefit more from the agreement, but it also posed threat to their friendship with the French. Supporters of the French Revolution and critics of the Washington administration in 1793 and 1794 formed nearly fifty Democratic-Republican societies, which provided opportunities for ordinary citizens to be constantly involved in public affairs.
From 1787-1790 the development of the American Constitution was a battle between two opposing political philosophies. America’s best political minds gathered in Philadelphia and other cities in the Northeast in order to find common ground in a governmental structure. The Federalists and the Anti-Federalists had both some political thoughts that agreed as well as some political thoughts that disagreed. However, both parties would compromise and ultimately come together.
When it comes down to foreign relations, Federalists think the United States should not support the French war. They think the war would diminish the liberty, stability, and economy of the country. The Hamiltonians supported Jay’s Treaty associated with Britain. Britain has a very good economic system, so the Federalists are very close to them. Democratic-Republicans think the United States being in the French War was a good idea because we are fighting against an autocrat. The Democratic-Republicans fight Britain because of their monarchy. They thought that the United States should side with France in war against Britain because we had France help us in our war to get rid of a tyrant king.
During the early 1800s, two parties were developed having different perspectives on government and the Constitution. The Democratic Republicans, led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, were always characterized by following the strict construction of the constitution. The Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, were characterized by following the broad construction of the constitution. The presidencies of Jefferson and Madison proved this characterization to be somewhat accurate. Although the Democratic Republicans and the Federalists did support their own ideas and views, they also did many things that contradicted them.
The conflict between the Antifederalists and the Federalists had a tremendous impact on the formation of political parties. Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton were both members of President George Washington's Cabinet, but had completely different views on politics. The differences in opinions made the people split into two separate groups. Primarily, the social backgrounds of each group impacted this. The Federalist Party consisted of mostly wealthy men, many of whom were lawyers, businessmen, bankers, and merchants. These men had a lot of influence in the northern part of the United States because businesses were popular and growing in this region. When it came to the Constitution, the Federalists believed in a loose interpretation ...
The first political parties in America began to form at the end of the 18th century. "The conflict that took shape in the 1790s between the Federalists and the Antifederalists exercised a profound impact on American history." The two primary influences, Thomas Jefferson a...
Alexander Hamilton exerted the most influence in the new Federalist Party. He believed that only an enlightened ruling class could produce a stable and effective federal government. The government therefore needed the support of wealthy men. Thomas Jefferson and the Republicans defended more the rights of the common man and an agrarian society with little power from the federal government. His basic principle was "in general I believe the decisions of the people in a body will be more honest and more disinterested than those of wealthy men."
As the young colonies of America broke away from their mother country and began to grow and develop into an effective democratic nation, many changes occurred. As the democracy began to grow, two main political parties developed, the Jeffersonian Republicans and the Federalists. Each party had different views on how the government should be run. The Jeffersonian Republicans believed in strong state governments, a weak central government, and a strict construction of the Constitution. The Federalists opted for a powerful central government with weaker state governments, and a loose interpretation of the Constitution. Throughout the years, the political parties have grown, developed, and even dispersed into totally new factions. Many of the inconsistencies and changes can be noted throughout the presidencies of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.
John Adams was the last Federalist president which led to the next 16 years of Thomas Jefferson as president for two terms and James Madison as president for two terms. Jefferson and Madison were members of the Republican Party, which had principles and philosophies that were very different than the views of the Federalists. Jefferson and Madison each abandoned the Republican philosophies for Federalism. Jefferson and Madison took on Federalist views while being President of the United States. However, Jefferson and Madison each picked somewhere to stand their ground and keep some of their Republican views.
The political views of the federalist and the republicans towards the government of the United States of America were different. The republicans stressed equality of rights among citizens allowing people to govern themselves. The federalists believed in a stronger government one in which was sovereign and had superior power over the local governments.
In the 1790s, soon after the ratification of the Constitution, political parties were nonexistent in the USA because President Washington feared they would drive the country apart. However, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, with their rivalling mental models, could not help but spark the division of the United States into the Democratic-Republican and Federalist parties. These parties, the Democratic-Republican wanting a small, local government system and the Federalist wanting a strong, powerful government system, turned citizens against one another and eventually led to the inimical Democratic and Republican parties of today. Hence, the formation of the original political parties in the United States is very significant. Political
The Hamiltonian Federalist party was led primarily by Alexander Hamilton, who acted as Secretary of Treasury during George Washington’s presidency, but additionally John Adams who would later be elected president after George Washington’s two terms. While Washington himself often favored the Federalist view and opinion on matters, he tried to maintain neutrality while in office. The Federalists believed in a strong, central national government, where the rights of the states didn't matter as much as their unification through the federal government. Additionally, they felt that the nation was better off under the rule of the “best” people (those who were educated, wealthy, and public figures), and believed that “freedom… rested on deference to national authority.” (Foner) A loose interpretation of the Constitution was preferred, and they wanted the economy to be essentially banking- and manufacturing-based. Federalists favored an ongoing relationship with Britain, for both trade reasons and admiration of their government structure.
The First Party System consisted of Federalists versus Republican-Democrats (Republicans) from 1789 to 1816. This system can be considered to have developed as a result of the factions in the George Washington administration. The two factions were Alexander Hamilton and John Adams with Federalists and Thomas Jefferson and James Madison with the Republican Party. The Federalists argued for a strong national government, to push for aggressive economic development with a greater emphasis on farmers and states’ rights. They preferred to practice loose constructionism (loose interpretations of the Constitution) to argue that government power should be used to promote economic development through the creation of a national bank, federally financed roads, harbors, and bridges. Federalists believed that America’s economic future depended on the cultivation of strong commercial ties with Great Britain. The Republicans on the other hand wanted a small and weak national government to leave the citizens mostly free of taxation and government interference. Unlike the Federalists, the Republicans supported a philosophy of strict constructionism (strict interpretation of the Constitution) in order to avoid the economy benefitting only a few wealthy northeasterners. They also believed that agriculture, instead of manufacturing, should remain the country’s economic base and so they opposed closer relationships with Great B...
Political parties have been around since almost the beginning of this great country. Although George Washington strongly opposed political parties, and also warned the nation to stay away from forming political parties, the first political parties were formed right under his own nose. In George Washington’s cabinet was where the first parties started. The cause of these parties was simply differences in views. The thought of leaders of these two completely different parties was Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. Jefferson started what then was known of as Republican or the Anti-Federalist. On the other hand Hamilton started what was known of as the Federalist Party. Both of these parties formed in the seventeen hundreds. These two parties have evolved into today being known as the Democratic, and the Republican parties. On the contrary one of the largest third party groups, the tea party was formed just recently in the year two thousand and nine. All three of these political parties effect our government today.
Regarding the Constitution, the Federalists and Anti-federalists (otherwise known as the Democratic-Republican Party or the Jeffersonians), held drastically different opinions.2 The Federalists, for one, believed in a strict interpretation of the Constitution, where only those words directly stated in the Constitution were to grant permission for pow...
Though the two-party system of American politics has been in place since the late 18th century, exactly which two parties are contending for control of the government has occasionally shifted. One of the powerful political entities that formed at the beginning of this period, the Federalist Party, built up a large, well-known presence in the early republic, advocating for centralized government and banking, and a positive relationship with the British as the way forward for the burgeoning United States government during the period surrounding the turn of the 19th century. This affinity for the United States-Britain relationship and the accompanying overseas trade practiced by the United States would eventually spell doom for the future of