8.3.4
Understand how the conflicts
between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton resulted in the emergence of two
political parties (e.g., view of foreign policy, Alien and Sedition Acts,
economic policy, National Bank, funding and assumption of the revolutionary
debt).
Despite the fact that the Constitution never mentioned political parties, which
Washington thought would divide America, the emergence of the Federalists and
Democratic-republicans were inevitable. Some colonists were wealthy and
knowledgeable but the majority of Americans were either farmers or assiduous
laborers, which, in most cases, caused disagreements in issues between the two
groups. Even when George Washington was inaugurated, his cabinet disagreed on
some dilemmas, which included Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. These two
individuals were opposed to each other’s views on how the government should run
and how much power the federal government should have. Hamilton didn’t entrust
colonists to make the right decision on any government matter, since he believed
that most Americans only had a modest education. He also aspired for a
prosperous commerce and manufacturing industry and favored them over
agriculture. Jefferson, on the other hand believed that if the federal
governments had too much power then the rights and liberties of the general
public would be taken away, so he preferred a stronger state government. As the
secretary of state, during Washington’s term of office, he thought that farming
was more important then manufacturing since it would lead to a more productive
yet simple life. Hamilton had a loose interpretation of the Constitution so that
the federal government would have a greater power, but Jefferson sought after
the exact opposite. Alexander Hamilton and his followers became known as the
Federalists whom opposed Thomas Jefferson’s party, the Democratic
Republicans.
Even though a plethora of politicians wanted to avoid the development of political parties,
many issues arose that eventually made them essential to America’s government.
The two political parties were more recognizable after the signing of Jay’s
because there were additional disagreements between Hamilton and Jefferson that
caught the nation’s attention. Even though the Treaty of Paris was suppose to
get rid of the dispute between America and Britain, there were still major
problems to be dealt with, so George Washington sent John Jay to negotiate with
the British. Hamilton actually favored the British over France and therefore
considered the treaty the preeminent way to deal with the crisis considering
Britain’s superior power. Jefferson thought that better stipulations could have
been approved if Jay had threatened to cut off trade. Another time that
Jefferson contrasted from Hamilton was when the Alien and Sedition Acts were
approved, which treated immigrants unequally and made it illegal to criticize
congress or the president. He felt that these laws attacked the principles of
freedom and with the help of a nationwide outcry, he was able to repeal these
two acts. When Hamilton became the Secretary of Treasury he also presented the
idea of a national bank, but as usual, the Secretary of State didn’t believe
that Congress had such powers, since a national bank was never mentioned in the
Constitution. Even though Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton resigned from
office during the 1790’s their views of the government policies continued to
influence Americans for sometime until the end of the War 1812, when the
federalists lost their reverence and new political parties emerged.
More Information:
1.
http://gi.grolier.com/presidents/nbk/side/polparty.html
This website explains how political parties began from the Democracy of Greeks to how the
American parties were formed.
2.
http://www.gliah.uh.edu/documents/searchdisplay.cfm?ID=416
http://www.gliah.uh.edu/documents/searchdisplay.cfm?ID=56
http://www.gliah.uh.edu/documents/searchdisplay.cfm?ID=57
These three sites include a detailed explanation of what caused the different views of Jefferson
and Hamilton to generate two groups of politicians.
3.
http://library.thinkquest.org/12587/
A website on the background of politics and most political campaigns.
4.
http://www.dcpoliticalreport.com/inactive.htm
This website comprises a list of every political party of America with information on most parties.
Recommended Books:
1.
Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation
by Joseph J. Ellis
2.
The Origin and Transformation of Political Parties in America
by John Herbert Aldrich