Alexander Hamilton's First Party System

In 1787, the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution to establish a new, stronger government for the United States. During George Washington’s presidency in the 1790s, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson argued over the role of the government as dictated by the Constitution. As a result, a two party system consisting of the Hamiltonian Federalists and the Jeffersonian Republicans emerged. To some extent, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson reflected the policies and beliefs of the Federalist Hamilton.

The United States sought to remain neutral and trade with both the British and the French, but neither wanted the other to have the American supplies. Jefferson wanted to make sure they didn’t go to war because he was afraid that the war between them and Britain would affect Trade rights more than they already were .The Nonintercourse Acts were diplomatic responses by Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison designed to protect American interests and avoid war. They failed, and helped cause the War of 1812 between the U.S. and Britain. Jefferson, by putting the Embargo Act into effect, was trying to engage in peaceful coercion and protect American interests and avoid war, by means of basically stopping US ships from going to Europe until

The seven most recognized political parties were: Federalist, Jeffersonian Republicans Democratic-Republicans, Nation Republican, Democrats, Whigs, Republicans, Prohibition, Populist, and Socialist. (343) The first two parties were the Federalist (1788-1816) versus the Jeffersonian Republicans democratic-republicans (1790-1824). The Federalist platforms were for the New England merchants, taxes, fees, creation of a bank and develop a new relationship with Britain. Jeffersonian Republicans was against taxes and fees for the merchants and wanted to create friendship with France (354).

15) Thomas Jefferson believed that if America cut off trade with other countries, then those countries would cooperate with American demands. A problem with this, was when he used American trade to get the French and English to meet their demands by cutting off ALL trade with ALL countries. These were called the Embargo Acts of 1807. The Americans were more greatly affected than the French or British because the French and British did not completely rely on America, but the merchants and traders were pretty dependent on trade with the French and British. The Embargo Acts cut the American gross national product by 5% and weakened the economy.

The Federalists favored strong central government putting more faith in the government instead of the people they were supposed to represent. The federalists were also in favor of the elite and allying closely with the British. Hamilton still admired British culture even after he fought for American independence from the British. The Federalists were also in favor of regulations for entrepreneurs, unlike the Jeffersonians who were in favor of being free of intrusive government regulations. The Federalists were also in favor of integrating the United States into the global economy to further the industrial industry.

Differing Views- Hamilton vs Jefferson In 1790s America was rocked by a conflict between the nation’s first political parties- the Federalists and the Republicans. The Federalist Party was formed of merchants, manufactureres, bankers, wealthy farmers and professional people and headed by Alexander Hamilton. Thomas Jefferson led the Republic party which was formed of small farmers, frontier settlers, shopkeepers and artisans. As such both the leaders held different views of revolutionary ideas and ideologies.

Jefferson's democratic-republican party views are always contradictory to the Federalist party founded by Alexander Hamilton. Jefferson believes in small federal government and more powers to individual states, his policies are around people and they should rule the government. Jefferson always follows strict constitutional rules. Jefferson always believed the country economy will improve through the agriculture. Hamilton views are very contrasted to Jefferson's view.

During the war, each country placed a blockade against the other for trade with the United States. Because of the blockade, Britain’s Royal Navy attacked American ships and captured 6,000 sailors. Jefferson believed that commerce of the United States should not be governed by either of these countries. In reaction, he turned to using trade as a weapon by banning American ships from trading with any country. This embargo barely affected Britain and France, but it devastated the United States and angered those who depended on trade.

Political parties, Democratic Republicans and Federalists, started in the U.S. because of differing views of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, and the influence of newspapers. Jefferson’s and Hamilton’s different ways of thinking(mostly on issues that was beneficial for the country) played a huge part in the start of political parties. They fought about economy. Jefferson liked farming while Hamilton preferred manufacturing and trade. Interpretation of the Constitution was another thing they fought upon.

In the 1790s, there were two men who had different beliefs regarding how the United States should function. The two men were Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was the leader of the Republican party and Hamilton was the leader of the Federalist party. The political parties were created by Hamilton and Jefferson based on their differences in opinion on how the country should run. For example, Jefferson believed that the government should be self-governed and all of the power should go to the individual states.

The two parties were the Republicans and the Federalists. The Republicans hoped government took a lesser approach to everyday life. Its individualistic perspective includes living in moderation, be tough, don’t spend more than you have to, and be honest. These lofty goals and ambitions were reasonable in the late 1700’s, early 1800’s, however, now most

Jackson’s Democratic-Republicans were renamed simply “Democrats”. On the other side were the Whigs who despised Jackson. They came to prominence through a coalescence of Jackson’s enemies: American System supporters, northern industrialists, and the Anti-Masonic, an Anti-Jackson Party. Sectional tensions have, for better or for worse, dramatically shaped the development of political parties in the United States. As a testament to the soundness of these parties, they are still active today in the forms of Democrats and Republicans, very much true in practice to what they were founded for.

Party system refers to the way parties are organized, the balance of powers between and within the parties, and the issues or ideas which the parties are organized around. The Federalist and Jeffersonian Republicans were the first party system to immerge in the seventeen nineties. The federalist focused on the concerns of New England merchants. The wanted to rebuild a relationship with Britain, assumption of debt from the revolutionary war, and programs with encouraged manufacturing. The Jeffersonian republics were run with southern agriculture in mind.

The political parties were really federalist using

Hamilton vs. Jefferson Visions to Reality     Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton both had very defined visions of the scope and power of the new federal government, how they saw the future of the economic development, and what the United States society should become. In my opinion Alexander Hamilton had more of an impact on the United States during the 1820’s and on contemporary government when compared to Thomas Jefferson. His policies did not strictly work during that time and many of his ideas are still seen in today’s society. Jefferson’s views and ideas on/of the national bank, higher tariffs, debt assumption, The Federalist Party, and his support of the ratification of the Constitution are all reasons in why his policies and visions came closer to becoming a reality.     Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, molded the gatherings that provoked to the twofold party system under which the U.S. works today.