DBQ on Political Parties in 1790

A political party is a group of people who seek to win elections and hold public office in order to shape government policy and programs. George Washington warned America’s people of the dangers of these separate parties in “The Farewell Address” an except is shown in Document 4. Washington opposed political parties because “ ‘It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one party against another; foments[stirs up]…riot and insurrection [rebellion]’”. Political parties began to rise rapidly in the 1790’s. Several issues being the cause.

Alexander Hamilton, used the nations huge debts (owed to other countries and its own citizens) as an opportunity to push for the kind of national government that he wanted. He was a federalist, a supporter of strong national power, he had little faith in the people. He believed the constitution was not enough to preserve the new nation. After dealing with the south about his plan regarding the debts and assuming state debts, Hamilton created a tax on imported goods. A tax which Thomas Jefferson

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Washington’s “The Farewell Address” was a clearly a foreshadowing of what was to come in the future. “The freedom of the press…means the total exemption [freedom] of the press from and kind of legislative control…the Sedition Bill…is an abridgement [reduction] of its liberty, and expressly forbidden by the constitution”. The federalists took advantage of Adams popularity to push new measures they thought were important through to congress.

Tensions continued to grow throughout the 1790’s. Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr ran on the republican side. Under this the sedition act ten Republicans were convicted, and many others put on trial. He describes it as “infernal [hellish]” showing a deep disapproval. This is an example of a Federalists point of view. On the other hand, Document 7 is and excerpt from an essay written by George Hay, shown to be more of a Jeffersonian. Document 1 is an excerpt from a memo written by Thomas Jefferson, he says that Hamilton was “[in support] of a monarchy [based upon] corruption”.

The French Revolution divided Americans even more. Because Jefferson finished second with 68 electoral votes, he became the vice-president. In April, 1793 President Washington proclaimed neutrality. Jefferson’s supporters saw the French Revolution as an extension of the American Revolution.

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