Federalist party was found in the ranks of the old Anti-Federalists (p. 183), its adherents being chiefly farmers and planters. Opposed to Jefferson's party of strict construction was the The Federalist party, which during Washington's administration Party held the reins of government. The dominant spirit of this party was Alexander Hamilton. That great man believed in a liberal or broad construction of the Constitution. He believed that in addition to the powers specifically enumerated in the Constitution there were many other reserved and implied powers which could be rightfully exercised by the Federal Government. For example, he justified his bank scheme on the ground that there was a natural and obvious relation between the institution of a bank and the execution of such enumerated powers as the collection of taxes (44) and the borrowing of money (46). The Federalist party, therefore, stood for a broad and liberal construction of the Constitution and for a strong Federal Government. The greatest strength of the Federalist party was found in the cities and towns, its adherents being chiefly men engaged in the manufacturing industries or in commercial pursuits. The Federalists and the Republicans distrusted each other Party profoundly and opposed each other with great bitterness. The Spirit Federalists regarded their opponents as anarchists, as enemies not only of the Constitution but of all government. In the opinion of the Federalists, a Republican hated the Constitution because he hated to obey the laws and pay his debts and taxes and carry out his contracts. The Republicans in turn accused the Federalists of being hostile to liberty and to republican institutions. In Hamilton's financial schemes the Republicans saw deep-laid plans for corrupting members of Congress and for organizing the Government on the English plan of king, lords, and commons. Jefferson asserted again and again that the Federalists desired to establish a monarchy. Party lines between the Federalists and Republicans were sharply drawn, and party warfare soon became so fierce that close personal friends belonging to different parties ceased to speak to each other. The results of party division were clearly seen in 1792 in The Election of 1792 Government by Party the second Presidential election. Washington, it is true, was reëlected unanimously, for both the Republican and the Federalist electors gave him their votes. But in the election of a Vice-President there was a division along party lines. The Republicans tried to defeat Adams, who was a strong Federalist, by bringing out George Clinton of New York, but Adams was successful, receiving seventy-seven electoral votes while Clinton received only fifty. In Congress the Republicans had better success, for in the House of Representatives that was elected in 1792 they had a majority. Washington was himself a Federalist. Throughout his first term, however, he tried to maintain a non-partizan administration. But the experiment was a failure. By the time his second term was well under way he was convinced that a bi-partizan cabinet was undesirable. “I shall not," he said in 1795, “while I have the honor to administer the government, bring a man into any office of consequence knowingly whose political tenets are adverse to the measures which the general government are pursuing." Thus early in our history our Government became a government of parties, and it has never ceased to be administered on a party basis. EXERCISES AND REFERENCES 1. The election and inauguration of Washington: McMaster, I, 525541. 2. Jefferson's opinion of Hamilton and Hamilton's opinion of Jefferson: Hart, 286-292. 3. Hamilton's financial system: McMaster, I, 569-583. 4. Public debt: Forman, The American Democracy, 291-297. 5. The first tariff debate: Hart, 262-264. 6. Rise of political parties: Channing, I, 150-176. 7. Washington's first term: Forman, Our Republic, 139-152. 8. A date for the chronological table: 1789. 9. Prepare a summary of the events of Washington's first term. 10. Prepare a list of all the secretaries of state. How many of these have either been President or candidates for the Presidency? Το what extent did the tariff of 1789 attempt to protect American manufactures? II. Hints for special reading: John S. Bassett, The Federalist System; J. P. Gordy, History of Political Parties; R. W. Griswold, The Republican Court; James Schouler, History of the United States, Vol. I. XIX TROUBLE ABROAD AND AT HOME During Washington's first term foreign problems did not embarrass the Government in a serious manner, while the domestic problems that arose were such as could be solved without any violent disturbance of the public mind. During his second term, however, and during the administration of his successor, the Federal Government had to deal with a very troublesome condition of affairs at home and at the same time face difficult and perplexing questions of foreign policy. FOREIGN RELATIONS tion To the forces that were working to produce party dissension at the end of Washington's first term a new impulse was added early in his second term by events that were happening abroad. The event that drew the United States into the whirlpool of The foreign affairs was the mighty social upheaval known as the French French Revolution. For centuries the common people of France had been overtaxed by a corrupt and extravagant Government and had been oppressed by a cruel and arrogant aristocracy. About the time, however, that Americans were battling for their independence, the French people were also beginning to think of freedom, and by 1789 they were ripe for a revolt against their masters. And they asserted their power in a terrible fashion. They tore up society from its foundations. They swept away nobles, peers, and all institutions that were out of harmony with their doctrines of liberty and their notions of human rights. The feudal system was abolished, and peasants became the owners of land; the rights of man were formally declared in a bill of rights; a democratic government was demanded. For a time the king was allowed to retain his throne. But monarchy, too, was doomed. In September, 1792, the National Convention proclaimed France a republic, and a few months later Louis XVI, the proud descendant of a hundred kings, was guillotined near the broken statue of one of his own America's Sympathy with the Revolution Friendly ancestors. This act alarmed every monarch in Europe, and within a year France was at war fighting for the success of the Revolution against the combined forces of England, Spain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia. The outbreak was the beginning of a conflict that raged for twenty years. The French Revolution profoundly influenced the course of events in every part of the civilized world. In America its immediate effect was to stir up the emotions and cause a division of sentiment between its friends and its enemies. The great majority of Americans were its friends. In all parts of the country the birth of the new republic across the sea was hailed with expressions of delight. The news of a French victory over the forces of the allied nations was everywhere welcome, and sometimes the rejoicings were so tremendous that men and women seemed to have gone mad with enthusiasm. But while the people generally were delirious with joy, in circles where there was official responsibility there were cool heads. Washington saw that the United States was compelled to take a stand in regard to the war that was being waged between France and England. The problem that confronted him was a difficult one. We owed a debt of gratitude to France for the aid she gave us during the Revolution, and, moreover, by the terms of the treaty of amity and commerce made in 1778 (p. 143) we were expected to defend the French interests in the West Indies and to grant to France certain special privileges in our own ports. On the other hand, to incur the hostility of England by taking sides with her enemy would expose the United States to great danger. Washington, after consulting with his secretaries, decided upon a line of conduct which he hoped would keep his country out of war. In April, 1793, he issued a proclamation to the effect that the United States would take the side of neither England nor France, but would remain in friendly relations with both belligerent powers. Thus at the very outset the American Government entered upon a policy of keeping clear of European entanglements. At the outset, too, it was determined that America's foreign policy should be one of peace and neutrality, and that the young republic should |