Division of the Early Republic After the colonies gained independence, the founding fathers soon found that becoming a new independent nation was going to be a difficult task. The biggest task was deciding on the division of power in the government. This issue divided the people into two groups, the federalists and the Jeffersonian republicans. Alexander Hamilton led the federalists and Thomas Jefferson led the republicans. These two important men in history would later show how the challenges of becoming a new nation. In this essay I will be analyzing the ideas of Linda K. Kerber’s “The Fears of the Federalists,” to Drew R. McCoy’s “The Fears of the Jeffersonian Republicans.” Furthermore, comparisons will be made about both essays to gain a better understanding of the struggles of government in early America. Kerber’s essay demonstrates the fears of the Federalists which is democracy. In one line she states, “The Jeffersonian approach to politics struck the articulate Federalists as dangerously naive.” By this Kerber is depicting how Federalists felt about the opposing side’s ideas. She continues to say that, “even the early stages of industrialization and urban growth were providing the ingredients of a proletariat.” The federalists believed that to have a successful nation, the government should be ruled by the higher class who are independent. This has its benefits because in a democracy people who are dependent and who are participating in government can easily be
In the book Founding Brothers by Joseph Ellis, the author relates the stories of six crucial historic events that manage to capture the flavor and fervor of the revolutionary generation and its great leaders. While each chapter or story can be read separately and completely understood, they do relate to a broader common theme. One of Ellis' main purposes in writing the book was to illustrate the early stages and tribulations of the American government and its system through his use of well blended stories. The idea that a republican government of this nature was completely unprecedented is emphasized through out the book. Ellis discusses the unique problems that the revolutionary generation experienced as a result of governing under the
Though both Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson served as members of President Washington’s cabinet, the two held very different views on the newly founded U.S. government, interpretation of its constitution, and the role of the “masses” in that government. These conflicting views would develop in two political parties, the Federalists led by Hamilton and the Democratic-Republicans led by Jefferson. Although both political parties presented enticing aspects, Hamilton’s views were much more reasonable and fruitful when compared Jefferson’s views; idealistic and too strict in reference to the constitution.
Whose side would you have been on in the 1790s, Thomas Jefferson’s or Alexander Hamilton’s? Both of these men served under George Washington in the first presidential cabinet, yet they had very different views of what government should be (Davis 86). My objective in this research essay is to inform the reader of why there was so much controversy between these two founding fathers, and to determine which side had the better views for our newly forming country.
In the book “A Magnificent Catastrophe” author, Edward J. Larson examines all aspects of the events that occurred during the First Presidential Campaign in the 1800s. Larson discusses the Presidential Election rivalry battle between Thomas Jefferson of the Republicans and John Adams of the Federalists. In 1776 both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were sent to Philadelphia as delegates to the second continental congress, they joined a five-member committee, which drafted a Declaration of Independence for the United States. They later then voted to adopt and sign the document their committee drafted which was the Declaration of Independence. Adams was more active when promoting independence and argued the longest and the most effective, but
The topic of this paper is the argument on what the American government should be based off of either anti federalist ideas of federalist ideas. Hamilton will be one to proclaim that the federalist ideas are the best for he makes the point that without a strong centralized government the government will fall and it cannot stand with no centralized government. On the other hand Patrick Henry would be on the side of the anti-federalist because he believes that the government needs to be separated for if it becomes too strong no one can tell where the government will go with all that power but he is sure that if we give the states more power it would be much safer. The reader should very much care on this topic for in the most part this may very well help you understand what you are a part of and what you should see and know about. This can also show you what the government would be like and how it would act, you will also find what your government is and are doing and what they may do later.
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
Joseph J.Ellis provides an insight of how a nation emerged, with a group of memorable individuals that founded the American Republic. Founding Brothers deals with confrontations and crucial issues that Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Aaron Burr, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and George Washington encountered during an undefined decade where a fragile nation was being formed. With its main and secondary theme that focuses on the struggles the leaders of the Revolutionary Generation dealt with for the success of a Union, Founding Brothers is a marvelous book for historical readers that want an understanding of the political chaos of the early republic.
The United States, in the nineteenth century, had established themselves as independent state, with gaining expansion of land, rights, and freedoms in the western part of the world after succeeding from the British tyrannical rule. However, the United States had been cogitating on whether a federalist view, a strong national government limiting state’s powers, or anti-federalist view, opposing the constitution and pushing for state’s rights, should rule the government of the new independent state. Given the conditions of the early nineteenth century in the United States, Thomas Jefferson, an anti-federalist, had a more valid philosophy of government, than federalist Alexander Hamilton. Thomas Jefferson believed that a weaker national government
By 1817 the great American experiment was in full swing. America was developing into an effective democratic nation. However as the democracy continued to grow, two opposing political parties developed, the Jeffersonian Republicans and the Federalists. The Jeffersonian Republicans believed in strong state governments, a weak central government, and a strict interpretation of the Constitution. The Federalists saw it differently. They opted for a powerful central government with weaker state governments, and a loose interpretation of the Constitution. The seemingly solid divide between Federalist and Republican would begin to blur during the presidencies of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. For, neither Republican president was able lead
Furthermore, “the stability of the new national/federal government was dependent on creation of a particular distance from the direct voice of the citizens” (McDonald 1905, p. 28). The moment they became elected into office, legislators were to be free from any popular pressure. Members of the Federalist Party also believed that the government was safest when controlled by peop¬¬le know as independent, which typically implied individuals of wealth as well as social standing. In the 1780s, members of the Federalist Party believed that state governments posed a threat to the republican government, given that they were indebted to voters who made adjustments in officials and demanded that the government serve local, narrow interests (History 2012, p. 3). The Federalists, in any number of policies, from the organization of the federal courts to the funding of the national debt, anticipated the expansion of the national government’s power, with no regard to the
Following the Revolutionary War, the Federalists and the Jeffersonians would dictate the country’s future through their decisions. After gaining independence from Britain, the United States would need a clear path to endure the future hardships and struggles, and the founding fathers would need to decide where to lead it. The Jeffersonians, the staunch defenders of the everyman and of states’s rights, would battle the Federalists, those who saw the need for a strong national government to stabilize the economy and unify the existing states.
The year was 1796, and the newborn nation of America was rapidly changing and its citizens were quickly dividing. Britain had become a problem in the recent years due to the impressment of American soldiers, excessive amounts of imports destroying the economy, and American exports being heavily taxed and regulated (John Jay's Treaty, 1794-95, n.d.). Foreign affairs were not the only problem contributing to the pot of conflict that was boiling over. At home, the nation was becoming politically divided when two opposing political parties were formed despite the warnings of the now retiring George Washington. It was a time of uncertainty, yet a time of hope as well.
Thomas Jefferson- one of the great American founding fathers with exquisite taste in architecture and French wine, but who also held a controversial set of ideas- fought frequently and strongly against the Federalists ideas before he achieved Presidency. Jefferson and the other republican democrats who followed suit held the belief that the powers of the federal government should be left strictly to what is granted to them in the Constitution. Those powers not specifically addressed in the Constitution would then be delegated to the state governments. This is to ensure that the federal government did not have too much power as they believe a country runs best under a form of self-government. While on the other corner of the ring, the Federalists
The argument between Federalists and Anti-Federalists might seem long gone to American citizens, but still their philosophical foundations shape the teams, scope and size of the battlefield. These philosophies go back to two lone men, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. Both fought aggressively for a government based on their ideas, and both did make portions of the now-standing American government. This essay will outline the political, social and economic philosophies of both men, how their philosophies influenced the government today, and a closing opinion.