The Origin of American Political Parties

Constitutional Crisis and Political Parties

• Concentrating power in the federal government
• This will allow the government to protect citizens, pay off debt and maintain general order

• Sharing power with the state and local governments; limited national government
• This will prevent an oppressive government from emerging

• Fear of mob rule
• The masses of people are ignorant and driven by their emotions. The cool and rational government must control them.

• Fear of absolute power or ruler
• Democracy will prevent a power-hungry king or group of wealthy people from taking over the government

• Republic led by a well-educated elite
• The elite are the most educated and respected people. They have the most to gain and lose from the government.

• Democracy of virtuous farmers and tradespeople.
• The common man knows the real value of hard work. They are not corrupted by power.

• Loose interpretation of the Constitution
• The “elastic clause” of the Constitution gives Congress the power to take actions deemed necessary and proper to do its job

• Strict interpretation of the Constitution
• The government only has those powers specifically given to it by the Constitution.

• National Bank is constitutional (loose interpretation)
• The government needs a bank to create a currency (money); and lend and borrow money.

• National bank unconstitutional (strict interpretation)
• Nowhere in the Constitution does it say that the government can create a national bank.

• Economy based on shipping and manufacturing
• These are the industries of the future

• Economy based on farming
• This is a good and respectable way to make a living

• Payment of national and state debts (favoring creditors)
• This will restablish trust in the economy; people need to know our governments can pay their bills.

• Payment of only the national debt (favoring debtors)
• Hamilton’s plan favors the creditors; Parts of the South had already payed its debts.

• Supporters: merchants, manufacturers, landowners, investors, lawyers and clergy

• Supporters: the “plain people” (farmers and tradespeople)

Constitutional Crisis and Political Parties

1)Write a description of the event under the party responsible for doing it. 2)Write how the second party reacted.

3)Explain how this event was a constitutional crisis (how did it threaten the Constitution)?

• Govt tax on whiskey
• Whiskey makers don’t pay/rebel
• Govt sends troops to stop the rebellion

• Oppose: govt used too much power

• Const. says the govt can tax
• If people refuse, that is a challenge to the govt

• Federalists create a bank because it “necessary and proper” to run the country

• Oppose: the Const. does not say you can create a bank

• Depending on the interpretation, this is either allowed or not allowed by the Constitution

• Oppose: Federalists denounce these laws; some say the military should be sent in to enforce them

• Thomas Jefferson and James Madison design state laws that nullify (cancel) federal laws

• Virginia and Kentucky sign laws challenging the govt. authority over them

• Thomas Jefferson wins the most votes; John Adams (a federalist) almost takes 2nd place

• Constitution says 1st in votes is President, 2nd in votes is Vice President.
• This would force political enemies to have to work together (dysfunctional government)

• Oppose: Federalists call Jefferson a hypocrite

• Thomas Jefferson buys a huge piece of land from the French even though the Constitution doesn’t give him that power

• Depending on the interpretation, this either allowed or not allowed by the Constitution

Prompt: Describe at least two events that challenged the Constitution its first years of existenceand how these events deepened the division between the two main American political parties.