Foreign Policy Stances Of Federalists And Republicans example essay topic

At the end of the Revolutionary Era there was a common fear of factionalism and the possible tyranny of the majority in the United States. In fact, the new Constitution was designed to minimize the effects of factionalism -- it was believed that a large republic would balance the interests of factionalism. However, policy disputes were inevitable, and political alliances formed around these disputes. Was the first-American party system the inevitable if not necessary result of policy disputes? By examining the Federalist and Republican stances on domestic policy, foreign policy and how those parties worked, insight is gained into how and why the party system developed and how it evolved over time.

By examining the Federalist and Republican stances towards domestic policy, it appears that the party system arose because of and out of policy disputes. In the early 1790's political cohesion backed the incumbent Washington Administration. Yet in 1790-1791 opposition fomented in response to the activist role of government in the economy as advocated in the Hamiltonian Finance system. In 1790, Congress asked Hamilton, then Secretary of the Treasury, to analyze the national financial situation. In his "First Report on Public Credit", Hamilton proposed the assumption of state debts. This policy would expand the financial powers of the federal government.

Opposition to this policy tended to come from southern states and states that had paid off most of their wartime debts. The opposition gathered around James Madison, and advocated states rights in opposition to the burden of paying off the debts of other states. In his "Second Report on Public Credit", Hamilton advocated the creation of a National Bank. The opposition criticized this proposal as unconstitutional, as the right to create such an institution was not a power delegated to the federal government. This view as advocated by Thomas Jefferson, is the strict-constructionist view of the necessary and proper clause of the Constitution.

Alexander Hamilton, in his "Defense of the National Bank" supported the broad-constructionist view of the Constitution, interpreting the Constitution as justifying a constitutional means to a constitutional end. Jefferson, Madison, and their allies soon charged the Hamiltonian's of trying to subvert the republic for monied interests and to legitimate their opposition referred to themselves as Republicans. Hamilton in turn criticized the Republicans for attempting to subvert the republic and for legitimacy, linked his party to the Constitution by naming it the Federalist party. By examining domestic policy in the 1790's, it appears that the first party system was a result of policy disputes By examining the foreign policy stances of Federalists and Republicans, it becomes clear that the first party system resulted from policy disputes. In 1789, the outbreak of the French Revolution initiated hostilities between America's war-time ally and her most important trading partner: France and Great Britain respectively. In 1793 the French declared war on Britain and Spain.

In that same year, George Washington issued the Neutrality Proclamation, ignoring any obligations to France carried over from the 1778 Treaty of Alliance. Republican interests tended to support France and Federalist commercial interests supported England. In 1793, French Citizen Edmond Genet landed in America and began to enlist sailors for attacks on British and Spanish possessions in the Western Hemisphere. This action fostered anti-French sentiment, and in 1794, John Jay was sent to England for negotiations. The Jay Treaty favored England in foreign relations, and its ratification illustrates party cohesion formed around policy disputes. During the ratification of the treaty, a sturdy majority of Federalists voted for and a strong majority of Republicans voted against the Jay Treaty.

This is clearly illustrative of the formation of party voting blocs. Non-party affiliation also decreased from 42% unaffiliated in 1790 to 7% unaffiliated in Congress in 1796. By examining foreign policy in the early republic, it is clear that the first party system resulted from policy disputes. By examining the evolution of the first party system, it appears that the defining factor in the struggle was policy disputes.

During the 1790's, opposition to government policies was seen as illegitimate. In 1796, the election pitted the Federalist John Adams against the Republican Jefferson. Adams won the election and entered office unaware of party developments. Jefferson was elected vice president as party-ticket-voting was not yet the decisive factor.

In 1798, the XYZ Affair renewed tensions with France as three French agents were reported to have demanded a bribe for negotiations to ensue between the U.S. and France. Anti-French sentiments spread throughout the nation with this scandal, which operated against the Republican party. In 1798, the Alien and Sedition Acts were passed by Congress in a Federalist attempt to capitalize on growing anti-French sympathies. Jefferson and Madison went to the states as a forum of opposition to these acts. In the fall of 1798 Jefferson and Madison drafted the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions respectively. These resolutions were adopted by the state legislatures and pronounced the acts null and void.

This legitimate state opposition brought legitimacy to the Republican party. In the election of 1800, Thomas Jefferson took office as the new president. From this point until 1815, the Republicans took control of the national government. After the war of 1812, a new nationalism blurred regional policy stances and effectively eroded the first party system. By examining the evolution of the first party system, it becomes clear that it was the result of policy disputes.

The parties held: ftmdamental differences in their views of government, as Federalist wanted an active government and Republicans wanted a passive government. They also had regional ties to their stances in policy disputes, as can be seen in the North's support of England in her war with France. It took a vital nationalism to blur regional political ties and their implications in policy disputes.