George Washington's Two Political Parties

After the creation of the United States Constitution, George Washington was elected as the first president. During Washington’s two terms, two political parties emerged: the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans. In determining the catalyst for these parties surfacing, it is important to look at the viewpoints each group held in areas including the economy, politics, and foreign affairs. Political parties rose in the 1790s as contrasting opinions on economic plans and foreign affairs ultimately led to opposing political perspectives.

The original goal of leaders, such as George Washington, of the United States was to establish a strong government. This newly created country attempted to have its own identity, and disagreements were developing.

Hamilton and the Federalist party sided with the British; this was quite frowned upon by Jefferson and his party. For example, he implied in a memo that Hamilton was not only a monarchist, but supported Britain, a monarchy based upon corruption (Document 1). Jefferson’s point of view in this memo is entirely anti-British, and anti-Hamilton. He is attempting to tell the people reading it that Hamilton could be corrupt. On the other hand, Hamilton did not agree with Jefferson, Madison, and the Democratic-Republicans siding with the French. For instance, Alexander Hamilton suggests in a letter that these men are untrustworthy and dangerous due to their bond to France and hatred toward Great Britain (Document 2). The implication of Jay’s Treaty with the British furthered the disagreements over foreign relations. As previously stated, Democratic-Republicans were pro-French, while Federalists were pro-British; this caused obvious problems over Jay’s Treaty. For example, the Democratic-Republicans feared this negotiation would sell out their country and force southern planters to pay for a majority of pre-revolutionary debts. On the flip side, Federalists were in support of a stronger alliance with Britain and would earn benefits from it; Federalist shippers were being repaid for the damages left during British seizures

Although Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton did not necessarily get along and the citizens of the United States were splitting to support the different leaders, it did not cause the emergence of the parties. The social tensions and differences, rather than a cause, was more of an effect. Jefferson and Hamilton’s disagreements on the subjects of economics, politics, and foreign affairs were major divisions, leaving social tensions in the aftermath. The emergence of political parties during the 1790s in the United States can be compared to the emergence of the Whigs and Tories in England during the 1700s and 1800s. Both pairs of opposing political parties emerged over disagreements. Whigs, like the Democratic-Republicans, supported the rights and power of the people. Tories, like the Federalists, supported a strong monarchy/government (UK