Chapter-4: Federalists: Jeffersonianism: Jacksonianism, Rise of political parties- 1840 – 1960; judiciary role of the

Supreme Court

I. Federalists: Jeffersonianism: Jacksonianism,

Federalist vs. Anti Federalist Federalist Federalist

i. Strong Federation
ii. Representation according to
Population
iii. No need of Bill of Rights
iv. Wanted to Ratify the Constitution
v. Property and land should be
managed by aristocrats

Anti Federalist
i. Strong States
ii. Equal Representation
iii. In favor of Bill of Rights
iv. Opposed Constitution because
wanted more powers for state
v. Equal distribution of wealth

Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809)

Jefferson was born on 13th April, 1743 grew up in Virginia and was raised with the orphaned children. He
studied law with George Wythe, the first American law professor. He was
admitted to the bar in 1767. Jefferson served in the House of Burgesses (1769-74). He argued
against Britain's actions and was part of the Committee of Correspondence.
He was a member of the Continental Congress (1775-6) and then became a member of the Virginia House of
Delegates (1776-9). As a member of the second Continental Congress (1783-4), he wrote the Declaration of
Independence. He was sent to France as a minister after the war (1785-89). He considered his presidency as
the 2nd American Revolution.

“My Presidency is the 2nd American Revolution”

“Thomas Jefferson”

I. The Louisiana Purchase: Napoleon Bonaparte, who came to power in France in 1799, dreamed of
reestablishing the French empire in North America. In the following year, he negotiated a secret treaty, the
Treaty of San Ildefonso, with Spanish King Charles IV, which returned the Louisiana Territory to France
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In 1803, Jefferson sent James Monroe to join Robert Livingston, the American minister in Paris, to
negotiate the purchase of New Orleans and West Florida.
II. Bidding of Louisiana
By this time, Napoleon had given up his plans for a colonial empire. Two American representatives were
therefore surprised to find the French government willing to sell all of Louisiana, 280,000 square miles
between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains for a paltry $15 million. Jefferson was unsure
whether the United States could legally buy the Louisiana territory because the Constitution said nothing
about purchasing land. He considered proposing a constitutional amendment but dropped the idea because it
might take too much time, and the opportunity could vanish. The bargain was too good to pass up. Jefferson
approved the purchase, the Senate ratified it, and the United States abruptly doubled in size.
1. Judicial Impeachment
John Marshall was the chief justice of the Supreme Court and a strong rival of Thomas Jefferson. Therefore
the relation between executive and judiciary remained tense in those days. Jefferson tried to appoint his
party men to the courts but he was heavily criticized for this act. Whereas John Marshall managed to secures
the independence of the federal judiciary through brilliant legal arguments and skilled political
manoeuvring.
2. Albert Galton and Federal Budget
Jefferson was of the view that the federal budget should be understandable to the common men also.
Therefore he appointed Albert Galton and gave him the task of making federal budget understandable even
to the common man. So that their feedbacks and suggestion could help improving the budget further.
3. Immigration Policy
The immigration policy before his presidency was quite strict and the immigration was granted to the one
who at least had spent 14 years in America. He reduced the time period of 14 years to 5 years for acquiring
the US citizenship.
4. Laissez Fair Economy
Laissez Fair Economy is an economic environment in which transactions between private parties are free
from tariffs, government subsidies, and enforced monopolies, with only enough government regulations
sufficient to protect property rights against theft and aggression. Jefferson was of the view that there should
be very little involvement of government in private economy.
5. Religious Tolerance
Though he himself was an atheist but he was very much tolerant of other religions and passes a bill in 1777
which promoted religious freedom for the state of Virginia (which was before his presidency).
6. Autonomy to States
Since he was an Anti-Federalist and his main priority was to make state stronger. Therefore he provided full
autonomy to the states.
7. Slavery Issue
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Jefferson use to consider slavery as an evil institution and believed in equality of man. But no proper
measures were taken during his presidency for the eradication of slavery. Since he was a landlord and even
he himself had 127 slaves, for which he was often criticized.
8. Belief and importance to common man
He considered government as an instrument for the promotion of common men. He was of the view that the
common man should be given a chance to enter politics and run government.
“Thomas Jefferson was the most brilliant man ever occupied the American Presidency”
“John F. Kennedy”

II. Andrew Jackson (1829-1837)

The era of emergence of popular politics in 1820‘s and the presidency of Andrew Jackson (1829-1837) is
often called as the Age of Common Man, or the Era of Jacksonian
Democracy.
Andrew Jackson was born to a Scottish family on the border of South and North Carolina on 15th March,
1768. He was a son of Saddle maker and was groomed in extreme poor condition. He became orphan at the
age of 14 years and tasted all the hardships in his life during his childhood.
Jackson was a brilliant student of Law. He was very much enthusiastic to be military men and served the
military from 1813 to 1400. He was made Major General after defeating Greeks and he also defeated British
in the battle of New Orland. In 1828 he became the president of America defeating John Quincy Adams. He
was described as ―Old Hickory‖.
1. Rise of Democratic Society
The peoples who travelled from Europe to America (like Alexis de Tocqueville, French Aristocrat) were
amazed to see the informal and democratic attitude of Americans. As the rich and poor use to dress in the
same manner, they normally travel in the same busses and trains and sits on the same tables in hotels. The
principle of equality among the white men in America were widespread belief.
2. Politics of Common Man
In 1830‘s and 1840‘s the politics of America moved out from the fine homes of rich aristocrats to the lower
and middles class society. This was the time when these classes were given the right to vote and the number
of votes for president increase from 350,000 in 1824 to 2.4millions in 1840.
3. Universal male suffrage
All the white men in America were given the right to vote regardless of their class or religion. This increased
the voting ration in America from 37% to 57.6%. The political offices now could also be held by the lower
and middle ranks of the society.
4. Party Nomination Convention: In past days, a nomination for appointment of a candidate to an office
was made by the caucus. The common peoples had no opportunity to participate. In 1830‘s the caucuses

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were replaced by nominating convention. The politicians and voters would gather in a large all to nominate
the party candidate.
5. Maximum Use of Veto Power
Andrew Jackson used the veto power more than any other Americans president in the history. He was the
President who enjoyed all the powers of being the president.
6. Rise of Political Parties
Andrew Jackson realized the importance of political parties. There were only two parties by that time, the
democrats and the Whigs. Jackson allows many other parties during his time. Anti-Masonic and
Workingmen Party emerged during his tenure and the common man got a chance to be involved in politics.
7. More Elected offices
During the Jacksonian era much larger number of states and local officials were elected, rather than
appointed, as in the past. This increased the interest of voters to participate in elections.
8. Popular Campaigning
Candidates for offices directed their election campaign to the interest of the common people. Politics also
became a form of local entertainment. Campaigns of 1830‘s and 1840 have featured marching bands and
large rallies in which voters were treated with free drinks and food.
9. Spoilt System
Winning government jobs became lifeblood of political parties. Jackson believed in appointing peoples to
federal post strictly according to whether they have campaigned for Democratic Party. Jackson believed in
system of rotation in office to make maximum number of democrats to hold office. Spoil system was
criticized as it promoted government corruption.
10. Kitchen Cabinet
Kitchen Cabinet is normally the consultative and advisory body of the president, but Andrew Jackson started
the practice of consulting the informal group of advisers mostly his friends including Major Lewis, Isaac
Hill and General Duff.
11. Peggy Eaton Affair
The champion of common men also went to the wellbeing of common women at least in the case of Peggy
Eaton. She was the wife of Jackson Secretary of war. She by that time was the target of malicious gossips by
the other women who avoided inviting her to them private parties. When Jackson insisted to invite Peggy
Eaton socially most of his cabinet including Vice President: John Calhoun resigned.
12. Indian Removal Act 1830
Jackson concept of democracy did not extents to the natives Americans. He was of the view that the natives
should leave their tradition and customs and resettle west of Mississippi. In the presidency of eight years
Jackson had 94 treaties with the Red Indian and ultimately used military to drive them out across the
Mississippi. The hardship on the ―trails of tears‖ was so great that 4000 Cherokees died on the tragic
westward trek.
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13. Re-chartering of Bank of USA
Jackson was of the view that central bank is abusing its powers and is serving the interestof wealthy peoples.
His suspicion increases to the arrogant personality of Nicholas Biddle the President of Bank. Henry Clay
opposition member was in support of Bank and challenged Jackson on bank issue by persuading majority in
congress on bank re-charter bill. Jackson vetoed the bill and overhauled the banking system in America.
14. Foreign Policy
He managed a balanced and friendly foreign policy with friendly relations with France, Britain and other
Europeans Countries maintaining better trade relations and cordial policies in political, economic and social
relations. He settled the claims of France in North America which was pending since 1815.
III. Rise of political parties from 1840 to 1960

Nothing in the United States Constitution calls for American government to create political parties. Political
parties emerged through the rancorous debate over the shaping of the United States Constitution and the
subsequent issues that followed based on interpretation of the Constitution.
In the Summer of 1787 during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, two factions emerged.
Federalists wanted to see a strong national government in which state governments were subordinate to the
national government; members of this faction in 1787 included Alexander Hamilton and James Madison.
Opposing the Federalists were the Anti-Federalists, who wanted a new government in which state
governments superseded the national government. In many ways this debate echoes down to modern times.
Leaders of the Anti-Federalists included Virginians Patrick Henry, who said regarding the Constitutional
Convention, “I smell a rat in Philadelphia,” and George Mason who had authored the Virginia Declaration
of Rights.
The term "party" was not frequently used. The term used at the time was “factions,” which James Madison
addressed in his Federalist #51. Interestingly, no one at the time wanted to be identified as a member of a
faction. Factions were considered divisive and not in line with the idea of political leaders or rulers being
men of virtue. During the early Republican period, Americans considered a virtuous leader who put aside
self-interest in the cause of the common good as paramount to national success. George Washington best
exemplified the virtuous leader in this period, and he was beloved in the original thirteen states, giving him
great great prestige and influence.
After the Constitutional Convention ended in September 1787, delegates returned to their states, and each
state needed to hold a Ratification Convention to ratify or endorse the new Constitution. Once nine of the
thirteen states ratified the Constitution, it would become the law of the land. Ratification was not
guaranteed, and both sides geared up for a fight. Anti-Federalists argued they could not support the
Constitution without a Bill of Rights to protect the people against government oppression. Federalists
countered by saying the first order of the new government would be to write a Bill of Rights. Anti-

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Federalists, many of whom were lawyers, argued that one does not sign a document until all the parts are
complete.
Certain states had to ratify the Constitution, particularly the influential states: Virginia, Pennsylvania,
Massachusetts, and New York. To bolster their argument for a strong national government and to sway
voters in the critical state of New York, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, writing under
the pseudonym, Publius, drafted 85 essays to appear in New York newspapers explaining how the
Constitution worked. Collectively these essays are called The Federalist Papers. These writings helped
to convince New York and other states that were holding equally contentious ratification conventions to
ratify the Constitution. When New Hampshire became the ninth state on June 21, 1788 to ratify, the
Constitution became binding.
The election of the first president occurred in 1789, and George Washington was unanimously chosen.
During Washington’s administration, political parties formed and organized over differing views of how the
Constitution was to be interpreted and the legacy of the American Revolution. The two leaders of the first
political parties were Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, and Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of
State. Hamilton and his followers—mostly merchants, bankers and men who shared a mercantile view of
America—were called Federalists. Those who followed Jefferson—mostly farmers, people from the South
and those settling lands to the west—were known as Democratic-Republicans. At the time, Jefferson and his
followers were referred to as Republicans, but in the 1830s, the party started calling itself simply the
Democrats. (The new Republican party formed in 1854.)
Since being considered a member of a political party was initially seen negatively, people referred to one
another as either "Friends of Mr. Hamilton" or "Friends of Mr. Jefferson." For Hamilton, the Constitution
could be stretched, based on Article I, Section 8, the Necessary and Proper Clause, and supported a loose
constructionist interpretation of the Constitution. Jefferson viewed the Constitution in more narrow terms,
arguing that the government could only do what it was specifically tasked to do under the tenants of the
Constitution and making Jefferson a strict constructionist of the plan of government. Jefferson famously
wrote, “That government which governs the least, governs the best.”
Hamilton’s desire to create a National Bank to give the government financial stability and legs became the
issue that prompted the formation of the political parties.. Hamilton argued that the Constitution gave the
government the right to create a National Bank. Jefferson thought otherwise. Caught in the middle of the
acrimony was the President, who viewed the younger Hamilton and Jefferson as sons he never had.
Hamilton’s views swayed over Washington who supported the bank and other Hamiltonian initiatives,
holding a more national view of the United States. In this atmosphere, Jefferson grew increasingly frustrated
and began a covert newspaper campaign to besmirch Hamilton. Jefferson, aided by James Madison, who had
shifted his view point from nationalist to supporting states’ rights, hired poet Philip Freneau to edit a
newspaper, The National Gazette and attack Hamilton and his followers in the publication.

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The Hamiltonians responded by hiring editor John Fenno to create The Gazette of the United States to attack
the Jeffersonians. The attacks in both papers were biting, sarcastic, and vicious. President Washington
lamented, “A spirit of party has descended upon the nation.”
In the area of foreign policy, Hamiltonians and Jeffersonians also split. Hamilton encouraged support for
Great Britain during its numerous European wars with France. Jefferson, an ardent supporter of France, was
nearly apoplectic since he believed America owed its independence to France and should uphold their
alliance from during the Revolutionary War. In 1793, Hamilton convinced Washington to issue a
Proclamation of Neutrality and avoid entanglement with the warring European powers. In frustration and
anger, Jefferson submitted his resignation as Secretary of State. He felt that Hamilton had control of
Washington, and that the president had become an ardent nationalist. Once outside of the administration,
Jefferson continued to fuel the fire of partisan politics and even got personal. In a letter to the Italian
statesman and supporter of Republican government Philip Mazzei, Jefferson wrote, “Men who were
Sampson’s in the field and Solomon’s in the Council have had their heads shorn by the harlot of England.”
The letter was leaked to Washington who was not only angry, but hurt. Communications between
Washington and Jefferson ceased.
In 1796, Washington decided not to seek a third term. Before leaving office, George Washington delivered
his “Farewell Address” which appeared in The Daily American Advertiser. Washington warned Americans
about placing the interests of political parties ahead of national interest and the common good.
Over the next decades, the Federalist Party and the Democratic-Republican Party continued to dispute over
domestic and foreign policies. The Federalist Party's power declined, and the Whig Party rose to prominence
in the early 19th Century. Political parties changed, morphed, disbanded, and re-platformed over time,
continuing to debate interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, the future of the country, and the meaning of
liberty and civil rights. More than 200 years later, similar debates continue across the nation and in the
capitol, Washington DC.