Washington Retires
By 1796, Washington had weathered many crises. He had kept the nation out of war and set it on a path of growth. That year, he published his Farewell Address. In it, he announced he would retire. He urged that the United States remain neutral in its relations with other countries.
Washington warned Americans to avoid becoming involved in European affairs. “Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world,” said the retiring President. Such alliances, he felt, would pull the United States into war. That advice guided American foreign policy for many years. Washington further called on Americans to avoid political parties. During his years in office, rival groups had grown up around Hamilton and Jefferson. Americans in different regions had diverse interests. Once Washington left office, those differences began to grow.
Political Parties
When Washington first took office, the country had no political parties. By the time he retired, there were two parties competing for power. Parties grew up (or developed) around two of his advisors: Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. The two men differed in looks and personality as well as in politics. Issues that separated them politically included: foreign relations, the strength of the federal government, interpretation of the Constitution, the future of the economy, and even slavery.
Hamilton was of medium height and slender. He dressed in fine clothes and spoke forcefully. Energetic, brilliant, and restless, Hamilton enjoyed political debate. Hamilton was an early promoter of industrial capitalism and progressive on ideas of race and slavery.
Jefferson was tall (about 6’ 2”) and a bit gawky with fiery red hair. Although he was a wealthy Virginia planter, he dressed and spoke informally.
Hamilton and Jefferson did not agree on many issues. At the root of their quarrels were different views about what was best for the country.
Hamilton thought the United States should model itself on Britain. He wanted the government to encourage trade and manufacturing. He also favored the growth of cities.
Jefferson believed that farmers were the backbone of the new nation. “Cultivators of the earth,” he wrote, “are the most valuable citizens.” He feared that a manufacturing economy would corrupt the United States.
Hamilton and Jefferson disagreed about the power of federal government. Hamilton wanted the federal government to have more power than state governments. Jefferson thought the opposite. He feared that the federal government might take over powers that the Constitution gave to the states.
The two leaders also clashed over the interpretation of the Constitution. Jefferson interpreted the constitution very strictly, while Hamilton interpreted the Constitution more loosely.
Finally, the two had different ideas about foreign policy. Hamilton wanted to form close ties with Britain, an important trading partner. Jefferson favored France, the first ally of the United States and a nation struggling for its own liberty.
They Both Resign
Jefferson clashed badly – initially on ideological grounds, later on most everything – with Washington and Hamilton. Before the President’s first term had ended, Jefferson had tried to resign. In early 1792, he tried to quit, but was convinced by Washington to do otherwise. In October of that same year, he again met with the President, and was less subtle in his “Hamiltonian” disfavor. Jefferson told Washington that Hamilton had told him the “Constitution was a shilly-shally thing of mere milk and water, which could not last and was only good as a step to something better.” The President had heard enough. Pinning the Secretary of State with his own words, he responded sharply that “as to the idea of transforming this government into a monarchy, he did not believe there were ten men in the United States whose opinions were worth attention who entertained such a thought.” Ouch!! Jefferson’s take-away was that Washington was now too old and weak to think and act for himself. He again announced his intention to resign in March of 1793, when Washington’s term ended. He ended up staying on into Washington’s second term but finally resigned to focus on his presidential campaign.
Under personal financial pressure, his office paying only $3500 a year, and publicly being outed for having an affair with a married woman and paying “hush” money to her husband to cover it up, Hamilton resigned in 1795 and joined the New York bar. He kept in close contact with President Washington, however, and continued to give financial advice to his successor, Oliver Wolcott.
Party Rivalry
Soon, people began to side with either Hamilton or Jefferson. Jefferson’s supporters called themselves Democratic Republicans. They often shortened the name to Republicans. Republicans included small farmers, craftsworkers, and some wealthy planters.
Hamilton and his supporters were called Federalists because they wanted a strong federal government. Federalists drew support form merchants and manufacturers in cities such as Boston and New York as well as from some southern planters.
Political parties played an important part in choosing George Washington’s successor. In 1796, Republicans backed Thomas Jefferson for President and Aaron Burr for Vice President. Federalists supported John Adams for President and Thomas Pinckney for Vice President.
The election had an unexpected and unique outcome, which created new tensions. Under the Constitution, the person with the most electoral votes became President. The person with the next highest total was made Vice President. John Adams, a Federalist, won office as President. The leader of the Republicans, Thomas Jefferson, came in second and became Vice President.
With the President and Vice President from different parties, political tensions remained high. Events would fuel the distrust between the two men. Meanwhile, Adams took office in March 1797 as the second President of the United States.
By 1796, Washington had weathered many crises. He had kept the nation out of war and set it on a path of growth. That year, he published his Farewell Address. In it, he announced he would retire. He urged that the United States remain neutral in its relations with other countries.
Washington warned Americans to avoid becoming involved in European affairs. “Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world,” said the retiring President. Such alliances, he felt, would pull the United States into war. That advice guided American foreign policy for many years. Washington further called on Americans to avoid political parties. During his years in office, rival groups had grown up around Hamilton and Jefferson. Americans in different regions had diverse interests. Once Washington left office, those differences began to grow.
Political Parties
When Washington first took office, the country had no political parties. By the time he retired, there were two parties competing for power. Parties grew up (or developed) around two of his advisors: Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. The two men differed in looks and personality as well as in politics. Issues that separated them politically included: foreign relations, the strength of the federal government, interpretation of the Constitution, the future of the economy, and even slavery.
Hamilton was of medium height and slender. He dressed in fine clothes and spoke forcefully. Energetic, brilliant, and restless, Hamilton enjoyed political debate. Hamilton was an early promoter of industrial capitalism and progressive on ideas of race and slavery.
Jefferson was tall (about 6’ 2”) and a bit gawky with fiery red hair. Although he was a wealthy Virginia planter, he dressed and spoke informally.
Hamilton and Jefferson did not agree on many issues. At the root of their quarrels were different views about what was best for the country.
Hamilton thought the United States should model itself on Britain. He wanted the government to encourage trade and manufacturing. He also favored the growth of cities.
Jefferson believed that farmers were the backbone of the new nation. “Cultivators of the earth,” he wrote, “are the most valuable citizens.” He feared that a manufacturing economy would corrupt the United States.
Hamilton and Jefferson disagreed about the power of federal government. Hamilton wanted the federal government to have more power than state governments. Jefferson thought the opposite. He feared that the federal government might take over powers that the Constitution gave to the states.
The two leaders also clashed over the interpretation of the Constitution. Jefferson interpreted the constitution very strictly, while Hamilton interpreted the Constitution more loosely.
Finally, the two had different ideas about foreign policy. Hamilton wanted to form close ties with Britain, an important trading partner. Jefferson favored France, the first ally of the United States and a nation struggling for its own liberty.
They Both Resign
Jefferson clashed badly – initially on ideological grounds, later on most everything – with Washington and Hamilton. Before the President’s first term had ended, Jefferson had tried to resign. In early 1792, he tried to quit, but was convinced by Washington to do otherwise. In October of that same year, he again met with the President, and was less subtle in his “Hamiltonian” disfavor. Jefferson told Washington that Hamilton had told him the “Constitution was a shilly-shally thing of mere milk and water, which could not last and was only good as a step to something better.” The President had heard enough. Pinning the Secretary of State with his own words, he responded sharply that “as to the idea of transforming this government into a monarchy, he did not believe there were ten men in the United States whose opinions were worth attention who entertained such a thought.” Ouch!! Jefferson’s take-away was that Washington was now too old and weak to think and act for himself. He again announced his intention to resign in March of 1793, when Washington’s term ended. He ended up staying on into Washington’s second term but finally resigned to focus on his presidential campaign.
Under personal financial pressure, his office paying only $3500 a year, and publicly being outed for having an affair with a married woman and paying “hush” money to her husband to cover it up, Hamilton resigned in 1795 and joined the New York bar. He kept in close contact with President Washington, however, and continued to give financial advice to his successor, Oliver Wolcott.
Party Rivalry
Soon, people began to side with either Hamilton or Jefferson. Jefferson’s supporters called themselves Democratic Republicans. They often shortened the name to Republicans. Republicans included small farmers, craftsworkers, and some wealthy planters.
Hamilton and his supporters were called Federalists because they wanted a strong federal government. Federalists drew support form merchants and manufacturers in cities such as Boston and New York as well as from some southern planters.
Political parties played an important part in choosing George Washington’s successor. In 1796, Republicans backed Thomas Jefferson for President and Aaron Burr for Vice President. Federalists supported John Adams for President and Thomas Pinckney for Vice President.
The election had an unexpected and unique outcome, which created new tensions. Under the Constitution, the person with the most electoral votes became President. The person with the next highest total was made Vice President. John Adams, a Federalist, won office as President. The leader of the Republicans, Thomas Jefferson, came in second and became Vice President.
With the President and Vice President from different parties, political tensions remained high. Events would fuel the distrust between the two men. Meanwhile, Adams took office in March 1797 as the second President of the United States.