By the mid-1790s, polarization over Hamilton’s economic program, the French Revolution, Haiti, and most crucially the Jay Treaty had led to two distinct and consistent rival political groups: Federalists and Republicans. Federalist leaders supported Britain in foreign policy and commercial interests at home, while Republicans rooted for liberty in France and worried about monarchical Federalists at home. The labels did not yet describe full-fledged political parties; such division was still thought to be a sign of failure of the experiment in government. Yet newspapers increasingly backed one group or the other; party lines were being drawn. Washington’s decision not to seek a third term led to serious partisan electioneering in the presidential and congressional elections of 1796. Federalist John Adams won the presidency, but party strife accelerated over failed diplomacy in France, bringing the country to the brink of war. Pro-war and antiwar antagonism created a major crisis over political free speech, militarism, and fears of sedition and treason.