How did partisan rivalries shape the politics of the late 1790s?

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BY THE MID-1790s, polarization over the French Revolution, Haiti, the Jay Treaty, and Hamilton’s economic plans 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. 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.

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Figure false: Cartoon of the Lyon-Griswold Fight in Congress
Figure false: Political tensions ran high in 1798. On the floor of Congress, Federalist Roger Griswold called Republican Matthew Lyon a coward. Lyon responded with some well-aimed spit, the first departure from the gentleman’s code of honor. Griswold raised his cane to strike Lyon, whereupon Lyon grabbed fire tongs to defend himself. James Madison later commented that the two should have dueled, the honorable way to avenge insults. Library of Congress.

CHRONOLOGY

1796

  • – John Adams is elected president.

1797

  • – XYZ affair.

1798

  • – Quasi-War with France erupts.
  • – Alien and Sedition Acts.
  • – Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions.

1800

  • – Thomas Jefferson is elected president.

Federalists

image Originally the term for the supporters of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1787–1788. In the 1790s, it became the name for one of the two dominant political groups that emerged during that decade. Federalist leaders of the 1790s supported Britain in foreign policy and commercial interests at home. Prominent Federalists included George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and John Adams.

Republicans

image One of the two dominant political groups that emerged in the 1790s. Republicans supported the revolutionaries in France and worried about monarchical Federalists at home. Prominent Republicans included Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.