PEOPLE

George Washington

. Virginia planter, first president of the United States

. General, led American army during Revolutionary War

. Established democratic norms for American presidency

John Adams

. Second president of the United States, leader of Federalist Party

. President during XYZ Affair, Jay Treaty, Alien and Sedition Acts

. Not very popular as president, but history has been kinder to him

Alexander Hamilton

. Strongest leader of Federalist Party, first Secretary of the Treasury

. Brilliant political theorist, believed in using strong federal government to promote economic development

. Funded national debt to guarantee support for new national government

. Killed in duel with Republican rival Aaron Burr, 1804

John Jay

. First Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court

. Co-author (with Hamilton and Madison) of Federalist Papers

. Negotiated Jay Treaty with Britain, 1795

Thomas Jefferson

. Virginia planter, third president of the United States

. Drafted text of Declaration of Independence

. Leader of Republican Party, opposed to Federalists

EVENTS

1789 George Washington's Election

. Revolutionary War hero won unanimous support from Electoral College in first presidential election

. John Adams elected his Vice President

. Re-elected to a second term, 1792; voluntarily chose to leave office, 1796

1795 Jay Treaty

. John Jay negotiated treaty between U.S. and Britain

. U.S. received access to West Indian ports, compensation for illegally seized American ships

. In return, U.S. promised to repay debts owed to British dating back to Revolutionary War

. Treaty infuriated Republicans, who saw it as too deferential to British

1798 XYZ Affair

. American envoys sent to Paris to repair relations with France were instead met with demands for bribes from French officials

. Led to outrage in U.S., where many called for war with France

. X, Y, Z were pseudonyms for French officials involved

1798 Alien and Sedition Acts

. Federalists in congress passed laws targeting foreigners and restricting civil liberties during time of tension with France

. Naturalization Act extended residency requirement for citizenship from 5 to 14 years (because new citizens would likely vote Republican)

. Alien Friends Act allowed president to deport any non-citizen deemed dangerous to public safety

. Sedition Act criminalized saying or printing anything "false, scandalous, and malicious" against U.S. government

. Negative reaction from Republicans and public led to Federalists' defeat in election of 1800

1800 Thomas Jefferson's Election

. First peaceful transfer of power from one party to another under American democratic system

. Ended Federalist Era; Republicans began period of dominance that lasted decades

GROUPS

Federalists

. Believed in strong central government, strong executive, encouragement of economic development

. Strongest in North (New York, Massachusetts)

. Leaders included Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, John Jay

. George Washington was a Federalist, but treated presidency largely as nonpartisan office

Republicans

. Believed in small, weak central government, low taxes, agrarian economy

. Feared tyranny of centralized power

. Strongest in South and West (Virginia especially)

. Leaders included Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Aaron Burr

CONCEPTS

Republicanism

. Ideology of government in which authority derives from consent of the people

. Success of system depended on virtue of its citizens

. Republican citizens were property-owners willing to subordinate their own interests to that of the community as a whole

Partisanship

. Not foreseen as part of political process by framers of U.S. Constitution

. Arose almost immediately after formation of federal government, as Republicans opposed Federalists

. Feared by Washington; he thought it would divide population and cause people to ignore common interests

PLACES

New York City

. Original seat of federal government, 1789-90

Philadelphia

. Site of Constitutional Convention, 1787

. Seat of federal government from 1790 to 1800

Washington, D.C.

. New city built out of swampland along Potomac River to serve as seat of federal government after 1800