The Death of the Federalist Party E-Book

Richard Seltzer

• Herausgeber: Seltzer Books
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Seitenzahl: 30

Beschreibung

In 1799, the Federalist Party was at the height of its power. It controlled both houses of Congress, had the unanimous support of the Supreme Court, and had never lost a presidential election. According to President Theodore Roosevelt in his book Gouverneur Morris, in that year: "Four-fifths of the talent, ability, and good sense of the country were to be found in the Federalist ranks; for the Federalists had held their own so far, by sheer force of courage and intellectual vigor over foes in reality more numerous." In describing the condition of this party just six years later, Morton Borden says: "In a few short years, the Federalists had become the party of the past, an antiquated and dying political faith. Their numbers lessened, their opposition futile, without powerful leaders or a positive program, the national structure of the Federalist Party crumbled and only sectional factions remained. Truly, despite their conventions every four years to select a presidential candidate, there was no Federalist party -- only Federalists." What brought about the ruin of this great party over such a short period of time? This article is based on a paper written in written in high school (Holderness School, Plymouth, NH) April 28, 1963.  At the time it was written, the lessons of the past seemed relevant as the Republican Party seemed near annihilation.  Today, in 2014, the Republican Party is once again in disarray, and it is important to remember the two-party system is not embedded in the U. S. Constitution. Old parties can die, and new ones can form.

Leseprobe

The Death of the Federalist Party by Richard Seltzer

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Published by Seltzer Books. seltzerbooks.com

established in 1974, as B&R Samizdat Express

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feedback welcome: [email protected]

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This article is based on a paper written in written in high school (Holderness School, Plymouth, NH) April 28, 1963.  At the time it was written, the lessons of the past seemed relevant as the Republican Party seemed near annihilation.  Today, in 2014, the Republican Party is once again in disarray, and it is important to remember the two-party system is not embedded in the U. S. Constitution. Old parties can die, and new ones can form.

Chapter 1: The Wreck

In 1799, the Federalist Party was at the height of its power. It controlled both houses of Congress, had the unanimous support of the Supreme Court, and had never lost a presidential election. According to President Theodore Roosevelt in his book Gouverneur Morris, in that year: "Four-fifths of the talent, ability, and good sense of the country were to be found in the Federalist ranks; for the Federalists had held their own so far, by sheer force of courage and intellectual vigor over foes in reality more numerous." 1 In describing the condition of this party just six years later, Morton Borden says: "In a few short years, the Federalists had become the party of the past, an antiquated and dying political faith. Their numbers lessened, their opposition futile, without powerful leaders or a positive program, the national structure of the Federalist Party crumbled and only sectional factions remained. Truly, despite their conventions every four years to select a presidential candidate, there was no Federalist party -- only Federalists." 2

What brought about the ruin of this great party over such a short period of time? Many theories have been proposed, including:

the reaction to the Alien and Sedition Acts,

the rivalry between Hamilton and Adams,

the fear of "monarchism",

the expense of waging the undeclared war with France,

the rise of the democratic spirit,

and the Federalists' contempt for the masses.

3

One major factor has been neglected. A party cannot long exist without strong leaders. During political campaigns, the candidates have generally had more influence on the voters than the issues. Between 1799 and 1805, a large percentage of the conservative, old-guard leaders of the Federalist Party died or retired. The purpose of this chapter is to evaluate how much the loss of these leaders contributed to the dissolution of the party.

Before 1799, the Federalist Party was firmly united. Not a single Federalist opposed the passage of the controversial Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798. 4By 1800 Adams and Hamilton were bitter enemies, and the party was divided into two rival groups. Such a schism does not usually develop within the space of just one short year. Their mutual animosity probably developed slowly over the years until some mollifying force was removed and it was allowed to break out into the open.

In December 1799, George Washington died.

According to Theodore Roosevelt: "Their great prop had been Washington. His colossal influence was to the end decisive in party contests, and he had, in fact, though hardly in name, almost entirely abandoned his early attempts at non-partisanship... His death diminished greatly the chances of Federalist success." 5  Apparently, the death of the greatest leader of the party left control in the hands of two lesser men who vied for supremacy.

A couple of years later, Adams went into retirement,

and in 1804 Hamilton was shot by Burr. Thus the Federalists lost their second echelon of leadership.

Meanwhile the third echelon was also disappearing.