George Washington's Influence On American Politics

The first American political parties were crafted early in American history. Primarily economic issues shaped the fundamental Hamiltonian and Jeffersonian political positions during the George Washington and John Adams administrations, prior to Thomas Jefferson’s presidency. Washington more commonly agreed with the Federalist approach to government, he agreed with this approach with the Proclamation of Neutrality as well as his position on The Bank of the United States. Although George Washington condemned the existence of political factions, he was forced to agree with either one faction or another, due to the apparent economic, social, and foreign issues, including the French Revolution, America’s neutrality, and America’s economy overall.
These political factions were predominantly notable within the Washington and Adams administrations. Washington’s administration consisted of Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State, and Alexander Hamilton, who ran the treasury. Jefferson advocated for a Democratic Republican, in contrast, Hamilton advocated for a Federalist approach to government. Several times throughout Washington’s presidency, the contrasting political factions between Jefferson and Hamilton caused political divide and unrest. The farmworkers of the constitution envisioned a one party system. However, angla papilles, those who advocated for commercial interests, disagreed with francophiles, frontiersmen. Jay’s Treaty sparked an intense debate in 1795. Southerners, westerners, agrarians, and supporters of the French, opposed the treaty. The treaty was signed with Great Britain, and averted war over the British seizure of American ships. Washington agreed with Hamilton about this topic. Hamiltonian supporters were satisfied because it maintained the United States’s neutrality in foreign affairs. However, Jeffersonians were displeased due to the fact that the treaty did not mention compensation for the slaves who fled to the British side during The Revolution. Pinckney’s Treaty included Spain agreeing to a boundary with the United States, and opening shipping to the United States as well. This satisfied Jeffersonians. However, administration supporters demanded acquiescence of Jay’s Treaty first. These situations emphasize a great political divide, as well as unrest in the nation at this time. As a result, Washington became increasingly untrusting of political factions. Hamilton wanted to continue trade and relations with Britain and supported Washington when he signed the Proclamation of neutrality. In response, Jeffersonians organized democratic societies,