The document outlines the emergence of the first two political parties in the United States - the Federalists and Democratic Republicans. It discusses key differences between the parties on issues like federal vs state power and interpretation of the Constitution. Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson emerged as leaders of the opposing parties. The first election in 1796 resulted in John Adams, a Federalist, becoming president while his opponent Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic Republican, became vice president under the electoral process at the time.

1. Lesson Topic/Title: Political Parties
Grade: 7th Grade American History
Date:
Period:
Correlation to NYS Social Studies Learning Standards:
Level Commencement
Standard 1 Key Idea 1 - • Explore the meaning of American culture by
identifying the key ideas, beliefs, and patterns of behavior, and traditions.
Standard 4 Key Idea 1 – Explain how societies and nations attempt to satisfy
their basic needs.
Standard 5 Key Idea 2 – Know what the US Constitution is and why it is
important.
Common Core:
Key Ideas and Details:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.2
Craft and Structure:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.4
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.7
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.8
NCSS:
2. Time, Continuity, and Change
3. People, Places, and Environments
5. Individuals, Groups, and Institutions
6. Power, Authority, and Governance
Objectives:
Students will be able to compare the different political parties (Federalists and
Democratic Republicans).
Students will compare and contrast the benefits of political parties as an exit
ticket.
Students will elaborate on why it is a bad idea to have a vice president of the
opposing party.
Lesson Plan:
Intro:
Have you ever had to choose a side in a discussion? Do you have an
opinion on a certain topic/Why? (8 min).
Main Activity:
Students will be given guided notes to fill out as we as a class review a power
point (25 min)

2. Concluding Activity:
Exit Ticket:
Why are political parties both a good and bad thing for America?
Why is it a bad thing to have the vice president be someone from the opposing
party?
Resource Materials:
Worksheet, power point
Instructional Methods:
Lecture, Notes, Critical Read, Analyzing text
Assessment: Classwork, exit ticket
Accommodations:
Segmented Assignments. Copy of Teacher Notes, Directions clarified

3. Name: ________________________________Date: _____________________________
Political Parties Emerge
Have you ever had to chose a side in a discussion? Do you have an opinion on a certain
topic/why?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Fractions:
________________________________________________________________________
Washington _________________________ against __________________
_______________________.
Americans also saw __________________ parties as a _____________________ to
national _________________________.
Manufacturing or Farming
Hamilton:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Jefferson:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Federal or State Powers:
Hamilton:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Jefferson
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Strict or Loose Interpretation of the Constitution:
Hamilton:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Jefferson:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

4. Britain or France:
Hamilton:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Jefferson:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Two Political Parties Emerge:
Caused by arguments over _______________________ financial plan and how Jefferson
and Hamilton viewed ________________________ __________________________.
Results
__________________________ vs Democratic ___________________________ - 1st
political parties
Federalists:
Led by ________________________
 America of __________________ ___________ & ________________________
 Government led by _____________________ and well _____________________
 Wanted Strong federal ____________________.
 Wanted loose construction of the constitution – federal government has all the
powers needed to carry out its duties (Elastic Clause “Necessary and Proper” –
makes ____________________ _________________ ___________________.
Democratic Republicans:
Led by ________________________
 America of ______________ ________________ and ______________________
 Common people should be ________________ _______ ____________________
 Strong State ____________________, _____________________ federal
government.
 Wanted ____________________ Constitution – Federal government has only
those powers directly listed in the Constitution (Separation of power/checks
&balances/federalism) – weakens the __________________ government.
Election of 1796 2nd President John Adams
Elected 2nd President
________________________________________________________________________
Member of the ________________________________ Party
Under the Constitution the person with the most ___________________ votes became
President. John Adams a Federalist, won office as President. The leader of the
Republicans, Jefferson, came in second and became vice President.

5. • Political Parties Emerge
• Have you ever had to choose a side in a discussion? Do you have an opinion on a
certain topic/why?
• Fractions
• Political Parties. (Like today we have the Democrats and Republicans)
• Washington warned against political parties.
• Americans also saw political parties as a threat to national unity.
• Manufacturing or Farming
• Hamilton
• Model itself on Britain.
• Encourage manufacturing and trade
• Favored cities and merchant class
• Jefferson
• Thought farmers were the backbone of America
• “Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens”
• Feared a manufacturing economy would corrupt the US by concentrating power
in the hands of a small group of wealthy Americans
• Federal or State Power
• Hamilton
• Strong Federal Government
• Federal Government was needed because of events like the Whiskey Rebellion
• Jefferson
• Strong State Government
• Wanted a federal government to only protect individual freedoms.
• He feared a Federal government might take over powers that the Constitution
gave to the states
• Strict or Loose Interpretation of the Constitution
• Hamilton
• Favored a National Bank and wealthy investors
• Argued the constitution gave congress the right to make laws necessary and
proper to carry out its duties.
• Bank was necessary for the government to collect taxes and pay bills
• Jefferson
• Against a formation of the National Bank.
• Feared Rich would control government
• Claimed the bank was Unconstitutional
• Nowhere did the Constitution give Congress the power to create a bank
• Britain or France
• Hamilton
• Hamilton wanted close ties with Britain
• Britain would be a major trading partner
• Jefferson
• Favored France
• France was the First ally of the United States
• Two Political Parties Emerge

6. - caused by arguments over Hamilton’s financial plan and how Jefferson and
Hamilton viewed America’s future
result
= Federalists vs Democratic Republicans – 1st political parties
Federalists
Democratic Republicans (AntiFederalists)
• 2nd President John Adams
- elected 2nd President
- 1797
- member of the Federalist Party
- Under the Constitution the person with the most electoral votes became
President. John Adams a Federalist, won office as President. The leader of the
Republicans, Jefferson, came in second and became vice President.
• Exit ticket
• Why are political parties both a good and bad thing for America?
• Why is it a bad thing to have the vice president be from the opposing party?