His view on the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, as they are so-named, led to this burgeoning divide in society which would later form our current two-party system. When John Adams takes office, his inability to follow a charismatic figure such as Washington, as well as the backlash against him, leads to a negative presidency. Adams having such a divide between himself and his Vice President, Jefferson, led to unpopular decisions coming from his tenure. There was a divide among the elites in which countries to support in our early relationships and alliances with the two camps as the Francophiles and Anglophiles. While Jefferson saw the French as imitators of the United States in their own revolution, Adams and others felt that England would be better suited as an ally. Adams' distrust of the French, as the countries were on the brink of war occurred due to French’s seizing of American ships. (The XYZ Affair). The inconclusive nature of the XYZ affair and tensions …show more content…
In response to the War of 1812, a convention occurred in Hartford to discuss New England's role. Much like the Kentucky-Virginia Resolutions, the Hartford Convention, displayed the view that that the government’s actions were not benefiting and serving the New England region as the federal government was “exciting local jealousies and ambitions, so as to secure to popular leaders in one section of the Union, the control of public affairs in perpetual succession” (Commager, 1: 209) The New Englanders, who the war was impacting by geography but not by cause, believed that they did not need to have a position in the conflict since each state should be “empowered to assume upon themselves the defence of their territory against the enemy” (Commager 1: 210). This argument showed the imbalances and the attempts by the state and federal governments in determining their command and influence in the federal