How Did The Republican Party Affect The Ratification Of The United States?

Citizens of the United States were found to be divided into two separate political groups during the ratification of the United States Constitution. The first group, the Federalist Party, having a nationalistic view, favored a strong central government, restricting powers of the states. However, the Republican Party believed that the power of the national government should be limited and the states be given additional power. Many different issues occurred between the two parties, however the debate on the first national bank, the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798, and the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions of 1798, establish why the republican party adopted these views on the government. The republican party felt that definite rights should be reserved by
the states, rather than the national government, in order to protect their individual Constitutional rights.
During the debate over the first national bank, Thomas Jefferson, a Republican, argued that taxes, a national bank, and a commanding central government were both unnecessary and unauthorized by the constitution. Jefferson writes, “A power to lay taxes for the purpose of paying the debts of the United States; but no debt is paid by this bill, nor any tax laid. Were it a bill to raise money, its origination in the Senate would condemn it by the Constitution,” (Debate on the First National Bank), clearly describing that this bill for a national bank does not call for a tax to be taken, and if the bill was suppose to raise money, it clearly violates constitutional rules. Taking up a strong tax to pay this debt off is unjust. Some states have less debt than others, and having them all pay the same amount would not be fair. Continuing, while Federalists find this bill to be a regulation of trade between each state, Jefferson argues that it is not an easily mode of trade. He argues each state has a right to determine their own currency. The strongest point Jefferson states is how, “instituting a Congress with power to do whatever would be for the good of the United States; and,
as they would be the sole judges of the good or evil, it would be also a power to do whatever evil they please,” (Debate on the First National Bank). Jefferson is making the case that by giving Congress sole power of the United States, would be to give Congress the means to destroy our country with evil. In retrospect, the states need to be given individual rights to save the country. Lastly, the point is made that a bank is not necessary or even authorized by the Constitution. The Constitution states, “to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution the enumerated powers.” Jefferson argues that these laws can be carried out without means of a bank, and by this phrase, it would be unauthorized to do so. By arguing these many points, Jefferson clearly establishes why the Republicans feel it is unnecessary for the establishment of a national bank.
Republicans found that the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 gave the president and central government an excessive amount of power, violating the United States Constitution. In hopes to resolve those violations, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Kentucky Resolutions, favoring individual state rights. The Alien Acts stated, when deemed dangerous or suspected of treason or spying, or for public safety, the President had the power to remove that citizen from the country. Stated in the Alien Enemies Act, was that a foreign citizen that belonged to country that the United States now at war with, “shall be liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured and removed, as alien enemies,” (Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798). Secondly, the Sedition Act explained that any citizen could be fined or held in prison for an extended period of time for any acts of violence towards the government, whether it be physical such as riots, or verbal or written, such as newspapers. After these established acts, Jefferson wrote the Kentucky Resolution to resolve the impending issues. One being that national government should only be for special purposes, and that states have the right to self-government. With the Alien Act violating the Constitution, the Kentucky Resolution offered that alien friends be under the protection of laws of state, not nationally. Accordingly, the right to punish crimes should reside under state’s power, rather than nationally. Jefferson also speaks on how the Sedition Act directly violates one’s freedom of speech stated within the Constitution, “thereby guarding in the same sentence, and under the same words, the freedom of religion, of speech, and of the press, inso much, that whatever violates either, throws down the sanctuary which covers the others, and that libels, falsehoods, defamation equally with heresy and false religion,” (Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions of 1798). The Republican’s belief of state powers are clearly violated by the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798. Therefore, Jefferson established the Kentucky Act to resolve these impending issues.
According to the articles, The First National Bank, The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798, and the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions of 1798, Republicans clearly believe definite rights should be reserved by the states, rather than the national government, in order to protect their individual Constitutional rights. Contrary to the Federalist’s opposing nationalistic view of having a strong central government to restrict powers of the states, Republicans felt that Federalistic views violated their Constitutional Rights.