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Party Lines: The Rise of Federalists and Democratic-Republicans

Lesson Components

The Rise of America’s First Political PartiesParty Profile Handout

Guiding Question

  • How did the emergence of political parties influence the development of American democracy?

Objectives

  • Students will analyze how political parties emerged in the Early Republic, comparing the beliefs of Federalists and Democratic-Republicans and evaluating how their debates shaped the young nation.
  • Students will debate and role-play political differences.
  • Students will research historical political parties.
  • Students will connect history to real-world politics.

Student Resources:

Teacher Resources:

Facilitation Notes

  • This lesson plan utilizes the timeline as well as other resources to build student knowledge about the development of political parties in the early republic.

Anticipate

  • Glossary terms: Terms used in this lesson for pre-teach opportunities or vocabulary support:
    • Political parties
    •  Federal
    •  Spectrum
    • Campaign

Pick a Side! Debate Warm-Up

  • Transition: Label one side of the room Strong Federal Government and the other State Powers.
  • Pose the question or write on the board: Should the U.S. have a strong federal government or should states have more power?
  • Have students move to the side that aligns with their initial opinion.
  • Each side discusses reasons they chose that position, then a few students share their thoughts.
  • Tell Students: This debate was one of the biggest in early American politics-and it led to the first political parties!

Engage

Party Profiles (Jigsaw Activity)

  • Split students into two groups:
    • Federalists
    • Democratic-Republicans
  • Each group receives a Party Profile Worksheet with these categories:
    • View on government power (strong federal vs. state powers)
    • Economic vision (manufacturing/trade vs. agriculture)
    • View on foreign policy (pro-British vs. pro-French)
    • Who supported them? (city businessmen vs. rural farmers)
  • Each group researches their party (using class-provided sources) and completes their worksheet.
  • Groups pair up (one Federalist, one Democratic-Republican) and teach each other their findings.

Explore

Political Party Spectrum

  • Draw a political spectrum on the board and label the ends:
    • Left side of board: Strong state governments (Democratic-Republicans)
    • Right side of board: Strong federal government (Federalists)
  • Have students place different historical events or ideas from the Early Republic Interactive Timeline (Neutrality Proclamation, Alien & Sedition Acts, Louisiana Purchase, etc.) along the spectrum based on which party supported them.
  • Discuss: How did these differences create political tensions?

Assess & Reflect

  • “Campaign Time!”:
    • Students create a campaign poster or speech for either a Federalist or a Democratic-Republican.
    • Requirements:
      • A catchy slogan
      • A main policy idea (e.g., “Support manufacturing!” or “Defend farmers’ rights!”)
      • A symbol or drawing representing the party’s beliefs
    • Students present their campaign materials in small groups or to the whole class.
    • Collect the posters or speeches for assessment, if needed.

AND/OR

  • “If I Were a Voter…” Reflection:
    • Students answer in their journals:
      • If you lived in the Early Republic, which party would you have supported and why?
      • Which political debate do you think was most important?
    • Quick class share-out: Are there any modern political debates that remind you of these early party conflicts?

Student Handouts

Party Profile Handout

The Rise of America’s First Political Parties