The Federalists remade the young republic's government with a new centralized national constitution in 1787. The Anti-Federalists, led by Thomas Jefferson, feared that the new constitution would lead to tyranny. Pulling examples from your Chapter 6 reading notes, share a response to this question in the comments below:
Based upon the actions of President Washington and President Adams do the Federalists appear to value stability over liberty? (Use examples!)
As is our practice, we will reply to the comments of two others as well.
The Federalists do appear to value stability over liberty, such as how they stamped out the Whiskey Rebellion using force, as well as the negotiation of Jay's Treaty. This caused a massive public response, however, it did settle many disputes that they had with the British. Additionally, they passed legislation like the Alien and Sedition Acts. This was when the Federalists had a lot of power and were attempting to stabilize the heated political situation with the Republicans.
ReplyDeleteI agree, and when the Whiskey Rebellion happened, the federal government took control of the situation in a way that they hadn't in previous rebellions. It shows that there was a change in priority for Federalists.
DeleteI agree, since the Whiskey Rebellion was perceived as a major threat to the nation's stability, and the Federalists chose to end the rebellion using force, which was the best way to keep the nation stable, but not necessarily the best choice altogether.
DeleteI concur. The immediate wipeout of the Whiskey Rebellion shows how the Federalists wanted security in the new nation, even if they had to use military force and give up some personal liberty to do so.
DeleteI also agree with this. The Federalists chose to deal with the Whiskey with force which stabilized the country but showed how the Federalists valued stability over liberty.
DeleteSakari
DeleteI agree, as the federalist ideals of stability over liberty seemed to support the early nation well enough
I agree, it showed what the Federalists truly valued, which was stability over liberty.
DeleteStability of the nation was valued over liberty by the Federalists as shown in the Whiskey Rebellion.
DeleteI agree. The whiskey rebellion made the government take a look at how they responded, and change their practices.
DeleteEthan Lader
The Federalists appear to value stability over liberty, and that can be seen through actions taken after the new constitution was passed in 1787. The reason the constitution was needed was because although the Articles of Confederation may have given liberty to the people, it made the central government too weak. Unlike the Anti-Federalists, Federalists were willing to take certain risks to make sure this didn't happen again, even if it infringed upon liberties. One clear example of this is the controversial Alien and Sedition Acts. These acts limited free speech rights, created new obstacles for foreigners, and criminalized "sedition against the government." Because of these violations on liberty, these acts were soon repealed, however, the fact that they were passed in the first place shows that Federalists were beginning to prioritize stability over liberty.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree. The Constitution was a way to make sure to increase stability and peace in the nation.
DeleteThe constitution was a way to keep America stable and peaceful, even if it involved taking away certain rights.
DeleteAgreed. The Alien and Sedition Acts clearly display how the Federalists saw security as more important than liberty.
DeleteYou do make a good point about the Alien and Sedition Acts. However, the Federalists are the same people who passed Constitutional amendments that would cause the downfall of laws like these. The Federalists included lots of liberty-saving measures in the Constitution.
DeleteSakari
DeleteI agree, the Alien and Sedition Acts were definitely more about stability (and control) than liberty, which is why they were eventually taken down
I agree, the Alien and Sedition Acts were an obvious display of how the Federalists valued stability over liberty.
DeleteI think the use of the constitution does help illustrate this point better, as it, besides the Federalists Papers themselves, is, not including the Bill of Rights, essentially a summary of federalist ideology.
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ReplyDeleteThe federalists appeared to prefer stability over rights because of multiple things. The first reason is that they stopped the Whisky rebellion by using force. This shows that they didn't want any groups disrupting the workings of the government and make it less stable. The second reason is that they put various acts into place, such as the alien and sedition acts. These acts removed rights from the people such as free speech by criminalizing speaking out against the government.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree. The Alien and Sedition Acts were a big example of wanting stability first and foremost.
DeleteThey are very good examples of stability over freedom, they limited freedom of the press, valuing stability.
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ReplyDeleteWashington and Adams seem to have sacrificed liberty for security. Washington, for example, led militiamen to put down the Whiskey Rebellion, a revolt of farmers against a Whiskey Tax. Adams drew the US into a quasi-war with France following a bribery scandal called the "XYZ Affair," which also displays how he prioritized security over the right of Americans to live in peacetime. Most damning, however, were the Alien and Sedition Acts (passed in 1798), the latter of which made it more dangerous to criticize the government for fear of being accused of sedition.
ReplyDeleteI agree and these examples definitely show how sometimes their need for stability can be taken to the point of oppression.
DeleteWhile I agree with you that the Alien and Sedition Acts were certainly a clamp on Americans' liberty, the other examples of military action do not necessarily show that liberty is being sacrificed for stability. For example, Washington's fight in the Whiskey Rebellion was not a sacrifice of liberty, but instead just a way to secure the safety and stability of the American nation.
DeleteI agree with you, the Alien and Sedition Acts oppressed people and the government thought that was the way to stabilize the country.
DeleteAgreed, something that not many people have brought up is the XYZ Affair, which President Adams had pulled America into, and even having a quasi-war with France in order to ensure that the stability of security was guaranteed, over the Americans living in peace.
DeleteI agree, the XYZ affair really showed their eager desire to keep their country safe, but don't care to tend to those who live in that safe country.
DeleteI think that the Federalists actually valued liberty over stability. This became evident when the Bill of Rights passed under George Washington, making Americans freer than the citizens of almost any other nation at the time. They were given the right to say almost whatever they wanted, the right to own firearms, the right to trial by jury, and so many similar rights. While the Federalists did pass some anti-liberty measures, like the Alien and Sedition Act, the government still obviously values liberty over stability. This isn't to say that the Federalists do not like liberty (in fact, I think they value it quite a bit), but I do believe that they think that liberty is the number one priority in America.
ReplyDeleteI disagree. I think that yes the bill of right was passed but the way they actually responded to people when they expressed their opinions shows that liberty was not their first value.
DeleteI agree with Aislinn, if they went with liberty in making the Bill of rights, the people may begin riot because they had no say in what went into it, which would case instability. Appeasing the people and considering their demands, show stability.
DeleteI think you make a good point, and I think it's important to acknowledge the fundamental laws Federalists passed to ensure liberty. However, examples like the Alien and Sedition Acts show that they were also willing to risk those same laws that they had created if it meant gaining stability.
DeleteI think that the Federalists valued stability over liberty and there is evidence is history to prove this. The government passed the Alien and Sedition Acts which oppressed foreigners who wanted to become American citizens and prosecuted people who engaged in sedition against the government. These Acts played restrictions on Americans' liberty because the government thought they would stabilize the country. The government chose to place restrictions to stabilized the country even though those restrictions oppressed people.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I also really like how you included the alien and sedition acts because i think it makes the federalists really look like they don't care about liberty in America.
DeleteI agree, your point about the alien sedition acts helps illustrate your arguement.
DeleteI think that the the federalists valued stability over liberty because they passed multiple acts that sacrificed American liberty for the stability of the nation. Rather then diplomatically solving the whiskey rebellion and listening to what the rioters had to say, the federalists used force as a way to suppress the people. Although this may have been better security wise for the nation, it shows that they put the stability of the country over the peoples right to protest and their liberty.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the federalists valued security over liberty.
DeleteI too agree that they valued stability of liberty, but they still cared deeply about liberty.
DeleteI agree as well. They made a couple big decisions that clearly valued stability over liberty.
DeleteI think that the Federalists appear to value stability over liberty. This is evident after the constitution was passed in 1787. The Federalists passed it to give certain rights to the people, but made sure to secure and stabilize the nation as well. For example, the Alien and Sedition Acts limited free speech rights and created new obstacles for foreigners. These acts show how the federalists prioritize stability over liberty.
ReplyDeleteI had not thought about the alien and sedition acts, that is an interesting point.
DeleteSakari
ReplyDeleteThe Federalists definitely seemed to support stability over freedom, and this is seen in both Washington's and Adam's terms in presidency. The Alien and Sedition Acts were an attack on the liberty of immigrants, as it made moving hard for them. Washington's violent disposal of the Whiskey Rebellion, while possibly necessary, shows how he preferred stability over the liberty of the Whiskey brewers to not accept tax. As well as the neutrality issue, and the lack of Federalist support for the French Rebellion- if they supported liberty they wouldn't have ditched France as easily as they did (I'm not saying they should've went to war with Britain again, but staying completely neutral and not supporting a country that supported you in your war is kind of rude).
I agree, and all of the points/examples that you have brought up support the idea that the federalists valued stability over liberty, because the events such as the Whiskey Rebellion, the Alien and Sedition Acts, as well as the French Rebellion seem to paint a fairly clear picture on what the Federalists valued, which was stability.
DeleteThe Federalists valued stability over freedom, as we could see by the actions of both President Washington/Adams that they took while in office. For example, when the new whiskey tax was introduced in 1791 and met with resistance from smaller farmers who were heavily impacted by the tax, the resulting rebellion from it was put down by the militia, after the peaceful attempt to negotiate failed. This was a test of sorts for Washington's leadership and him trying to take control and provide stability to the situation, because that is what he valued. There was not much liberty and the peoples' right to protest was less prioritized over the stability of the nation.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said. These people were never listened to, and were always ignored. It didn't seem like Washington put that much care into the interests of these people who were affected heavily.
DeleteI agree, they were prepared to use violence to keep stability.
DeleteThe Federalists valued stability over liberty, which is very evident in America's past. Firstly, Congress passed the Alien and Sedition Acts, which only ensured the safety of American citizens, but ostracized the rights of those who came to America to become citizens. There were a lot of rebellions against tax such as the Whiskey Rebellion, which was dismissed by Washington although many farmers were heavily impacted by this tax and it affected their livelihoods immensely. Washington wanted to keep control and disregarded the opinion's and freedoms of those affected.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the Alien & Sedition Acts really showed the true ideas of the Federalists and how they put the nation's stability above the rights of their citizens.
DeleteThe Federalists valued stability of liberty, because it was necessary. With out stability there is no point in liberty, the nation would fall apart, but with stability liberty can come to further strengthen the stability. Like in the whiskey rebellion, they needed to use force to stabilize everything, because liberty cant to that on it’s own.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Their value is necessary, especially as a new country.
DeleteI agree. I think stability is always a necessary thing for any properly functioning country. In this case you can't have liberty without stability.
DeleteThere were many obvious displays from the Federalists that they valued stability over liberty. One of those displays being the Whiskey rebellion. The reaction from the Federalists had been so forceful, unlike any sort of reaction to the other "mini" rebellions.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree completely. Stability was definitely something the Federalists valued, and for good reason given the insecure and unsure times they lived through.
DeleteBased on Washington and Adams, federalists valued stability over liberty. The Alien and Sedition Acts were passed even though they limited people's freedom of speech (their liberty) in an attempt to make the government more stable. Their responses to rebellions like the Whiskey rebellion also show this. The federalists also supported the constitution which, compared to the Articles of Confederation, valued stability over liberty.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, there are many instances (big and small) that exhibit the Federalists values concerning stability and liberty.
DeleteIt seems like the Federalists do value stability over liberty. One example is when news of the Whiskey Rebellion reached Washington, he immediately gathered militias from surrounding states and called up an army of 15000 on the spot, and personally lead them to Pennsylvania. To some this may seem like an infringement on the right to free speech, but to the Federalists, keeping the nation stable went above those people's rights. The Federalists weren't afraid to push laws if it meant the continued and/or future stability of the United States, clearly expressing their choice of stability over liberty.
ReplyDeleteI agree. The main goal was to ensure the government's survival.
DeleteI think that the federalists do value stability over liberty, but it is not tyrannical. Pulling an example from the whiskey rebellion, the federalists shut that down, but that was because they thought it threatened the nations stability and safety as a new country.
ReplyDeleteI agree. There was nothing tyrannical about their decisions concerning shutting down the Whiskey Rebellion. It was simply a necessary thing that had to be done for the country.
DeleteI would argue that they did not value stability over liberty, or if they did there is not compelling evidence of it. Firstly, liberty is such a complex and vague concept that can be interpreted multiple ways, so it is difficult to pin down their thoughts on it. Secondly who is to say that they did not value both, equally? I believe that many of their actions were drive to procure stability, but that this did not directly conflict with their value of liberty. For example, many of my peers have pointed to the Whiskey Rebellion as an example of their values, but was it really an infringement of liberty to stop the Whiskey Rebellion? I would argue that it while their actions certainly show a value of stability, it in no way conflicted with their value of liberty, for what "liberty" gives people the right to terrorize fellow Americans?
ReplyDeleteI really like how you asked what they mean by liberty, as who or what liberties are given in the first place can make the difference between the Federalists being more tyrannical or simply more just.
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ReplyDeleteBased upon the actions of President Washington and President Adams, Federalists valued stability over liberty. When the Whiskey Rebellion became an issue, Washington led an army of 15,000 men and won through force rather than loyalty. Under Adams, Congress passed the Alien and Sedition Acts, which limited the freedom of anyone without citizenship, along with silencing those who criticized the government. Most Federalists also opposed the French Revolution, despite having fought in the American one. Their main goal was to keep the government in power, not to ensure the personal liberty of every individual under that power.
ReplyDeleteAnalyzing the actions of the presidents Adam and Washington, it can be inferred that the early nation valued stability over liberty. First, shown by how Washington handled the whisky rebellion opting to use force to contain it, to establish federal authority. The alien and sedation acts where another example of how the government, yet again chose stability over liberty as it had limited both the rights of its people and it's possible citizens, it had quieted the critics and had limited the movement of non citizens and essentially put them in a choke-hold.
ReplyDeleteThe Federalists likely valued security over liberty...sort of. Obviously given how the response to the Whiskey Rebellion was force and not a potentially more liberty-y but potentially less effective peaceful response. As well as this, the Alien and Sedition Acts severely punished foreigner's liberties for the stability of the nation from foreign threats. But more than anything, it seems the young nation was giving liberty to some, free and wealthier men on the coast, and pushing down the liberties of others ensuring stability. None of this may have been on purpose, but given who wrote the document and who would end up being the people most oppressed by the Alien and Sedition Acts(foreigners), the Whiskey Rebellion(frontiersmen), and the existence of slavery(African Americans), this seems to be the case.
ReplyDeleteFor a variety of reasons, the federalists tended to prefer peace to rights. The first explanation being that they used coercion to put down the Whisky uprising. This demonstrates that they did not want any organizations to threaten the government's operations and make it less secure. The second explanation is that they enacted a number of laws, including the Alien and Sedition Acts. These laws took away people's rights.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the Alien and Sedition Acts were a perfect example of how they valued stability over liberty.
DeleteThe Federalists valued stability over liberty, as demonstrated with the Alien and Sedition Acts, which took rights away from foreigners under the belief that it would ensure a stabilized governing.
ReplyDeleteThe Federalists, such as Adams and Washington, valued stability over liberty, shown in the Whiskey Rebellion and the Alien and Sedition Acts, the latter limited the power of foreigners and the press.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. They were extremely weary of foreign people and their role domestically, especially in politics.
DeleteThe federalists following the events in the whiskey rebellion were inspired to limit such power to prevent a recurrence. Consequently, new policy’s were created for dealing with the issue.
ReplyDeleteEthan Lader