Washingtons presidency?

Question

Who was opposed to Washington and the Federalist and why?

Answer 1

No one OPPOSED Washington, he was the consensus choice as our first president.

Thomas Jefferson did everything he could to destroy the country including paying to establish "newspapers" that would savage his political opponents with lie after lie.

The anti-federalists became the Democratic-Republicans, not as TG said, the whigs.

whale

Answer 2

No one could quite bring themselves to oppose Washington when he was first elected, though by garnering enough votes to finish second John Adams was 'the opposition.' Then edging toward Washington's second election the Anti-Federalist movement began with James Monroe and Aaron Burr prominent but behind the scenes it was Thomas Jefferson pulling the strings.

Again the election was not one of opponents, per se, the original hope for American Democracy was that Americans would have a choice of 'Worthy Candidates,' and who ever came out on the top of the slate was given the Office of the Presidency and America's second choice would take the Vice President spot and in case of of accident the second best ease into the job..... The founding father's original intent was that there would be not opposition.

But certain parties would not abide by the notion of not trashing the people in power - - - since the Federalist were in power there were those who felt they were out of power, but it should be noted that Thomas Jefferson was given a powerful job, Secretary of State, and wielded more power than Veep Adams..... But Jefferson was not satisfied , therefore he fought openly with Treasury Secretary Hamilton and secretly against Adams and Washington mostly through the auspices of southerners such as James Madison and James Monroe, and others....

Why -= - - - because power meant jobs for self and friends. A man such as Jefferson wanted to be President, felt it was his due, he might agree to two terms of Washington but was aghast at being past over in favor of John Adams. As President, having defeated incumbent President Adams, Jefferson set about putting his friends in power and dealt a crippling blow to the Federalist. Enlisting the aid of Newspaper and Public Opinion, the Anti Federalist, now called the Democratic Republicans destroyed the Federalist party.

Pax--------------------------

Answer 3

In the beginning, few people opposed Washington. By his second term, this had changed. Many of them would have said they did not oppose Washington himself, but some of the people who they felt were manipulating him, like Alexander Hamilton.

This came about because of two competing visions for the new nation. The Federalists wanted a strong central government. They felt this needed to include the power to regulate interstate commerce, to build improvements like roads and canals, to issue money, to levy taxes, and to some, to maintain a standing army. The Federalists wanted to encourage manufacturing and trade and to develop the ecnomy as a way of strengthening the nation and making it more independent.

The Anti-Federalists, who became the Whigs, had a different vision. This grew in part out of their recent disagreements with Britain, which left them with a suspicion of strong central government. Led by Thomas Jefferson, they envisioned a nation of gentlemen farmers, growing crops and engaging in cottage industries and other pursuits on the side. They believed this would promote the greatest morality and happiness among the people.

Answer 4

No one was opposed to Washington, he was unanimously elected. The opposition to the Federalists were the Anti-federalists.