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 CHAPTER II

POLITICAL ENTANGLEMENTS AND HYSTERIA

I. THE SITUATION PRIOR TO 1798

history in New England, as elsewhere throughout the Union, began with the inauguration of the new govern- ment in 1789. Such differences of opinion concerning matters of public policy as had previously existed were con- fined to unorganized groups whose leaders depended chiefly on the devotion of their personal following to mould pop- ular opinion. But the setting up of the Federal government and the fixing of national standards brought to light issues which challenged fundamental conceptions and interests. and a definite rift in public sentiment was not long in ap- pearing. By 1793 the main line of political cleavage was plainly visible. The Federalists, who stood for the impor- tance of a strong central government, found themselves con- fronted with an organized opposition to which in time the terms Anti-Federalists, Republicans, and Democrats were applied.

In 1793 the war between England and France came into American politics, providing issues for party controversy for years to come. The sympathies of the Federalists, who 103]