Joint Crisis Committee: DemocraticRepublicans. Director: Olivia Yang Crisis Director: Sadie Peloquin

Transcription

1 Joint Crisis Committee: DemocraticRepublicans Director: Olivia Yang Crisis Director: Sadie Peloquin

2 Letter from the Under-Secretary General Hello Delegates, I am Jake Ferrara, and I am your Undersecretary General for Crisis Committees. For the past several months, the WMHSMUN team has been working tirelessly to create innovative crisis simulations for all of you. Your Crisis directors and dais were picked with immense care, and their work was cultivated over the last five months to produce this simulation. All of your directors are easily accessible via for any questions or comments. Committees require a position paper in most cases, and these should be about two pages. your director if you have any questions about this. It is my sincere hope that all of you leave this committee enriched with the gifts of lively debate, compromise, and well-earned tiredness. When I came here almost four years ago as a high school student, I remember leaving Williamsburg with a new passion for debate that was awoken by WMHSMUN. Four years later, I am here, returning this passion to you all. I ask only one thing, that you put all of yourself into your research and debate, so you can feel the same as I once did here years ago. Best of luck, and best wishes, Jake Ferrara WM 2020 Undersecretary General for Crisis Committees WMHSMUN XXXI

3 Letter from the Director Delegates, Let me be one of the first to welcome you to WMHSMUN XXXI. My name is Olivia Yang and I am the director for the Democratic-Republicans branch of WMHSMUN s Joint Crisis Committee. I m a sophomore at William & Mary working on a major in Public Policy. Though I was involved with Model UN all throughout high school, my first experience with WMHSMUN was crisis directing the Kurdish State Formation committee last year and after one thrilling weekend I immediately resolved to make sure that I was involved the following year. In this committee, you will be transported back to January 1st, 1800 and faced with a monumental task: electing one of your own into the highest public office in the United States. Each of you will assume the roles of senators, representatives, and other political figures in a veritable political revolution that will test the bounds of the newly-signed Constitution and shape the landscape for every future election. The Democratic- Republican party is just beginning to form a cohesive platform and gain traction with the common American, but scandal and the Sedition Act threaten the party s feasibility. I encourage you to use all the resources at your disposal, including the news media and the appointment process for electors. The actions of the Federalists in the other committee will affect the crisis updates we receive so you must react quickly to turn every event into a win for the Democratic-Republicans. I suggest that you spend your time researching electoral practices of the time period, which are considerably different from how we elect presidents today. If you have any questions about committee, WMHSMUN, or Model UN, please do not hesitate to me. Best wishes, Olivia Yang Director, Joint Crisis Committee: Democratic-Republicans ojyang@ .wm.edu

4 Letter from the Crisis Director Delegates Hi there! My name is Sadie Peloquin and I will be your crisis director for the Election of 1800 JCC. A little bit about myself I am a current junior at the College with a double major in International Relations and Economics. I have been involved in Model UN since my freshman year of high school, and crisis committees are my absolute favorite part of MUN; I actually have not participated in or staffed anything but crisis committees since my junior year of high school. This is my third year as a member of the W&M International Relations Club and my third WMHSMUN! I was a director for the JCC last year and am so excited to be directing it again this year! I am really really excited to see what you guys are going to bring to committee on conference weekend delegate participation is what makes or breaks a crisis committee. This is one of the more advanced committees we will have this year, so I have high expectations for you guys, but I also have complete confidence that you will blow the Olivia, Lincoln, and I away. Because this is a JCC, there will be an added component to each committee, as you will have to consider the actions of an entirely separate committee. Myself and the directors for the JCC really want you guys to feel comfortable taking advantage of the fact that this is a JCC and extending your ideas and your creativity to encompass not only how your actions in committee could impact your own political party, but also how they could impact the opposition. Show us what you ve got! Feel free to contact either myself or your individual committee director with any questions about what conference weekend will look like or any other questions you might have. I look forward to seeing you all in the burg come November! -Sadie Peloquin smpeloquin@ .wm.edu

5 The Parties The Democratic-Republicans started out as a disparate group of individual united by one principle: individual liberty was at odds with government power. The party was formed in 1792, starting as a group in Congress that was against the policies of the Federalist party, in particular the policies of John Adams and Alexander Hamilton. Instead of a strong, centralized government, the Democratic- Republican party championed local autonomy and the rights of governments below the federal level to legislate their own communities. Due to the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, many people were wary of a centralized national government since it was highly reminiscent of monarchy. This view gained popularity as a result of the Adams administration s usage of federal power, namely the Alien and Sedition Acts. The Sedition Act, formally known as An Act for the Punishment of Certain Crimes against the United States, declared that if any person shall write, print, utter or publish any false, scandalous and malicious writing or writings against the government of the United States or to stir up sedition within the United States shall be punished. Editors of Democratic-Republican newspapers were fined and in some cases jailed as a direct result. The act also inhibited the ability of party members to discuss their opinions in public without fearing retribution. Adams had clearly violated the provisions of the First Amendment, specifically freedoms of speech and press. In response, both Virginia and Kentucky passed resolutions to alter the execution of the Sedition Act in their respective states. The Virginia Resolution, authored by James Madison, stated that the states who are parties thereto, have the right, and are in duty bound, to interpose for arresting the progress of the evil, and for maintaining within their respective limits, the authorities, rights and liberties appertaining to them. This doctrine of interposition, wherein the states have the ability to reject a federal law that appears to be unconstitutional or outside of the power of the government, is foundational to the Democratic-Republican perception of federalism. Interposition assumes that states can change how federal law is executed within its borders though the law is still on the books and can be executed elsewhere. Meanwhile, Thomas Jefferson s Kentucky Resolution argued for a doctrine of nullification, stating [T]he several states who formed that instrument [the Constitution], being sovereign and independent, have the unquestionable right to judge of its infraction; and that a nullification, by those [states], of all unauthorized acts. is the rightful remedy. Rather than changing the execution of a law by way of interposition, Jefferson argued that states should have the right to get rid of certain laws should the states disagree with its constitutionality. As states rejected Adams s acts and popular sentiment turned against the Federalists, the party began to gain traction and solidify their principles beyond anti-federalism. Democratic-Republicans subscribed to an interpretation of the Constitution known as strict constructionism, which dictates that the federal government s powers should not extend beyond those stated in the Constitution. The Constitution was written with a certain degree of ambiguity in order to give the federal government enough leeway to accomplish its tasks, but Democratic- Republicans erred on the side of caution and favored more restricted federal powers. Adam s expansion of the navy, which falls into the category of extended federal powers, troubled the Democratic-Republicans who were in favor of a smaller national army during peacetime. A large national military called to mind the British occupation before and during the American Revolution, which was an anathema to many.

6 The Democratic-Republicans also opposed taking on public debt, deeming it as a shackle that inhibited the liberty of the country by placing the United States in debt to other countries. This was contrary to the policies of the Federalist-controlled Treasury Department at the time, which had busied itself with maintaining a national bank that raised the public debt. In the spirit of the American Revolution, the Democratic-Republican platform included an anti-monarchy sentiment that led them to side with the French people after the overthrow of King Louis XVI. On the other hand, Federalists favored closer ties to the British for economic reasons. Location and characteristics of the voter base: Democratic-Republicans were favored in southern states, specifically the voter base of agrarian small farm owners and plantation owners due to the high impact of taxes on these populations. Federalists were generally favored in the northeast by merchants due to their commitment to arranging favorable trade deals. Election Practices Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress -- US Constitution, Article II, Section 1, Clause 2 The Constitution of the United States set a surprisingly complex ruleset for elections of the Commander in Chief. The position of President goes to the candidate with the greatest number of electoral votes and the position of Vice President was given to the presidential candidate who has the secondmost count of electoral vote. The total number of electoral votes in the upcoming election of 1800 is 138, with each elector casting two votes for the office of President. It should be noted that political parties do not have a designated vice-presidential candidate but rather multiple presidential candidates, which means that the president and the vice president could potentially be from different parties, as with the previous election of State governments are in charge of the elector appointment process, which can take the form of dividing constituents into districts that voted on electors, statewide elections for electors, or simply having the state legislature handpick the electors. Election procedures are left almost entirely to the state, which led states to pick their own election dates, ranging anywhere from April to October, as well as assigning electoral votes in different ways. Notable Federalists such as Alexander Hamilton are lobbying for electoral system reform, likely due to the rising number of Democratic-Republicans in state legislatures. Some electors are bound to how citizens in their district vote while other states look at the percentage of votes cast for each party and splits electors up according to these percentages. Virginia as of the previous 1796 election has begun a winner take all system where the presidential candidate who wins the state automatically receives all of the state s electoral votes, regardless of how close the margin between the candidates. However, popular vote is only a factor for 54 out of the 138 electoral votes. Most states have their legislatures appoint the electors, which means that elected representatives of state governments hold sole influence over the apportionment of electoral votes for the entire state. It should also be noted that as President of the Senate, the Vice President has one primary duty in the electoral process: to certify the electoral vote count as genuine. Each state submits a form documenting their electoral votes to the Vice President, who then counts the votes for each candidate. In the unlikely case of a tie, the House of Representatives votes between the tied candidates to decide which one will be President. In both of these scenarios, each state

7 represented in the House receives a single vote to cast. Only free men who owned a minimum amount of land were given the right to vote, which would normally disadvantage the lesspopulated southern states by giving them fewer population-related electoral votes. However, due to the Three-Fifths Compromise, which stated that the population (for government purposes) was determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons, southern states with a high population of slaves received electoral votes for disenfranchised peoples. This weighs the electoral college in favor of the southern states. Information in the Early 1800s Newspapers were the main media of communication throughout the United States, despite their small size and limited reach. Due to the difficulty of distribution, most newspapers had a very local audience in their immediate proximity. Newspapers were also small enterprises comprised of an owner, who also acted as an editor and reporter, with a handful of apprentices to help with the arduous printing process and delivering the papers. Fining a newspaper or jailing the owner, both of which occurred during the enforcement of the Sedition Act, could effectively shut down a newspaper. Generally, newspapers could be categorized into two main groups: political and commercial. Political newspapers printed letters (such as the Federalist papers), presidential appointments of government officials, and opinions on policy. They were heavily biased and sometimes subsidized by political parties in order to increase support for their party. Newspapers like the Philadelphia Aurora, Centinel of Freedom, and American Mercury were all Democratic- Republican papers targeted by the Sedition Act for their printed criticisms of the Federalists. On the other hand, commercial newspapers generally contained business news like trading prices, advertisements, and shipping news. The wealthy and merchant elite had more access to newspapers since a yearly subscription was too costly for the average working America, so newspapers tended to cater their content to the educated upper classes. Papers also varied in publishing; some were distributed daily while others had a new edition weekly. Questions: 1. How can the Democratic-Republicans spread a negative view of the opposing party while the Sedition Act is in effect? 2. Who is the best candidate to run against Adams? 3. Does the electoral college/process of selecting electors need to be changed? 4. What are the most important regions to focus on during the campaign? 5. Which issues and positions should be the most prominent in the Democratic- Republican campaign? Relationships to Foreign Powers Jay Treaty In 1794, John Jay was left with a difficult task. The British had surrendered in American war for independence, but there were several unresolved issues that were not solved by the Treaty of Paris. For one, the British had not abandoned their outposts in the Northwest Territory (modern day Midwest) and remained in continental territory. Trade was also an area of conflict due to British imports taking over American market and British tariffs and port restrictions keeping American goods out of British market. The British also seized American vessels on the open seas, impressing the sailors into servitude in the Royal Navy. The Jay Treaty intended to solve these conflicts,

8 but Jay had little leverage in negotiation and the resulting treaty heavily favored British interests instead of American priorities. Though there was a sincere promise to vacate the Northwest Territory, the economic portion of the treated was reviled by the general public. The British agreed to reduced tariffs and cessation of American merchant prohibition, but the British were allowed to seize France-bound American ships as well as any French goods on American ships. This was negotiated because Britain was at war with France and desired to weaken their enemy, but many Americans saw this as the federal government failing to protect them on journeys overseas. Unsurprisingly, this provision of the Jay Treaty offended the French, who saw it as an infraction of their alliance with the United States. The Directory, the post-revolution government of France, created an order that allowed French ships to capture American ships in retaliation. Tensions were already high between France and the United States since the US had ceased its loan repayments when King Louis XVI was overthrown, reasoning that their debts to the monarch did not carry over to the new government. XYZ Affair The United States sent Elbridge Gerry, John Marshall, and Charles C. Pinckney as representatives to France in order to speak about the French seizure of American ships. However, instead of meeting Foreign Minister Marquis de Talleyrand, they were met by several intermediaries who stipulated that conditions needed to be met before they were allowed to talk to Talleyrand. These agents demanded a low-interest loan from the US to France, payment of claims by American merchant ships, and a large bribe to Talleyrand himself. The US envoys refused these conditions, though they eventually did meet with Talleyrand, and sent correspondence to President Adams. Naturally suspicious of all of Adam s actions, the Democratic-Republicans demanded that the correspondence be released, which Adams reluctantly agreed to after censoring his correspondence by giving the pseudonyms X, Y, and Z to the agents. In retaliation to the capture of American ships, the US began to threaten French interests in the Caribbean by supporting the nascent Haitian Revolution and by fighting against the French in skirmishes. The resulting conflict became known as the Quasi-War, since neither nation issued a formal proclamation of war despite the existing international conflict. Perceptions of France and Britain Due to the chaotic revolution in France, many Americans regard the French as unpredictable political radicals. French sympathizers are often called Jacobins, after the controlling political party of France known for the bloodier, moblike elements of the French Revolution. The fear is that fraternizing with the French will bring a similar mob rule to the United States. France is also currently in dire financial straits, which makes them a poor economic partner. Meanwhile, the lingering feelings of the American Revolution also warn against partnering too closely with the British. Many feel that the Adams administration was far too lenient with the Jay Treaty, as well as their continued inaction on behalf of impressed American sailors and seized American ships that fell victim to British privateers. However, the British remain integral to trade and the American economy, so jeopardizing this trade relationship could greatly affect the wealth of this nation. Louisiana Territory The land west of the Mississippi and the important port city of New Orleans, cohesively referred to as the Louisiana Territory, is in current possession of the Spanish. The Mississippi River has historically been a point of contention between Americans settles along the river and the Spanish, who formerly denied them the right to navigate the Mississippi. However, after the

9 1795 signing of the Pinckney Treaty, Americans have gained the right to navigate the river and use the port of New Orleans. According to contemporary accounts, three-eighths of all American production goes through New Orleans. Any loss of access to the port would be devastating to the American economy so the administration tries to maintain positive relationships with the country that controls shipping rights in the area. Past the trading outposts along the river lies a wilderness that has barely been explored. There are no clear maps of the area and most cartographers must guess at the geography when drawing the boundaries of the Louisiana Territory. There are rumors that there is a waterway that connects the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean, which would be an invaluable asset to America by opening up a more direct route to trade with China. The lands are largely unsettled, aside from some small trading outposts established by the Spanish and French, and home to many tribes of Native Americans. Spain has been a poor administrator of the Louisiana Territory for years and generally uninterested in developing the land, which makes many suspect that they may hand over the territory to another foreign power to solidify an alliance. Questions: 1. Should the United States look for foreign allies or hold closer to their Proclamation of Neutrality? 2. What is your position on territorial expansion and foreign powers? 3. Is the Louisiana Territory worthy of further exploration and settlement? 4. What government entity has the authority to approve territorial expansion? 5. What should US policy be towards impressed sailors? 6. Should the US be more closely allied with Britain or France?

10 Appendix 1: Electoral methods by state Connecticut: State legislature appoints each elector Delaware: State legislature appoints each elector Georgia: State legislature appoints each elector Kentucky: State has distinct electoral districts, voters of the district choose an elector* Maryland: State has distinct electoral districts, voters of the district choose an elector* Massachusetts: State legislature appoints each elector New Hampshire: State legislature appoints each elector New Jersey: State legislature appoints each elector New York: State legislature appoints each elector North Carolina: State has distinct electoral districts, voters of the district choose an elector* Pennsylvania: State legislature appoints each elector Rhode Island: Electors are chosen by voters statewide* South Carolina: State legislature appoints each elector Tennessee: State is divided into distinct electoral districts, counties within districts each choose an elector by vote, county electors choose an elector for the entire district* Vermont: State legislature appoints each elector Virginia: Electors are chosen by voters statewide* *= indicates that popular vote plays any role in electoral process

11 Appendix 2: Map of the existing United States with electoral totals

12 Dossier Joseph Inslee Anderson Senator (TN) After the turmoil of the American Revolution, Anderson settled down as a federal judge in the newly-recognized Southwest Territory, which later entered the U.S as the state of Tennessee. As a judge, he presided over legal matters big and small, including disputes with Native Americans in the area. Anderson is a humble country man who is looking out for the fortune of his adopted state. Aaron Burr The child of a well-known New York political family, Burr has quickly risen to prominence within the Democratic-Republican party. After serving in the Revolutionary War, he practiced law and became the attorney-general of New York in During this early portion of his life, he became acquainted with his rival and member of the Federalist Party, Alexander Hamilton. A former senator, Burr keeps his motives concealed from the other members of the party but he has been clear on his dislike of the XYZ Affair and the Alien and Sedition Acts. He has a relentless drive to be the next president and a broad base of support in New York, but his lack of alliances and prominent enemies may spell his doom. William C. C. Claiborne House Representative (TN) Claiborne grew up in Virginia and moved out to Tennessee to start up his own legal practice after studying law in Richmond. He followed Andrew Jackson as the House Representative for the new state of Tennessee, even though he was below the minimum age for an elected representative. Nevertheless, Claiborne is passionate about the interests of his state and the surrounding territories, with an interest in mitigating the dangers of the frontier. George Clinton The child of Irish immigrants born in New York, Clinton married into the Livingston family after being their political ally in the New York assembly. He has a distaste for ineffectual legislative service and prefers to see the real impact of his work, which led him to accept a position in the New York militia during the Revolution. His protection of New York made him popular and he became governor in 1775 until Clinton was a vehement opponent of the Constitution, specifically the ratification process. This, along with his daughter s marriage to the infamous Citizen Genêt, decreased his popularity. Having recently won election to the New York legislature (an election that Aaron Burr urged him to enter), Clinton remains an influential presence and commands the respect of many New Yorkers. John Fowler House Representative (KY-2) After reaching the rank of captain in the Revolutionary War, Fowler left his home state of Virginia for the budding town of Lexington, Kentucky and became one of its representatives. Fowler is a prominent landholder in both Virginia and Kentucky, mostly using the land for planting. He is largely involved in agrarian life and

13 participated in a multitude of community groups including the Freemasons. Many of his fellow Lexingtonians look to him for leadership. Jesse Franklin Senator (NC) A former representative to the House of representatives, Franklin has returned to Congress as a senator. A career-long Democratic-Republican, Franklin generally follows the party on all issues and there are whispers that he might become the leader of the party in the senate. His military background in North Carolina gives him popularity in the state, since he participated in the Battle of Kings Mountain, one of the turning points of the war in the southern states. Franklin is well-known in his community, but he ll need wider support if he desires any career advancement. Elbridge Gerry Gerry has had his hand in nearly every iteration of American government thus far. He started his political learning under the wing of famed patriot Samuel Adams, which explains his distrust of powerful central government. Gerry often found himself in the middle for debates about federal versus state power and led the committee that generated the Connecticut Compromise at the Constitutional Convention. Most recently, Gerry was sent by President Adams as an envoy to France during the XYZ affair and his prolonged stay in France was met with displeasure from the Federalists. Though currently engaged in his own campaign for Governor of Massachusetts, Gerry is prepared to advise his party on their best next steps forward. Thomas Jefferson Vice President of the United States Aside from his current role as the Vice President, Jefferson is one of the co-founders of the Democratic-Republican Party and is perceived as the leader of the party. He is best known for writing the Declaration of Independence, championing the ideals of the common American farmer, and borrowing from classic philosophers and contemporaries to design a republic. While he was absent from the Constitutional Convention, he spent time improving diplomatic relationships with France and maintains a strong sense of friendship with the country. Unfortunately, this relationship with France in addition to Jefferson s aristocratic status makes him distant from the voting populace and it is unclear whether or not he will be able to connect with the common American. John Langdon Senator (NH) Langdon made his fortune as a merchant with a small fleet of trading ships, which gives him a strong naval focus when it comes to trade restrictions and international politics. One of the main reasons that he supported the American Revolution was the restrictions that the British placed on trade. As such, Langdon comes at law from a place of economics, pragmatism, and what benefits the merchant class. Michael Leib House Representative (PA-2) It s difficult to pin down Leib, a man who clearly marches to the beat of his own drum much like his mentor Benjamin Franklin. A Revolutionary War surgeon and dabbler in philosophy, science, and inventing, Leib is an eccentric outlier among many of his fellow Democratic-Republicans. Regardless, Leib is always looking for ways to improve the government and the democratic process with his position. Edward Livingston House Representative (NY-2) Growing up in the shadow of his older brother Robert R. Livingston might have been tough for anyone else, but Edward rose to the occasion and claimed his place in the national government. An opponent of both the Jay Treaty and the Alien and Sedition Acts, Edward Livingston found himself near the center of many divisive disagreements. Like his brother, Edward is a strong negotiator and knows the law like the back of his hand.

14 Robert R. Livingston Chancellor of New York From a wealthy family in the Hudson River Valley, Robert R. Livingston is a veteran of New York state politics. It is worth noting that the Livingston family is a prominent political family and his younger brother, Edward Livingston, has also been invited to this committee. Robert R. Livingston currently holds office as the first Chancellor of New York, the highest judiciary position in the state. He was formerly the U.S Secretary of Foreign Affairs under the Articles of Confederation and helped draft the Declaration of Independence. His extensive experience in the judiciary and foreign affairs makes him a superb negotiator when it comes to deals with other countries, but he holds an extreme dislike for the French Foreign Minister Marquis de Talleyrand. Matthew Lyon House Representative (VT-1) Pugilistic and fiery, Matthew Lyon once got into a fight with fellow Congressman Griswold on the House floor over a personal insult. During his earlier years, Lyon served in the Revolutionary War as the second lieutenant of the Green Mountain Boys, a notable Vermont militia. Today, Lyon has just finished his jail sentence from violating the Sedition Act with an article in his newspaper The Scourge Of Aristocracy and Repository of Important Political Truth and he intends to make his negative opinion about the Act known. Lyon has great popularity among common voters and garnered disdain from the elites, who see this wild mountain man as a threat to civility. Nathaniel Macon House Representative (NC-5) Though Macon has been in US government since the beginning, he is hardly a typical Democratic-Republican. By all accounts, Macon s one goal in life was to stop the government from retaining any amount of power. Among his other stances, he is a staunch opponent of military, war, public expenditures, the US Constitution, and expansion of government in any form. Perhaps the only kind of expansion that Macon likes is territorial expansion. James Madison Famed Father of the Constitution James Madison helped found the Democratic- Republican party with Thomas Jefferson. Madison is a staunch proponent of limited government and believes that the government should not have any powers that are not specifically delegated to it, which spurred him to write the Virginia Resolution. A prolific writer, thorough note-keeper, and notable politician, Monroe is currently without a position in the government, but it s difficult to keep him out of politics for very long. James Monroe Governor of Virginia A proud Virginian and liked politician, Monroe opposed the adoption of the Constitution without an enumerated Bill of Rights that protected the liberties of the people. To Monroe, the rights of the people are the most integral component of government and he cares less about the powers that the executive has. Monroe left his position as the Minister to France four years ago in order to serve in his current capacity as the Governor of Virginia, a position that he has expanded due to the restrictive rules placed on the Virginia executive. Additionally, he supports the French Revolution as most Democratic-Republicans do. Monroe is a former senators and previously led the Democratic- Republicans of the Senate. He is highly suspicious of Federalists, who are also suspicious of Monroe on account of his ties with the French. Charles Pinckney Senator (SC) Best known for the Pinckney Plan, an unrecorded precursor to the Connecticut Compromise, Charles Pinckney is one of the few Democratic- Republicans who likes the Constitution. Though he started his career as a Federalist, Pinckney switched parties in 1791 after he strongly opposed the Jay Treaty. His cousin, Thomas Pinckney, was the writer of Pinckney s Treaty,

15 which returned some American trading rights and exploration rights to the Mississippi River. Charles Pinckney is incredibly knowledgeable about the political landscape of South Carolina and plans to use that knowledge to elect his party to the presidency. (Not to be confused with his father Colonel Charles Pinckney, his uncle Charles Pinckney who was a justice in South Carolina, or his cousin Charles Cotesworth Pinckney) John Randolph of Roanoke House Representative (VA-7) Known for his wit and political sharpness, John Randolph is a solid Democratic-republican like his cousin Thomas Jefferson. However, he maintains friendships across party lines and has won the respect of some Federalists for his oratory skills. He hails from the wealthy landed gentry of Virginia and genuinely believes in education and protecting the farmers of the region. Randolph is still quite young and prone to impulsivity and aggression, but his brilliant mind shows potential. Stevens Thomson Mason Senator (VA) Mason fits the typical profile of a legislator: a degree in law from the College of William and Mary, Virginian, and former Revolutionary War soldier. After serving in the Virginia House of Delegates, Mason accepted the role of senator in 1794 after James Monroe resigned his position. Mason has wide support in his state, which allowed him to win re-election twice. Mason maintains the typical stances of a Democratic-Republican with special attention paid to the interests of planters. Daniel D. Tompkins A newcomer on the scene, Tompkins is a handsome 24 year-old lawyer who aspires to be a politician. He has a great zeal for politics and support among the Democratic-Republicans of his home state, New York, which will surely help his plans to run for Congress next election cycle. Tompkins is generally a moderate Democratic- Republican, but his positions on different issues are still developing.