However, political factions soon emerged. The Federalist and the Republican political parties.

French Revolution and US history
Thomas Jefferson and the Republicans sympathized with the supporters of the French Revolution, which championed individual rights against the aristocratic, monarchist government. Alexander Hamilton and the Federalists opposed it. 

French Revolution and US history - 1789
The French Revolution began in May 1789 quickly followed by the July storming of the Bastille. James Madison had proposed the U.S. Bill of Rights which was introduced on June 8, 1789 in New York. In August 1789 the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen" as the first step towards writing a constitution for France. The ideas and inspiration of the declaration was largely based on the ideals of the American Revolution. Drafts of the Declaration were prepared by Marquis de Lafayette, who had served as a Important-general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution under George Washington. Lafayette worked at times with his close friend Thomas Jefferson on the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen". Jefferson was in France at the time, serving as a US diplomat. The document was finalized by the efforts of Mirabeau in August 1789, 11 weeks after the US Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution.

French Revolution and US history for kids
The American Revolution had a profound effect on France and the ideals of Freedom and Liberty of the Americans were adopted by many of the French. France follow the American republican example by creating a constitutional monarchy. The power of the French King and Queen who reigned as absolute monarchs was significantly reduced and their actions were restrained by the written law of the French Constitution. The French Revolution became extreme and the hatred of the French citizens of royalty and the wealthy elite turned to violence. The King and Queen of France were arrested in 1792. They were both beheaded in 1793 along with many members of the nobility. France, like the US, was established as a Republic.

French Revolution and US history for kids - American Politics
The staunch US Republicans, led by Thomas Jefferson, celebrated the overthrow of the French monarchy and the establishment of the Republic. The  determined actions of the French revolutionaries were admired by the Republicans. Reports of French victories were received with rejoicing across many areas of the US. The French ideals of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity were echoed across the states. But, while the Republicans were celebrating the downfall of the French monarchy, the Federalists were far from happy with the situation. The events of the French Revolution caused various rifts in the government of the new nation. Republicans sympathized with the supporters of the French Revolution, which championed individual rights against the aristocratic, monarchist government. The Federalists opposed it.

French Revolution and US history for kids - Citizen Genet
The support of many Americans to the French Revolution increased still further when the new French government sent a minister, the French Ambassador, to the US. The name of the French minister was Edmond-Charles Genet (1763 - 1834), popularly known as Citizen Genet. Citizen Genet landed at Charleston, South Carolina and was greeted with rapturous support all the way to Philadelphia. His objective was to promote American support for France in their wars with Spain and Britain. Citizen Genet went to far in trying to achieve his aims and even appealed to the American people against Washington who would not give him the support for France that he wanted. Americans rallied to support President Washington and Citizen Genet was soon replaced by another French ambassador.

French Revolution and US history for kids - American Neutrality
President George Washington worked to keep the U.S. out of European conflicts and preserve U.S. neutrality in international relations. For addition facts refer to the Neutrality Proclamation of 1793.