Disinterestedness was synonymous with civic virtue in the 18th century. Gentlemen of this time period were expected to own land, to be free of the need to labor, and to place the good of the many ahead of their own needs. Most men who held political office before the Revolutionary War were described as being disinterested, and these men often were expected to use their own money and influence to support social infrastructure. However, after the Revolutionary War, a shift in social expectations began to change the definition of gentlemen and the virtue of being disinterested took on a less honorable connotation; politicians began to ask for compensation to serve in political office.

Entail is an inheritance law based on feudal law that came from England. Entail ensured that the land a man owned would remain in his family for generations to come. Many colonists, mostly in the middle and southern colonies, used entail to allow for the independence of many children, not just the eldest, and to protect the reputation of the family.

The federalists were the first political party in the United States. Federalists supported a strong national government, economic growth, and a good relationship with England. The federalist party was developed between 1789 and 1790 by a group of businessmen and bankers who supported Alexander Hamilton’s policies.