Launching a New Republic

Chapter Nine

First Presidential Election

Our newly formed country had created an executive branch, so we needed an executive.

The electoral college (69 members) voted by writing two names on a ballot.

Most votes - President Runner up – Vice President

George Washington First President John Adams, Vice-President A reluctant president Sworn in on April 30, 1789 in New

York City.

King Washington??? There was a great debate on what

Washington should be called. Adams and others felt that he should be

called “Your excellency” like other leaders of foreign countries.

Many felt that the term reeked of a monarchy.

Washington ended the argument by telling them that he would be called “Mr. President”.

Accomplishments during Washington’s Presidency

Federal Judiciary Act of 1789o Congress set up court systemo Act gave Supreme Court six members• A chief justice and five associate justices• We now have

o Set up lower, less powerful federal court system.

Accomplishments during Washington’s Presidency

Set up President’s cabinet with three departmentso Department of State• Dealt with other countries

o Department of War• Defended the country

o Treasury Department• Currency

o Also set up an Attorney General to serve as adviser and to heat the postal system.

Washington’s Cabinet Thomas Jefferson = 1st

Secretary of State

o Wanted the expansion of state’s rights (fought for the Bill of Rights to be added to the Constitution).

o Liked the idea that the federal government would be weak compared to the states.

o Wanted the US to be more rural and full of farmers.

o Would become part of the Democratic Republican Party.

Washington’s Cabinet Alexander Hamilton = 1st

Secretary of the Treasuryo A member of the Continental

Congress & Constitutional Convention.

o Co-Authored the Federalist papers, wanted a strong federal government.

o Thought the way to pay for our Revolutionary War debts was to raise money through Tariffs (taxes on imported goods).• Tariffs would raise money for the

government, encourage American industry, & encourage Americans to buy more American-made goods!

o Thought the US should be urban (full of cities and manufacturing).

FUN FACTS! During Washington’s inaugural

speech, he was so nervous that his hands shook and he had a hard time reading his speech.

He was the only president to never live in the white house.

Whiskey Rebellion

Biggest problem with new country is no $$$$.

Congress decides to tax luxury items (like whiskey).

Settlers west of the Appalachians were angry since it cost a lot to transport the wheat to the whiskey makers.

Many farmers simply refused to pay it.o They needed whiskey to trade for goods.

Fortunately, the US learned from the mistakes of Shay’s Rebellion and decided to deal with the problem.

Whiskey Rebellion… In an effort to end any protests, they

lowered the tax. Many began to pay, BUT… The “Whiskey Boys” in western

Pennsylvania tarred and feathered tax collectors that tried to enforce the law.

Alexander Hamilton and George Washington believed the rebellion was a threat to the authority of the national government and decided to lead 13,000 militia to stop the threat.

Whiskey Rebellion… It worked! They stopped the Rebellion and proved

that the new government was strong and powerful.

FUN FACT!!

Tarring and feathering was a form of humiliation in Colonial and early American times.

The victim had tar either poured or painted on him and then feathers were thrown on him

The tar used most often was pine tar. It has a much lower boiling point and so didn’t burn the skin.

But it was incredibly difficult to remove!

Alexander Hamilton & The Bank of the United

States Hamilton wanted to create an official bank of the

United States. He believed that having a bank to issue currency and make

business loans would strengthen the United States.

Others opposed the bank because they feared the national government would gain too much power. They also didn’t believe that the government had to power to

create a bank at all.

Washington heard both sides, but eventually decided to go with Hamilton and allow the creation of the bank.

Alexander Hamilton & The Bank of the United

States Hamilton’s financial plan for the United States

had 3 parts:o Create the national banko Pay off war debts (by using revenue from tariffs)o Raise money for the government

This plan to repay the debt was greatly opposed. The southern states had mostly repaid their war debt and didn’t think it was fair to make them pay for the North’s debt.

What could persuade the South to agree to the debt plan?

Both the North and the South wanted the capital in their section of the country.

Hamilton said he would support a plan for the capitol to be in the South IF the South would support his plan to pay of the debt.

The debt plan passed and the nation’s new capital, the District of Columbia, was located in the South between Maryland and Virginia.

French Revolution While the Whiskey Rebellion was happening, the

French were rebelling against their king. The leaders of the French Revolution hoped to

build a nation based on “liberty, equality, and fraternity”. (sound familiar?)

French Revolution Initially, it was a great cause with well meaning

leaders and France does eventually become a Republic.

Americans were thrilled. They saw the French Revolution as a crusade for democracy.

But eventually, the French Revolution starts taking a different course…

French Revolution The leaders, cheered on by

angry mobs, begin beheading wealthy nobles. (A symbol of the class system that they are rebelling against).

Things get out of control. Word spreads back to

America and the wealthy Americans worried that the same thing could happen in America.

Growth of Political Parties

The lasting effect of the French Revolution for Americans, was the division of its government.

There were two very different political parties…o Thomas Jefferson and his followers supported the

revolution and called themselves Democratic-Republicans or Republicans.

o Alexander Hamilton and his followers did not (remember they were wealthy) and they called themselves Federalists.

The division of between Republicans and Federalists worried George Washington so much that he ran for a second term.

Hamilton and Jefferson both told him that he was the only person that could keep the country together.

George Washington’s Farewell Address

Near the end of Washington’s second term, he said that he would not run again.

In his final speech, he attempted to reunite the divided country by reminding them that they had fought together during the revolution.

He also pointed to two major problems the country faced…o Problems with other countrieso Problems with the “Spirit of the Party”

Despite the political differences, Washington had led the country through very difficult times and had left the nation united and at peace.

George Washington’s Farewell Address

“The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.

As an important source of strength and security, cherish public credit. One method of preserving it is to use it as sparingly as possible; avoid the accumulation of debt, not only by shunning occasions of expense, but by vigorous exertions to discharge debts, which unavoidable wars may have occasioned, not ungenerously throwing upon [future generations] the burden, which we ourselves ought to bear.”

What are some of the dangers that Washington cautioned the nation against?

Which of these dangers does our nation still face today?

And in this corner… Alexander Hamilton and the Federalists Hamilton

o Born and raised in the Caribbeano Sent to America when he was 13 with nothing o Self made mano Washington made him his personal assistant during the

Revolutiono Married into one of the wealthiest families in New York.o Snazzy dresser with good postureo A doer - got things accomplished.

Federalistso Believed people were basically selfish so distrusted any system

of government that gave too much power to the people.o Believed the most well educated, wealthy men should run the

country.o Favored a strong national government

And in this corner…

Thomas Jefferson and the Republicans Jefferson

o Born in VA to an old and respected familyo Owned a tobacco plantation in VA (slaves)

o Had faith in the “goodness” of peopleo Eloquent writer

o Sloppy and thrown togethero Slouched

o A thinker – took time to explore ideas. Republicans

o Best government was the one that governed the leasto Felt that Federalist’s views were dangerously close to a

monarchyo Strict Construction – Strict adherence to the Constitution

o Weak national government/Strong state government

The ‘Elastic’ Clause AKA: ‘Necessary and Proper’ Clause This is what gave Federalists the idea that

government had more powers than just those listed in the Constitution.

“To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the forgoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.”

John Adams Takes Office

2nd President John Adams – 71

votes (President) (Federalist)

Thomas Jefferson - 68 votes (Vice President) (Republican)

Top two leaders were from opposing political parties

Tension with France When Washington left office, tensions were high

with France. France and Britain were at war. France began seizing US ships and looting them

to prevent trade with Britain. John Adams sent an ambassador to France to try

to work things out.

Tension with France For several weeks no one would talk with them

until finally three French men (X, Y, and Z) said they could meet with France if the US paid $10 million.

They refused and reported it back to John Adams. It became known as in the XYZ Affair. Adams cancelled its treaties with France and

allowed US ships to seize French ships. Set aside money to expand the navy and army.

Alien and Sedition Acts First laws Adams enacted

o Created to silence his critics “in a time of crisis” Alien Acts broken into three laws…

o First• Lengthened the time it took for an immigrant to become a citizen with

the right to vote from 5 to 14 years.o Second and Third

• The other two Alien Acts allowed the president to either jail or deport aliens that were suspected of activity against the government.

Sedition Acto Sedition (encouraging rebellion against the government) a crimeo It defined sedition as ‘printing, uttering, or publishing any false

scandalous and malicious writing’ against the govt.o It was actually used to punish Republican newspaper editors who

insulted President Adams.

FUN FACT!! Alien and Sedition Acts!

One editor said he was an “old, quarrellous, bald, blind, crippled, toothless Adams.”

Twenty five people were arrested under the new Sedition Act. Ten were convicted of printing seditious opinions.

Peace with France A couple years later, although war fever was high,

Adams reopened talks with France.

They quickly signed the Convention of 1800o Stopped all naval attacks

Although Adams paved the way to make peace with France, his actions made him an enemy of the Federalists and he lost the election of 1800.

Who won the election? We will find out in chapter 10!

1789

George Washington sworn in as first president.

French Revolution begins.

1794

Whiskey Rebellion

1796

George Washington’s farewell address

John Adams elected president

1798

Alien and Sedition Act