U3: Constitution to Early Republic

1783-1824Part Two

Washington DC, around 1800

JOHN ADAMS (1796-1800)

ADAMS BEHIND THE EIGHT-BALL

• Problems from the Get-Go:– Jay’s Treaty 1795 (w/GB):

averts war, but seems to draw us closer to England; most Americans (and Jefferson) hate it, and J.A. inherits it

– Adams wins, but TJ is his VP; opposed to most of Adams’ agenda

• Adams’ Domestic Policy:– Development of central

authority, national military

– Stunted by A. Hamilton (who thinks JA isn’t up the job) and T. Jefferson (who thinks JA/AH are betraying the revolution)

First Party System: Development of political parties– Federalists (Washington’s

originals: pro-business, Pro-British, active fed. govt.)

– Democratic-Republicans (Jefferson—pro-agriculture, small govt., pro-France)

Jets!

Sharks!

Bloods!

Crips!

• Adams’ Foreign Policy• Stuck between warring nations, England

and France; Adams determined to stay out• XYZ Affair, 1798

– French agents (X, Y, Z) demand bribes to maintain diplomatic relations with France

– American refusal starts Quasi-War– Democratic-Republicans: Adams

bungled the whole thing; he’s incompetent!

– Federalists: the DR’s are too French-lovin’…so…

– Military buildup (navy)– Alien and Sedition Acts

• Naturalization Act: extends length of residence necessary to become citizen from 5 to 14 years)

• Alien Act: President can deport any alien considered “dangerous to the peace and safety of the U.S.”

• Alien Enemies Act: apprehend/deport foreign residents if their home nation is at war with U.S.

• Sedition Act: makes it a crime to publish “false, scandalous, and malicious writing" against the government Ringing a bell with

anyone…?

•In response, Mad/Jeff write Virginia (JM)/Kentucky (TJ) Resolutions•Federal govt can only exercise powers specifically given to it (10th Amendment)•if Feds exceed their power, states can ignore (nullify) it•This idea becomes the basis for states’ rights crisis, 1830-1860

Election of 1800• Adams v. Jefferson: 1st really mean pres.

Election• Adams backstabbed by Hamilton, conspired

against him w/i Fed. Party• DRs win, but…• Whoops! Same # electoral votes for TJ and

“Crazy Aaron” Burr• tie sends it to House; 36 ballots later, TJ is

Pres.

Federalists: election of TJ would “teach murder, robbery, rape, adultery and incest".

DRs: Adams will make himself King, destroy the republican values of U.S.

Refuse me, willya!?? Bleargh!!

Federalist newspaper cartoon in 1800 attacks a drunken Jefferson for trying to pull down the pillars of the Washington-Adams Federalist achievements with the

aid of the devil

IF YOU THINK POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS ARE MEAN TODAY…

Thomas Jefferson (1800-1808)

JEFFERSON’S AGENDA:

•Alien/Sedition Acts gone

•Reduce size of fed. Govt. (to Republicans, the original goal of Revolution)

•eliminate debt (AH: that’s a source of economic growth!; TJ: it’s a source of corruption), internal taxes

•Destroy Federalists!

• “midnight appointments” (Marbury v. Madison)

•Louisiana Purchase, 1801

• Jefferson’s quibble: “I’m a strict constructionist; can we even buy new territory?”

• uses treaty-making power to do it

• Lewis and Clark expedition, 1802-1805

• size of U.S. roughly doubled

Meriwether Lewis (Jefferson’s secretary

Captain William Clark Lewis and Clark's Outbound Route Shown in Red, Inbound in Blue

•Jefferson’s Foreign Policy

• Napoleonic Wars in Europe threaten U.S. trade

• Chesapeake Affair, 1807 inflames U.S.

• TJ’s response: Embargo Act, 1807

• do no business with England/France

• Disastrous economic consequences for U.S., little impact on European imports

Monticello

TJ’s grave; pretty solid resume

James MadisonWAR OF 1812

•JM, egged on by “War Hawks” in Congress to fight Britain

•Brought on by British practice of impressment

•D.C. burned, a few naval battles

•Battle of New Orleans, 1815: makes Andrew Jackson a celebrity (even though battle was fought after treaty)

EVERYONE SKEDADDLING, AS THE BRITISH BURN WASHINGTON!

Why don’t Americans Remember the War of 1812? Click to find out!

The Era of Good Feelings, 1815-1830

•During War of 1812, Federalists had opposed War of 1812

• Hartford Convention, 1814-1815: New England states opposed the war so much, secession from U.S. was discussed, anger over war/embargo’s impact on economy

• After Treaty of Ghent, popularity for war (and Andrew Jackson) surges, and Federalist party is mostly dead

• Republicans rule without opposition

• James Monroe: 1816-1824 (last Founding Father President)

• Foreign policy: the Monroe Doctrine (1823)

• The US declares the Americas off-limits to Europe; US will recognize existing European colonies, but no new ones

• “America’s Self-Defense Doctrine”; neutral, just like Washington wanted

• The Supreme Court rules in several cases which help create basis for a strong central government– McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)– Maryland tries to tax branch of the

Bank of the United States– Court says:

• Constitution lets Congress makes laws that are “necessary and proper” to carry out its own powers; this means there are powers only implied, not spelled out

• Constitution says national government is “supreme” law of the land; therefore, states can’t tax the national bank

– Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)• Court says that U.S. government

is in charge of interstate commerce, which can include just about any commercial activity

• These rulings greatly expand the power/scope of the national government

The Marshall Court: last bastion of Federalism

1. Jay’s Treaty2. XYZ Affair3. Quasi-War4. Alien and

Sedition Acts5. “Revolution of

1800”6. Embargo Act,

18077. War of 18128. Monroe Doctrine9. Marshall Court

(McCulloch v. Maryland, Marbury v. Madison, Gibbons v. Ogden)