Launching a New Ship of State—Part 21789-1800

American Pageant Chapter 10

The Emergence of Political Parties

• At the start--Political parties not in existence or planned for

• Organized resistance: Anti-federalists

– Alexander Hamilton’s fiscal policies

– State right(ers)

• Two party system since then

– Party out of power—balances government

Impact of French Revolution

• French Revolution 1789 (A few weeks after

Washington was inaugurated)

– Impact on U.S.

– Early stages—removed Louis XVI

– Declared war on Austria then other countries

• Control of the Atlantic

– Reign of Terror—executed all nobles

Impact of French Revolution

• American Reaction:

– Jeffersonian Republicans:

• Regret bloodshed, but…

• Supported the French Revolution

– Hamiltonian Federalists:

• Feared change & mobocracy

• Worried about economic impact

Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation

• Franco-American Alliance—1778

– Bound U.S. to defend French West Indies

• Jeffersonians—want to enter fight

• Washington—Avoid war at all costs

– Nation to weak economically & politically

– Delay strategy—”birthrate to fight America’s battles”

Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation

• Neutrality Proclamation 1793

– Government neutral

– Citizens impartial

– Start of isolationist trend

– Washington announced w/out consulting congress

Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation

• Citizen Genet Affair

– Edmund Genet—French Republic representative

– Unauthorized--tried to recruit armies to invade Spanish Florida & Louisiana, etc.

– Tried to “go over Washington’s head” to the voters

– Washington demanded his withdrawal

Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation

• U.S. neutrality benefitted France

– U.S. too weak to help

– F.W.I.—supplies

– British would have blockaded U.S. coast

Embroilments with Britain

• Kept chain of northern frontier forts

– Fur trade

– Indian Buffer states

• Miami Confederacy

– 8 Indian nations

– British sold firearms & whiskey

• Little Turtle—Chief of Miami Confed.

– 1790-1791 defeat U.S. troops

Embroilments with Britain

• Battle of Fallen Timbers

– Indians abandoned by British

– Treaty of Greenville 1795

• Confederacy yielded vast tracts of Old N.W.

• $20,000 given to Indians + $9,000 annually

• Allowed to still hunt in those lands

• Significance:

– Indians thought treaty put limits on U.S.

Embroilments with Britain

• Sea Frontier

– British want to starve French West Indies

– U.S. Merchants “neutral”—supplies

– British seize 300 U.S. merchant ship & impress sailors into British Navy

– America’s response

• Jeffersonians: want another war

• Hamiltonians: War w/Britain would stop economics trade w/powerful nation

Jay’s Treaty & Washington’s Farewell

• John Jay sent to England to avoid war

– Jeffersonians did not like choice

– Hamilton told British Jay’s strategy

– Jay’s Treaty:

• British leave frontier forts (already promised)

• British pay damages for ships

• Did NOT pledge to stop future seizures or impressments

• U.S. pay debts to British merchants from Rev. War

Jay’s Treaty & Washington’s Farewell

• Unpopular w/Americans

– Revitalized Jefferson’s Democratic Republican party

• Southern planters—pay majority of debts

• Pinckney’s Treaty 1795 w/Spain

– Spain granted U.S. navigation of Mississippi & territory north of Florida

Jay’s Treaty & Washington’s Farewell

• Washington decides to retire

– Two term precedent

– Farewell address

• Avoid permanent alliances

• Political parties were divisive

– His Contributions

• Strong central government

• U.S. fiscally sound

• Kept U.S. out of foreign wars

John Adams becomes President

• Hamilton—too unpopular (fiscal policies)

• John Adams (Federalist)—1796 election

– Washington’s V.P.

– Stern principles, but tactless

– “Respectful irritation”

– Hated by Hamilton

– Support in N.E.

– Jefferson (2nd place) becomes his V.P.

Unofficial Fighting with France

• French felt Jay’s treaty was a betrayal

• Refused to receive America’s envoy

• XYZ Affair– John Marshall & others sent to Talleyrand

– X, Y, & Z ask for bribe just to talk

– War hysteria breaks out in U.S.• Navy Department

• United States Marine Corps (up to 10,000 men authorized)

• U.S. ships capture 80 armed ships, but…

• Several 100 U.S. merchant ships taken

Adams Puts Patriotism Above Party

• Adams stays out of war

– Unpopular w/people—especially Jeffersonians

• Convention of 1800

– Treaty with Napoleon

– Ended peace time alliance w/France

– Paved way for purchase of Louisiana

The Federalist Witch Hunt

• Alien & Sedition Laws 1798

– Anti-French frenzy

– Extended residency requirement from 5 to 14 years

– President empowered to deport in peace or imprison in war (never enforced)

– Imprisonment and/or fine for those who impede the government

• Matthew Lyon—4 mo. Jail for criticizing John Adams

– Purpose: Oppress pro-Jeffersonians

The Virginia & Kentucky Resolution

• Reaction to Alien & Sedition Laws

• Virginia (Madison) & Kentucky (Jefferson) Resolutions:

– Extreme state-rights theory

– Compact Theory

• States made the “compact” w/the Constitution

• Nullification– States could nullify federal law that “betrayed

them”

The Virginia & Kentucky Resolution

• Reaction to Alien & Sedition Laws

• Virginia (Madison) & Kentucky (Jefferson) Resolutions:

– Extreme state-rights theory

– Compact Theory

• States made the “compact” w/the Constitution

• Nullification– States could nullify federal law that “betrayed

them”

Federalists v. Democratic Republicans

Federalists

• Those who owned government should run it

• Government should support private enterprise

• Support—Atlantic seaboard

• Internationally strong

– Trade

Democratic Republicans

• Thomas Jefferson

• Agrarians

• Strict Constructionists

• Middle class & underprivileged

• Focus on frontier & strengthen democracy at home