Launching the New Government

Launching the New Government Chapter 9Washington Takes OfficeSection 1

Washingtons First StepsWashington was inaugurated in NYC on April 30, 1789Inauguration- the Ceremony in which the President officially takes the oath of office.Washington felt a great burden because he was expected to make the government work.Constitution did not set out how a president was suppose to run day to day operations. Washington know he would have to set a precedent.Precedent- an act or a decision that sets an example for others to follow

First Cabinet Constitution said very little about how the executive branch should be organized.Cabinet- members of the executive branch that give president advice and direct their depts.1789 the first Congress created 5 executive departmentsState dept. - Thomas JeffersonTreasury dept.- Alexander Hamilton War dept.-Henry KnoxAttorney General Edmond Randolph Postmaster General- Ben Franklin

Federal Court System Congress passed the Judiciary Act in 1789 which set up the Supreme Court.1 Chief Justice 5 Associate Justices John Jay was the first Chief Justice The judiciary Act also set up district and circuit courts across the nation.Reducing the Nations DebtAs Secretary of Treasury, Hamilton faced a huge National DebtNational Debt- total amount of money that a government owes to others.Federal and State governments had borrowed money from many countries and certain people during the War.Government borrowed money by issuing BondsBond- certificate that promises to repay the money loaned, plus interest, on a certain dateHamiltons Plan Hamilton wanted the Federal Government to pay off both the federal and state debts.Federal Government would buy the bonds issued by national and state governments.National government would then issue new bonds to pay off the old ones and slowly pay off the new ones as the economy got better

Debating Hamiltons Plan James Madison argued that Hamiltons plan would reward speculators.Speculators- Someone who invests in a risky venture in hope of making a large profitHamilton replied that the US must pay back debt in full or risk losing investors in the futureHamiltons Compromise Southerners wanted the Capital to be built in the South.Hamilton stated he would support this if they agreed to his repayment plan.July 1790 Congress voted on the repayment and the building of new capital city New capital would not be part of a state. It was built on land between Virginia and Maryland. It was called District of Columbia In the mean time while the new capital was being built the Government moved to Philidelphia.Building the Economy Hamilton also had to strengthen the economy Asked Congress to create a national bank.1791 Congress created the Bank of the United States.Gov. deposited money from taxes. In turn the bank issued paper money to pay their bills.Bank also loaned money to farmers and businessesTo help manufacturers Hamilton asked Congress to pass a tariff on foreign goodsTariff- Tax Economy Cont..Hamilton wanted a high tariff in order to make foreign goods more expensive than American made goods.Northern states liked the tariff since they had a lot of factories. Southern states disliked it because they imported a lot of goods.Congress did pass the tariff but it was not as high as Hamilton wanted.

The Whiskey RebellionTo raise money for Treasury, Congress placed a tax on all liquor made and sold in the US.The tax sparked a rebellion that tested the strength of the new government.Backcountry farmers grew corn that they converted into whiskey that was easier to ship.Hated the taxRefused to pay it.Compared the tax to the taxes Britain forced on the colonies.1794 farmers rebelledMarched while singing revolutionary songs Tarred and feathered tax collectors

Rebellion cont..Washington responded quickly by sending the militia to stop the rebellion.Farmers fled back to their homes when they heard that 1,000 troops were on the way.Hamilton wanted the leaders of the rebellion to be executed but Washington pardoned them.Washington believed that the gov showed how strong it was.The Whiskey Rebellion proved that the government would take a firm stand in times of crisis. Americans also learned that if they disagreed with the government violence would not be tolerated. Creating a Foreign Policy Section 2

French Revolution1789, French ships in American ports with news that on July 14 an angry mod in Paris had destroyed the Bastille.The attack on the Bastille started the French Revolution.French peasants and middle class rebelled against Lois XVI over taxesThey wanted to reform the monarchs power and protect their natural rights

Responses to the French Revolution American, at first supported the Revolution because they knew what it meant to struggle for liberty.They were conflicted because the French were their first ally during the WarAmericans admired Marquis de Lafayette for his role in the American Revolution American Support dropped off in 1793 when the revolution turned bloody and both the king and queen were beheaded

Violence Stirs DivisionJefferson still supported the French case.He condemned the execution of the king and queen but felt the French had the right to use violence to win freedom Hamilton and Adams disagreed Both said there was no why violence could create the democracy that France wanted.United States Remains Neutral Faced with the idea of war in Europe, Washington had to decide on foreign policy.Foreign Policy- the actions that a nation takes in relation to other nations France wanted to use American ports to supply it ships and launch attacks on British ships.Washington did not think it could honor the treaty with France and still remain Neutral in the European conflict.Neutral- not taking sides in a conflict Divisions in the Cabinet The issue of the treaty caused a division in Cabinet.Hamilton said that the treaty was no longer valid because the king was dead.Jefferson disagreed and said the treaty was not just to the king but the people of France, and the US should honor it.After some debate Washington issued the Neutrality Proclamation in April 1793Neutrality Proclamation- said that the US would not support either side and forbade Americans from aiding either the British or the French.This Proclamation was a defeat for Jefferson and led to him leaving the Cabinet.Struggling to remain Neutral Declaring that the country would remain was easier said than done.Americans wanted to trade with both countries and both countries would seize American cargo headed to the other country. In 1793 the British captured more than 250 American ships trading in the French West Indies.Americans called for war Washington knew we were to weak to fight in a war, he sent John Jay to Britain for talks.

Jays TreatyJay called for Britain to pay for damages done to the seized ships. Britain also agreed to give up the remaining forts they held in the West.Americans had to pay the debts long owed to Britain.Senate finally approved the treaty in 1795 after a furious debate.Washington Retires Before retiring in 1796 Washington published his Farewell Address.He advised Americans from getting involved in European affairs that would drag them into war.He did not oppose foreign tradeHis advice guided American foreign policy for many years Political Parties EmergeSection 3A Distrust of Political Parties Americans distrusted political parties because they saw how factions worked in Britain.Factions- opposing groups within parties.Members of factions plotted to win govt favors and bribeMore interested in personal gain than in the public good.Americans saw political parties as a threat to national unity.Washington warned against political partiesDiffering Views EconomyHamiltonJeffersonWanted the country to model itself after Britain.Thought the government should encourage manufacturing and trade.Favored the growth of cities and the merchant class

Thought that farmers rather than merchants were the backbone of the new nation.Feared that a manufacturing economy would corrupt the US by concentrating power in the hands of the wealthy.Factions grew within Washingtons Cabinet between Jefferson and Hamilton.

Differing Views on Strength of Federal GovernmentHamiltonJeffersonWanted a strong federal government to increase commerce.He felt it would also restrain mob violence like that of the Whiskey Rebellion Wanted the federal government as small as possible, in order to protect individual freedom.He feared a strong federal government might take over powers that the Constitution gave to states.Differing Views on Interpretation of ConstitutionJefferson HamiltonJefferson wanted a strict interpretation of the ConstitutionJefferson worried that the national bank would give to much power to wealthy investors who would run it and the government.Jefferson states that no where did the Constitution give Congress the power to set up a bank.Hamilton preferred a looser interpretation of the Constitution.Stated that the Constitution gave Congress the power to make all laws necessary to carry out its duties.Hamilton argued that the bank was necessary for government to collect taxes and pay its bills Differing Views AlliesHamilton Jefferson Wanted close ties with Great Britain, as a major trading partner.Favored France, the First ally of the US.Development of Political Parties In Congress, all of Hamiltons programs were being passed. This angered Jefferson.Jefferson and Madison journeyed to New York to gain support from its politicians.Governor George ClintonAaron Burr, fierce critic of Hamilton Soon leaders in other states began to support either Hamilton or Jefferson.

Democratic RepublicansThese were Jeffersons supportersFarmersArtisans Some Wealthy plantersNot the same as todays republican party. His party later grew into the Democratic Party.Name came from the type of government that was set up, democratic- republic Democratic- people chose the leadersRepublic-governed by representatives Federalists Hamiltons Supporters called themselves this because the wanted a strong federal government.Drew their support from merchants and manufacturers in New York and Boston.Some southern planters supported Hamilton.Election of 1796Republicans supported Jefferson as President and Aaron Burr as Vice President.Federalists supported John Adams for President and Thomas Pinckney for Vice President Presidential Race FederalistsDemocratic Republicans Adams Thomas Pinckney Jefferson Aaron Burr

Election Results Under the Constitution the person with the most electoral votes became President and the one with the second most became Vice President.Adams, Federalist became President Jefferson, Republican became Vice PresidentHaving the President and Vice President coming from opposing parties increased the political tensionsAdams took office March 1797.The Second President Section 4Conflict With FranceAs soon as Adams took office he faced a crisis with France.France objected Jays Treaty, they felt it favored Britain.1797 French Ships began to seize American Ships in the West Indies To avoid war Adams sent diplomats to Paris to discuss the rights of neutral nations

Diplomatic Talks Charles Maurice de Talleyrand sent three agents to offer the Americans a deal.Three agents stated he wanted $250,000 $10 million loan for France.American diplomats informed Adams and he informed Congress.Never told Congress their names Just referred to them as X,Y, and Z.

XYZ Affair Americans were outraged when they heard about the bribes.Adams refused to go to warStrengthened they navy by building frigatesFrigates- fast-sailing ships with many guns.

New leadership in France Adams again sent diplomas to France.When diplomas arrived they met an ambitious young military leader in charge, Napoleon BonaparteBonaparte had no time or interest in fighting a war with America because he had several other wars planned With European countriesSigned an agreement to stop seizing American Ships Though Adams kept war away, it cost him the support of the Federalist party and weakened the party. New Laws During 1798 Federalist passed several laws through Congress.Alien ActSedition ActUnder the Alien Act, the president could expel any alien thought to be dangerous to the country.Another law made immigrants wait 14 years to become citizens. Before this law immigrants only waited 5 yearsReasons for this is most immigrants supported Jefferson & Republican party

New LawsRepublicans got even more mad with the passing of the Sedition Act.Sedition- stirring up rebellion against a government.Under the Sedition Act citizens could be fined or jailed if they criticized the government or officials.Republicans claimed this act was Unconstitutional according to the 1st Amendment

Rights of the StatesJefferson opposed the Alien and Sedition Acts Could not ask courts for help because Federalist controlled themJefferson urged the states to take strong action against the actsHe argued that the state had the right to nullify a law passed by the government.Nullify- to cancel In this way states could resist the power of Federal government

Rights of the StatesJefferson and Madison led the fight with Kentucky and Virginia.Both states passes resolutions in 1798 and1799 known as the Kentucky and Virginia resolutionsEach state claimed they had equal right to judge for itself if a law was constitutional, if state was found unconstitutional it could nullify it.The resolutions raised the idea of states rights States rights- States possessed all other powers not explicitly given to federal government in the Constitution.Within a few years both acts were changed or dropped.Election of 1800As election time neared Republicans focused on two main topics Attacked the federalist for raising taxes to prepare for war.Opposed the Alien and Sedition acts Republicans backed Jefferson and Aaron BurrFederalist backed Adams for President.

Deadlock ElectionAfter votes were counted Jefferson won the popular vote.When the Electoral college voted both Jefferson and Burr received 73 votes.no candidate won, the House of Representatives decided the election.Jefferson presBurr- VPSoon after the election of 1800 the 12th Amendment was passed. Required electors to vote separately for President and Vice PresidentRatified in 1804

End of the Federalist EraAfter 1800 the Federalist party declined.They won fewer seats in Congress.The party was weakened even further after its leader, Hamilton was killed in a duel with Aaron Burr.Though it soon died, the Federalist party did shape the nation.

Hamilton V Burr, Duel to the Death Hamilton and Burr met on July 11,1804 in Weehawken, New Jersey.Both men would fight the final scrimmage of personal and political battles.Hamilton did not want to duel.Know if he didnt his career would be over and there was a chance if he did it would be overBoth fired one shot from a dueling pistolBurr was not hitHamilton was mortally wounded and died the next day Burr was charged with two counts of murder.Burr never held an office again after he finished his term as Vice President