Launching Launching the New Ship the New Ship of Stateof State

The Federalist Era

1789-1800

America Circa 1790America Circa 1790•Roughly 4 million people•Doubling every 25 years•90% rural•95% east of Allegheny Mts.

•Precarious finances

Domestic Policy Domestic Policy IssuesIssues

George George WashingtWashingt

onon

The President of The President of PrecedentsPrecedents

Washington Washington AdministrationAdministration

•Unanimously elected the first president under the new Constitution

•Served from 1789 - 1797

•John Adams – Vice President

•New federal government first established in New York City•later moved to Philadelphia in 1790

•Congress created the executive branch departments of…•State•Treasury•War•Postmaster General.

•The Cabinet:•Washington sets precedent of consulting the department heads in order to make decisions

•Part of “unwritten constitution”

•Thomas Jefferson appointed as the first Secretary of State

•Alexander Hamilton was Secretary of the Treasury

•Henry Knox became the first Secretary of War

Judiciary Act of Judiciary Act of 17891789

•Supreme Court created by the Constitution •A Chief Justice•5 Associate Justices

•Washington appointed John Jay to be the first Chief Justice

•Judiciary Act expanded the Judicial Branch by creating •federal district courts•circuit court of appeals

•Act also created the office of Attorney General•Edmund Randolph

The Bill of RightsThe Bill of Rights•James Madison drafted the first amendments & sent them to Congress

•The first ten amendments adopted in 1791

The Bill of Rights The Bill of Rights •1st – freedom of speech, press, assembly, petition, & religion

•2nd – right to bear arms•3rd – forbade quartering troops

•4th – forbade unreasonable searches & seizures

•5th – rights during trial & life, liberty, property

•6th – right to fair & speedy trial

•7th – right to trial in civil cases

•8th – forbade excessive fines & unusual punishments

• 9th Amendment:•Certain rights “shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people”

•People retain rights not enumerated here

• 10th Amendment •so-called “state’s rights amendment”

•all rights not explicitly delegated or prohibited were reserved to the states or the people

Hamilton’s Financial Hamilton’s Financial PlanPlan•Hamilton:“Father of National

Debt”•“Funding at par”

•“Report on Public Credit”•Rev. War debt certificates paid at full face value (“at par”)

•Purpose: bolster national credit

•Assumption of State Debts•“Report on Manufactures”•Would tie states & creditors to federal government

•North-South struggle ensuedMassachusetts – large debtVirginia – small debt

•Compromise reached•South agreed to assume the debt if North agreed to allow the new Capital to be built in the South

•“log rolling”

•Washington, D.C. would be built on the Potomac River on land donated by Maryland and Virginia

•Tariffs (customs duties)•Revenue Act of 1789•8% tariff on imports•Also attempt at helping infant American industries

•Whiskey Excise Tax (1791)

The B.U.S.The B.U.S.

•National Bank•Foundation of Hamilton’s plan

•Private institution in which the government held a majority interest

•Government deposited its surplus money in the bank

•Deposits would then be the source of loans & allow for the printing of a national currency

•Bank issue sparks public Hamilton-Jefferson debates•Jefferson argued that the bank would favor northern bankers over the western & southern farmers

•“Strict Construction”•Jefferson also argued that the Constitution said nothing about creating a bank & therefore it was unconstitutional

•“Loose Construction”•Hamilton argued that the bank was “necessary & proper” and permitted by the elastic clause Gave Congress “implied powers”

•Hamilton won over Washington

•The Bank of the United States was founded in 1791 & chartered for twenty years

•More N-S friction!

Foreign Debt

$11,710,000Federal Domestic Debt

$42,414,000

State Debt

$21,500,000

CustomDuties

(Tariffs)

ExciseTaxon

Whiskey

Misc.Revenue

•Pay off $80 million debt

•Excise tax: Taxes placed on manufactured products

•Tariff: a tax on imports

•Establish good credit with foreign nations

•Create a national bank with a national currency

•Raise money for gov’t backed by gold silver

•Assumption Act passed as a compromise with Thomas Jefferson placing the US Capital in the South (Virginia)

HAMILTONHAMILTON•Safe place to deposit and

transfer money

•Provide loans to government and state banks

•A national currency---$$$$$

•An investment by people to buy stock into US bank

•Constitution did not forbid a national bank….Loose

construction of Constitution

•National debt good for country

JEFFERSONJEFFERSON•Went against the Constitution

•State banks would collapse

•Only wealthy could invest in bank and would control bank than control the government

•Hurt the common man

•Strict construction…If it is not mentioned in the Constitution than there can’t be a national

bank

•Against a national debt

BUS

Whiskey Rebellion Whiskey Rebellion (1794)(1794)•SW Pennsylvania

farmers hated Hamilton’s whiskey tax •“Liberty and No Excise”

•Major challenge to new national government

Whuppin’ Whuppin’ RevenooersRevenooers

•Washington summoned the militia of several states to put down the insurrection

•“Rebels” were dispersed without bloodshed

President President Washington Washington

reviews 13,000 reviews 13,000 troops of the troops of the Western Army Western Army assembled at assembled at

Fort Fort Cumberland, Cumberland, Maryland, to Maryland, to

crush the crush the Whiskey Whiskey

Rebellion.Rebellion.

•Swift & decisive action of President gave the new government badly needed respect•Federal Government could ensure domestic tranquility!

Emergence of Emergence of Political PartiesPolitical Parties

Factionalism, fueled by newspaper editorials, developed into organized political parties

•Political duels of Jefferson & Hamilton = the beginning of the political party system

•Jefferson and Hamilton were at completely opposite poles in the political spectrum.

•Jefferson, an Anti-Federalist, opposed a strong central government.

•Hamilton, a Federalist, was suspicious of giving power to the people.

•Jefferson was a friend of France and believed in their revolution.

•Hamilton was a friend of England and wanted close ties for trade.

•Jefferson distrusted commerce and industry, he believed in a rural population of farmers and an economy of agriculture.

•Hamilton wanted a strong commercial economy based on trade and commerce and an urban population.

Federalists (1790s)Gov’t by “best people”Distrusted common peopleStrong central governmentGov’t should encourage business

Pro-British foreign policy

Jeffersoniansaka Democratic-RepublicansRule of the people (literate)Appealed to middle class & underprivileged

Gov’t that governed best, governed least

State’s rights should prevail

National Debt was a cursePrimarily agrariansFreedom of speech to expose tyranny

Pro-French foreign policy

Federalist BeliefsFederalist Beliefs(former Anti-Federalists)(former Anti-Federalists)

Democratic-Democratic-RepublicansRepublicans

Leader

Appealed to

Alexander HamiltonJohn Adams

Thomas JeffersonJames Madison

Manufacturers, merchants, wealthy, and educatedFavored seaboard cities

Farmers and Planterscommon manFavored the South and West

Ideas of Government

Strong government over statesLoose ConstructionLoose Construction of Constitution

•Implied powersImplied powersWealthy and educated involvedLimit freedoms of speech & pressPreferred govt. similar to a king

State’s rights over National Govt.Strict constructionStrict construction of Constitution

•Expressed/Enumerated powersExpressed/Enumerated powersCommon man but educatedBill of Rights is sacredLesser government the better

DomesticPolicy

Supported National Bank—BUSSupported excise taxNational debt good for countryNational govt. assume state debtsTariffs should be high

Against National Bank—BUSAgainst excise tax Against National debtStates pay their own debtsTariffs should be low

ForeignPolicy

Opposed French RevolutionWanted war with FrenchFavored the British

Supported French RevolutionOpposed war with FrenchFavored the French

politicalpolitical

1792 Election Results1792 Election Results

1792 Election Results (16 states in the Union)

George Washington Virginia Federalist 132

97.8%

John Adams Massachusetts Federalist

77 57.0%

George Clinton New York Democratic-Republican

50 37.0%

Thomas Jefferson Virginia Democratic-Republican

4 3.0%

Aaron Burr New York Federalist 1 0.7%

Electoral Votes Not Cast

--- -----

6 4.4%

Total Number of Electors13

2

Total Electoral Votes Cast26

4

Number of Votes for a Majority

67

Foreign Policy Foreign Policy IssuesIssues

The French The French RevolutionRevolutionSingle most important

issue separating Federalists & Republicans

1789 - Republicans cheer the Revolution as an extension of their own

Conservative Federalists feared “mobocracy”

“Reign of Terror”Jeffersonians became less favorable

1793 - France and Britain go to war U.S. bound to aid French shipping in West Indies by the Alliance of 1778

Washington believed in avoiding war at all cost:militarily weakeconomically unstable politically disunited

Hamilton & Jefferson agreed

Washington makes Neutrality Proclamationgovernment & the people to be neutral

Jeffersonians mad he didn’t consult Congress

Federalists happy

Washington’s Neutrality Washington’s Neutrality Speech Speech

“ “Whereas it appears that a Whereas it appears that a state of warstate of war exists between Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, exists between Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Great BritainGreat Britain and the United Netherlands, of and the United Netherlands, of the one part and the one part and FranceFrance on the other; and on the other; and the duty and interest of the U.S. require, the duty and interest of the U.S. require, that they should with sincerity and good that they should with sincerity and good faith adopt and pursue a faith adopt and pursue a conduct friendly conduct friendly and impartial toward the belligerent powersand impartial toward the belligerent powers. . I have therefore thought fit by these I have therefore thought fit by these presents to declare the disposition of the presents to declare the disposition of the U.S. to observe the conduct aforesaid U.S. to observe the conduct aforesaid towards those Powers respectfully; and to towards those Powers respectfully; and to exhort and exhort and warn the citizens of the U.S. warn the citizens of the U.S. carefully to avoid all acts and proceedings carefully to avoid all acts and proceedings whatsoeverwhatsoever, which may in any manner tend , which may in any manner tend to contravene such disposition…” (April to contravene such disposition…” (April 1793)1793)

Citizen Genet Affair (1793) Envoy from France arrives and recruits army & privateers to aid France

Washington warns him to stop, Genet goes over his head to the people

Genet is withdrawnPeople are outraged

Proclamation was in the self-interest of both the US and France

British ProblemsBritish ProblemsBritish harassment of US shipping & French trade in the West IndiesBritish hoped to provoke the US to defend the French alliance

Britain impressed US sailors

Impressment = the act of kidnapping a ship, its Impressment = the act of kidnapping a ship, its contents, men and forcing them into your navycontents, men and forcing them into your navy

British seized 300+ US merchant ships in West Indies

Jeffersonians called for war against Britain

Hamilton’s economic plan was tied to British trade

Britain continued to hold fur-trading forts on US soilViolation of Peace Treaty of 1783

Britain used Indians as a buffer against US expansion

Jay’s Treaty (1794)Jay’s Treaty (1794)Washington’s motivations He sought to avoid war while US was weak

Sent John Jay to LondonHamilton gave British information that weakened Jay’s position

Jay’s Treaty:British agree to abandon forts & pay damages for seized ships

British would not agree to halt future seizures & impressments nor stop selling arms to Indians

Jay agreed to help force Americans to pay debts

American public response:Jeffersonians declared Jay a traitor

South held the most debtsFederalist north got damages for shipping

John Jay is burnt in effigy

because Americans believed he sold out to the British.

Significance:War with Britain avertedIncreased factional differences between 2 partiesOrigins of Democratic-Republican party

Victory in Old Victory in Old NorthwestNorthwestSt. Clair defeated in

Ohio“Worst military defeat ever!”

Left US with 300 troops total

1st Congressional Investigation

General “Mad Anthony’ Wayne defeats Indians at the Battle of Fallen Timbers - August 20,1794

The Battle of Fallen The Battle of Fallen TimbersTimbers

Treaty of Greenville (1795)Indians cede 2/3 of land in the Ohio country

British abandon forts in Old NW

Indians abandon British allies

Pinckney’s Treaty Pinckney’s Treaty (1795)(1795)

Spain feared an American-British alliance & signs Pinckney’s TreatyUS got disputed territory north of Florida

US got free navigation on Miss. River

3 year right of deposit in New Orleans

Spain cut off our farmers right to

use the Mississippi River and deposit their

crops in New Orleans.

Washington’s Washington’s Farewell AddressFarewell Address

Washington served a reluctant 2nd term

Verbal abuse wore on him

A warning to Americans against disunity

Washington’s Washington’s FarewellFarewell

““Europe has a set of primary interests Europe has a set of primary interests which to us have none or a which to us have none or a very very remote relationremote relation…Our …Our detacheddetached and and distantdistant situation invites and enables situation invites and enables us to pursue a different course…It is us to pursue a different course…It is our true policy to our true policy to steer clear of steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign worldof the foreign world…Taking care …Taking care always to keep ourselves by suitable always to keep ourselves by suitable establishments on a respectable establishments on a respectable defensive posture, we may safely defensive posture, we may safely trust to temporary alliances for trust to temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies…” (1796)extraordinary emergencies…” (1796)

Major Points:Avoid political factionalismAvoid permanent foreign alliances

Follow our own self-interest

Did not advocate isolationism

Washington’s Washington’s LegacyLegacyKept young nation from war

Chose & consulted Cabinet2-term office limitWent outside Supreme Court for Chief Justice

Hamilton’s financial program

Election of 1796Election of 1796

Domestic & Foreign Policy issues widened factional differences

Federalists chose John Adams over Hamilton“monarchist; his Rotundity”

Democratic-Republicans chose Jefferson“lackey of the French; coward”

Main Issues: Jay’s TreatyWhiskey Rebellion

Outcome:Adams wins 71-68Jefferson becomes VP

1796 Election Results1796 Election Results

1796 Election Results (16 states in the Union)1796 Election Results

(16 states in the Union)

John Adams Massachusetts Federalist 71 51.4%

Thomas Jefferson Virginia Democratic-Republican

68 49.3%

Thomas Pinckney South Carolina Federalist 59 42.8%

Aaron Burr New York Democratic-Republican

30 21.7%

Samuel Adams Massachusetts Federalist 15 10.9%

Oliver Ellsworth Connecticut Federalist 11 8.0%

George Clinton New York Democratic-Republican

7 5.1%

Other - - 15 10.9%

Total Number of Electors 138

Total Electoral Votes Cast 276

Number of Votes for a Majority 70

Problems with Problems with FranceFrance US merchants getting rich off war trade

Britain violated Jay’s Treaty & impressed US sailors

French Directory, fearful of Jay’s Treaty, ordered seizure of American ships

XYZ Affair (1797)Adams sends John Marshall, Elbridge Gerry, and Charles Pickney to France to negotiate

3 French officials (X, Y, & Z) want bribes to set up negotiations with Talleyrand - French foreign minister

Negotiations end – Marshall returns a hero

War hysteria swept America

Navy Dept. created (3 ships!)

Marines established10,000 man army authorized

““Millions for defense, not Millions for defense, not one cent for tribute.”one cent for tribute.”

Adams suspend trade with France & authorizes capture of French ships

Undeclared Naval War1798-1800: “Quasi-War”80 French ships captured

“Convention of 1800”Adam’s Finest MomentNegotiated a peace with Napoleon

Avoids warEnds 22 year French alliance

Alien & Sedition Alien & Sedition ActsActs

1798 – Federalists passed laws to reduce power of Jeffersonians & silence anti-war opposition

Alien ActsRaised requirements for citizenship from 5 to 14 years

Allowed President to deport “dangerous” aliens in peacetime & imprison them during war

Sedition ActImpeding the government or defaming officials would lead to fines or imprisonment

10 Jeffersonians convicted including Matthew “spitting” Lyon

Matthew “Spitting” Matthew “Spitting” LyonLyon

Laws was never declared unconstitutional & expired in 1801

Kentucky Resolutions - penned by VP Jefferson

Virginia Resolutions - written by James Madison

Virginia & Virginia & Kentucky Kentucky ResolutionsResolutions

Premise: States had right to nullify unconstitutional laws

Essentially campaign documents against Federalists

Compact Theory of Government Sovereign states had entered into a compact with federal government

States were the final authority on the constitutionality of a law

Doctrine of NullificationLast Kentucky resolution added the premise that nullification was “remedy” of unauthorized acts

Called for states to nullify the laws - neither state did - others would try later

Significance:Nullification would be used later by southerners prior to the Civil War

Federalist LegacyFederalist LegacyHamilton’s financial planWashington’s precedents

Kept US out of warsPreserved gains of Revolution & fended off anarchy

Two-Party system arises