Organizing the New Government1789-1809

The First President

• April 30, 1789, inauguration of George Washington as 1st President in New York City (3 places), John Adams (VP)

• Unanimous election – Federalist party

• Precedents needed to be set

• Challenging Agendas faced them.

Loved by so many “first in war, first in peace”

The First Congress1. Bill of Rights

2. Judiciary Act of 1789

3. Cabinets formed

Settling the Nation’s Debt

• Hamilton’s belief in federalism shaped his economic policy– Who would dominate the federal government

and economic policy?

– Policies designed to help and promote?

Hamilton’s Economic Policy

3 Main PointsFunding the Debt

Assumption of the Debt

Bank of the U.S.

Payment of Government Bonds

• How much was the government in debt from the AM REV?

• What did the government issue in exchange for loans?

• Speculators stood to make a fortune, while ordinary citizens who had sold their bonds at a loss would suffer

• What did Congress do with bonds (both those bought and sold?)

Assumption of Debt

• Federal govt would take over state debts

• Southern states had already paid off their share of the debt (Jefferson, Madison)

• What saved this plan?

The Bank Controversy

* Most controversial part of Hamilton’s plan

* Two views of the Constitution:

– Strict construction vs. Loose construction

– Hamilton - “necessary and proper” clause gives us the right vs. Jefferson “not mentioned in Const, therefore not allowed)

* Congress chartered the bank and Washington signed it into law in 1791 (20 years)

How to raise the money to pay off debt?

1. Tariffs

2. Excise Taxes (most controversially taxed item was _______)

Where would they put this money and why?

The Whiskey Rebellion - 1794

• Over 6,000 men and women threatened city of Pittsburgh

• Federal force of 13,000

• Rebellion scattered, roughly 20 men captured, less convicted, all eventually pardoned

• Legacy of GW’s Response?

Trouble on the Frontier

• Native Americans fight expansion– Number of small victories in early 1790’s– Little Turtle

• Washington sent Anthony Wayne, to protect the frontier – Treaty of Greenville1. Indian lands in Ohio and Indiana to US2. Ohio R. no longer boundary3. Indians received money and “formal acknowledgment of land they still had

Washington’s 2nd term

• The French Revolution

• Citizen Genet

• Impressment

• Neutrality Act of 1793

• Jay’s Treaty

• Pinckney’s Treaty

• Farewell Address

The French Revolution

What response did the Washington Government

take with the French Revolution?

Staying Neutral

• Jays Treaty– Purpose of Treaty

– Terms of Treaty

– Legacy of the Treaty

– Public Response

• Pickney’s Treaty1. Spain shifted forces and

joined France2. Feared US alliance with GB

would threaten Spain’s territory in North America

3. Boundary between US and FLA?

4. Also gave America Right of Deposit – Port of New Orleans for trade w/o paying a duty

Washington says Goodbye

• Precedents set?– Formal:– Informal:

Warnings in the Farewell Address????

Federalists v. Dem-Rep’s

• Who were the leading Federalists?

• Who were the leading Democratic-Republicans

Federalists Issue D-R’s

Federalism- Size of Government

France or Britain

Banking Policy

Region of Nation

Socio-Economics

Interpretation of Cons.

Jobs

The Election of 1796

• 1st real political party competition for President --- Why? What were causes?

• John Adams and Thomas Pinckney vs. Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr

• Adams received most electoral votes with Jefferson being the runner up

• Thomas Jefferson became V.P.

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 Electors13

8

Total Electoral Votes Cast27

6

Number of Votes for a Majority

70

1796 Election Results

1796 Election Results

AdamsAdams

JeffersonJefferson

Adams’ Presidency- foreignpolicy challenges

• What was France’s response to the Jay Treaty?• Adams sent 3 diplomats to France to discuss this and

try to reach a resolution• XYZ Affair

– Who?– What were the Conditions for meeting with France:

• Adams and Federalist’s reactions:– 1.

– 2.

– 3.

XYZ Affair and Resentment of foreigners

Alien Act Sedition Acts

Opposition to the Acts

• Thomas Jefferson – KY resolution

• James Madison – VA resolution

• Violation of Constitution – abuse of power by Federal gov’t

The Judiciary

• What were the Midnight Judges?

• Chief Justice John Marshall – Judicial Review expanded role of Supreme Court

• set forth a number of loose constructionist based decisions

1800 Election Results (16 states in the Union)1800 Election Results

(16 states in the Union)

Thomas Jefferson

Virginia Democratic-Republican

73 52.9%

Aaron Burr New York Democratic-Republican

73 52.9%

John Adams Massachusetts Federalist 65 47.1%

Charles Pinckney South Carolina Federalist 64 46.4%

John Jay New York Federalist 1 0.7%

Total Number of Electors13

8

Total Electoral Votes Cast27

6

Number of Votes for a Majority

70

1800 Election Results1800 Election Results

AdamsAdams

JeffersonJefferson

1800 Election Results (Into the House of Representatives!!)

1 vote for each State

1800 Election Results (Into the House of Representatives!!)

1 vote for each State

Thomas Jefferson Virginia Democratic-Republican 10 62.5%

Aaron Burr New York

Democratic-Republican 4 25.0%

Blank ------- 2 12.5%

Thomas Jefferson

“We are all Federalists, We are all Republicans”

A Common Man Approach

Key Issues Stance of Federalists

Stance of D/R’s Jefferson Did…

Interpretation of Constitution

Federalism

Size of Government

Individual Rights

Focus of Economy

National Debt

Foreign Policy

Was he really a “Strict Constructionist”

Louisiana Purchase

• How: Spain gave Louisiana territory to Napoleon in 1800, France sold it to the U.S.

• Why: Jefferson looking to secure U.S. territory and expand west

• France’s gain: cash to fund war in Europe

Louisiana Purchase

• Jefferson instructed Livingston and Monroe to purchase only New Orleans.

• France offered the whole territory for 15 million dollars (approx. 3 cents p/acre)

• Any key problems with this move?

Lewis and Clark Expedition