“Politics and Society in the New Republic,

1787-1820” CHAPTER 7

The 1st 2 U.S. PRESIDENTS…FROM 1789-1801

George Washington 1789-1797

John Adams1797-1801

“His Rotundity”

“Father of our Country”

“Finances”

• Inauspicious Beginnings

• Finances Precarious…– Revenue declining– Debt Mountainous…– Paper $$$ worthless…

Precious metals scarce…

• WHAT POTENTIAL!• But…No nation has ever

attempted to erect such a large republic…– The eyes of the world are

on us!...– Imagine what European

Kings & Queens are thinking…

• The First US Census 1790

Total US population: 4 million

Cities:

Philadelphia: 42,000Boston: 18,000Charleston: 16,000Baltimore: 13,000New York 33,00090 % rural95% East of the Appalachians

Foreign visitors looked down at us! (They still do…)

Foreign agents stirring up trouble in the frontier…

• Washington Chosen Unanimously,

“MR. PRESIDENT”

“His Highness, President of the United States, and Protector of their Liberties” --John Adams

• NEVER BEFORE in history…

– IS THIS “EXPERIMENT” GOING TO WORK?

• Self-government• 1st time for a Republican rule with individual rights…

Enlightenment Ideals

• From IDEA….To EXECUTION

– 1st…Build a Federal Court System• Judiciary Act 1789• Supreme Court, 3 circuit courts

"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect

and defend the Constitution of the United States…"

”So help me God”……. Added by G. Washington

WASHINGTON SET THE PRECEDENT…

THE PRESIDENTIAL OATH

SECRETARY OF STATEThomas Jefferson

ATTORNEY GENERAL Edmund Randolph

SECRETARY OF THE TREASURYAlexander Hamilton

SECRETARY OF “WAR”Henry Knox

PRESIDENTGeorge Washington

PRESIDENT WASHINGTON’S FIRST “CABINET”

VP John Adams

• The Bill of Rights

• Constitution was ratified with the promise of protection of individual rights…

• Basic Rights… Amendments 1-8– Speech, religion, arms, property, seizure, cruel punishment

• Madison assures “States Righters”– 9th Amendment – other rights besides 1-8 are protected– 10th Amendments – Whatever the Fed does not declare, the

rest go to the States…

• Establishmentof the Judicial Branch

• Judiciary Act of 1789 – Supreme Court (John Jay – 1st Chief Justice)– Federal District & Circuit Courts– Attorney General (Executive Branch)

• Alexander Hamilton

Secretary of the Treasury

“Prime Minister” of Washington’s CabinetMonarchical, but brilliantFavored the rich… Hated the poor…Prosperity would “Trickle down” to masses… Improve national creditThe fed will assume all War debts…“Funding at Par” : $54 M in debt plus interestPlus… an additional $22 M in States debts!...Why?

The states debts regarded as a “National Obligation”Politically, it would “tie” the states closer to the Fed!...Great for States with big debts (MA), not for States w small debts

(VA)Negotiates for the location of new national capital!

HAMILTON ESTABLISHES THE “BANK OF THE UNITED STATES”

WASHINGTON, D.C.

(DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA)

THE NEW CAPITAL CITY

Negotiated by Hamilton w/ Jefferson & Madison

RAISING REVENUETAXES& DUTIES

Why is it good for the US to be in SO MUCH debt??The more people that you owe money to, the more

people want to see you succeed!

But… WE DO need to raise money..

THERE IS NO INCOME TAX!!! So…

CUSTOMS DUTIES THROUGH TARIFFSTax on “imported products… Why?To Protect US industry

Loved by… DOMESTIC Manufacturers Hated by… Those that don’t make anything

Southerners hate tariffs why?...

EXCISE TAXES… Taxes on Mfg….Like whiskey in western PA…

$$$$ BANK OF THE UNITED STATES $$$$

GOVT IS THE

MAJOR STOCKHOLDER

WITH RICH INVESTORS

GOVT.TREASURY DEPOSITS

ITS “SURPLUS”

FEDERAL FUNDS STIMULATE BIG

BUSINESS

GOVT.PRINTS

PAPER MONEY

PROVIDES FOR A STABLE CURRENCY $$$$

Th. JEFFERSON vs. A. HAMILTON

14

Limited central government; led by Congress

Strong State Governments.

Favored Planters and Farmers

Supported by the South, and West

Against the Bank of the U.S. (unconstitutional) Only states had the right to charter banks

Unhealthy alliance between rich and the govt.

WHAT THE CONSTITUTION OMITTED, IT PROHIBITED

DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICANS

Strong central government, led by a

strong President.

Led by elite & educated,

Commerce & Industry

Supported by New England,

Northern States

Federal debt was good

It kept creditors supporting the new

Federal Government

Bank of the US, funded by both the govt. and wealthy

investors

Tie wealthy investors to the

country’s welfare

WHAT THE CONSTITUTION

OMITTED, IT PERMITTED

FEDERALISTS

HAMILTON WINS OUT, GETS

WASHINGTON’S SUPPORT

• JEFFERSON VS. HAMILTON

VIEWS ON CONSTITUTION

ALPOWER

JEFFERSON– Strict Constructionists

• WHAT THE CONSTITUTION OMITTED, IT PROHIBITED

HAMILTON Loose Constructionists

• Invoked the “Elastic Clause” (Article 1, Section 8, par. 18)

• “Congress may pass any laws deemed “necessary & proper” to carry out Government agency powers

• WHAT THE CONSTITUTION OMITTED, IT PERMITTED – “Implied powers”

“The Whiskey Rebellion”

• Hamilton needs $$$$$ to pay US debts; he proposes– “Protective” tariff on imported goods– Excise tax on goods made in the US

• West. Pennsylvania farmers Furious! WHY?

• The mfg of…WHISKEY!• WHISKEY IS USED AS BARTER!

– Hamilton sees an Opportunity – Washington uses the militia as a “SHOW OF FORCE”…

• What were the similarities of …

• BACON’S REBELLION• SHAY’S REBELLION• WHISKEY REBELLION

• What were the differences?....

WHAT WAS HAMILTON’S VISION OF THE FUTURE? WHAT POLICIES DID HE IMPLEMENT TO ACHIEVE IT? HOW WAS JEFFERSON’S VISION DIFFERENT?

Question #1

EMERGINGPOLITICAL PARTIES

Political rivalry turns into opposing groupsFounding fathers did not envision political

partiesThey became the balance of power in

governmentOriginally, opposition seen as disloyal“Loyal opposition” always balancesSpread by propaganda in newspapers

FEDERALISTS DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICANS

• IMPACT OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION– 1789-1793

• FR begins “peacefully”… but descends into chaos

• American “Ultraconservatives” fear “Leveling” and the “Mobocracy”

• Jeffersonians were joyous, until…1792

• Monarchs in Europe trembled…

• France declares war on Austria in 1792…Britain is drawn in…

• Most Americans are rallying to the side of French citizens…but… The “Reign of Terror”…“One cannot be carried from

despotism to liberty in a featherbed”

“The tree of liberty must be watered occasionally with the blood of Patriots”-Thomas Jefferson

France says…BE MY FRIEND!WE HELPED YOU!

Britain says… BE MY FRIEND!YOU ARE OF BRITISH ROOTS!

THE U.S says… NEUTRALITY!!

1793: Washington’s “Proclamation of Neutrality”

NEUTRALITY! • The European War is as much about control of the seas…

• We are a small “player”…US is weak, militarily, economically…

• Politically divided..but this issue held us together

• Washington was playing for time while we “populated for a generation”…

• 1793: Washington’s “Proclamation of Neutrality”– “Self interest is the basic cement of

alliances”– America was a better partner to France if it

remained neutral…

WHAT WERE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION IN AMERICAN LIFE AND POLITICS?

Question #2

• Trouble With Britain…1790-94

• Britain seizing US sailors at sea (“impressment”)

• Britain still has forts in Ohio Valley, Canada…• Won’t give up the “Fur Trade”• Supply weapons to Indians…• Little Turtle & the “Miami Confederacy” beats US

in 2 battles…BUT…• Battle of Fallen Timbers 1794

– Gen. “Mad” Anthony Wayne– NA’S SEEK PEACE – Treaty of Greenville 1795– No more NA resistance in Ohio….

Great Britain…

Spain…

US WANTS PEACE…

“Jay’s Treaty” – G. Britain

Hamilton Fears war w BritainSabotages by leaking US strategy to Britain

Bad Deal!... Little concessions from GB!... Only “promise” to evacuate Forts in the Ohio

ValleyAMERICAN’S FURIOUS!... JAY’S A TRAITOR!...Hurts Washington’s popularity too…

“Pinckney’s Treaty” (Treaty/San Lorenzo)

Spain wants US friendshipGrants US Navigation of MississippiDisputed land N. of Florida (map p. 175)

WAS THERE ANYTHING THE WESTERN INDIAN CONFEDERACY COULD HAVE DONE TO LIMIT WHITE EXPANSION AND PRESERVE INDIAN LANDS? EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER.

Question #3

Washington Retires..

Adams ElectedPresident

• ACCOMPLISHMENTS…– Kept us out of war… “Walked that tightrope”– Strong Central Government could work…– Fiscally stronger US…

• LEGACIES OF THE WASHINGTON PRESIDENCY– 2 terms… “Mr. President”… “Temporary

Alliances”…Annual address to Congress…Farewell Address…

• Close Election of 1796… 71 to 68 over T. Jefferson (VP as “runner up”)… 1st Election with Political Parties…

• His “Respectful Irritation”…

• Troubles with France…

“Quasi War”1798-1800

• Adams is now President…• France is ticked off at “Jay’s

Treaty”…• Violation of the 1778 “Franco

American Treaty”…• Adams tries to make nice

– “XYZ Affair”

• War Hysteria in US… “Anti French” Feeling…

• Navy builds new warships…• Mostly naval engagements• US eventually seeks peace

– With the new French Dictator (?)…

• The “Alien & Sedition Acts”

• ADAMS TAKES ADVANTAGE OF “ANTI FRENCH FEELING IN US– To be an American Citizen goes

from 5 to 14 years– All immigrants suspected as

“PRO-JEFFERSON” – Law allowed President to deport

“undesirables”– Many political opponents arrested– Anti- Adams Newspapers closed

• VIRGINIA& KENTUCKY RESOLUTIONS

– Compact among the States• The states created the FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT…• So, who has more power?... The

States?... The Federal Government?

– “Nullification” -- Virginia/Kentucky• States have right to ignore laws they

feel are unconstitutional

– Results? Few states joined in agreement, but …

• Stage is set for states to “secede”…