Slide 1

The Federalist Era 1789-1800

The First PresidentGeorge Washington because first president of the United States on April 30, 1789. John Adams was his Vice President

Washington knew that as the first President, he would set many PRECEDENTS, or things done for the first time that would become traditions, that would shape the future of the United States. With Congress, Washington would create departments within the executive branch, set up the court system, and add the Bill of Rights to the Constitution.

Executive BranchState Department Department of the TreasuryDepartment of WarThomas JeffersonAlexander HamiltonHenry KnoxHandled relations with other nationsHandled all financial mattersProvided for the nations defenseDuring the summer of 1789, Congress set up three departments and two offices in the executive branch of the government. Office of the Attorney General Edmund Randolph handled all legal affairsOffice of Postmaster General

The Attorney General and the heads of the three departments became known as the CABINET. (1) The President was given the power to dismiss cabinet officers with Senate approval. This strengthened the Presidents position and it established his authority over the executive branch.

Judiciary Act of 1789Established a federal court systemProblem: Should there be a standard, national legal system? Or each state should have its own court system? State System of CourtsFederal District CourtsFederal Circuit CourtsUnited States Supreme CourtState laws remained, but the Federal courts had the power to reverse state decisions.

First Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was John Jay. Under Washingtons presidency, The Judiciary Act took the first steps toward creating a strong and independent national court system. (2)

THE BILL OF RIGHTSAmericans had longed feared strong central governments. They had fought a revolution to get rid of one and did not want to replace it with another one. Many people insisted that the Constitution needed to include guarantees of civil liberties. Some states would only support the new Constitution on the condition that a Bill of Rights be added soon after it was ratified in order to guarantee personal liberties. During the first session of Congress, in December of 1791, the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution, THE BILL OF RIGHTS, were added. (3) The purpose of the Bill of Rights was to limit government power and protect individual liberties.

The new nation faced serious financial problems. The national debt (A) the amount of money owed by the government was growing. Hamilton tried to find a way to improve the governments financial reputation and strengthen the nation at the same time. Hamilton asked Congress to create a national bank the Bank of the United States. Up to now, only 8 banks existed in the country, all owned by the states. Thomas Jefferson argued that a national bank was unconstitutional because the Constitution didnt specifically say that Congress had the power to create a national bank. Hamilton argued, however, that neither did the Constitution say that Congress couldnt create a national bank. Washington agreed and a national bank was created. This was the first instance of implied power of the Constitution.

Hamilton proposed and won tariffs (or taxes) on imported goods to help protect American industries from foreign competition. The South didnt have much manufacturing or industryonly farmingso they opposed tariffs. However, Congress supported Hamilton because tariffs raised money for the government. Hamilton also raised money for the government by instituting a variety of taxes, including one on whiskey made in the United States. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison opposed Hamiltons plans. They feared Hamilton was trying to create a strong government run only by the wealthy. Their vision of America was very different. This debate over tariffs and taxes became a big challenge that Washington faced. (B)

Challenges Faced by Washington and AdamsWashingtons government faced challenges with Europeans (France and Britain) and with Native Americans in the west. (C)NATIVE AMERICAN PROBLEMS:Native Americans were resisting the American settlers expansion westward. Washington had signed treaties with the Native Americans but Americans had ignored the treaties and moved onto Indian lands. Fighting broke out between the settlers and the Indians.

Washington sent an army to end the fighting. The Natives fought the army and killed 600 soldiers in the battle of Wabash River.

When the Indians demanded that all American settlers leave the area north of the Ohio River, Washington responded in force. In the Battle of Fallen Timbers, the American forces crushed the Indians and any hopes they had of keeping their land. In the Treaty of Greenville (1795), the Native Americans agreed to surrender most of the land of what is now Ohio.

Washington also crushed a rebellion by western Pennsylvania farmers angry over a tax on whiskey. They protested with weapons in July of 1794 and burned down buildings. Called the Whiskey Rebellion, this protect alarmed government leaders. Washington sent troops in to crush the challenge. The Whiskey Rebellion and the battles with the Native Americans showed that Washington was not afraid to use force to maintain social order. (4)

Problems with Europe:When Britain and France went to war with each other after the American Revolutionary War, some Americans sympathized with France and others supported Britain. American opinion was divided and both sides wanted Washington to help. Washington declared a policy of neutrality in foreign affairs not taking sides in the conflict. (5) As time went on, it became harder and harder to remain neutral because France and England began doing things that angered the Americans in the hopes of forcing them to take sides. In Washingtons farewell address he said, Observe good faith and justice toward all nations.It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances. These parting words would influence the nations foreign policy for more than 100 years.

The First Political PartiesIn 1796, Americans began to take opposing sides on issues. Two political parties emerged from the debates. Washington disapproved of political parties and warned that they would divide the nation. In Washingtons own cabinet, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson usually took opposing sides on issues. They couldnt agree on economic policy and foreign relations. Neither could they agree on the power of the federal government or on interpretations of the Constitution.

Republican wimp! Federalist dog!

Federalists:

Supported the policies of the Washington administration

Stood for a strong federal government

Admired Britain for its stability and distrusted France because of the violent changes brought on by the French revolution

Strongest supporters came from Northeast, especially New England, and from wealthy plantation owners in the South.

Believed in implied powers of the Constitution.

Ordinary people shouldnt become too involved in politics. Rule should be by educated, upper class people

Republicans: (Democratic Republicans)

Wanted to limit governments power

Feared a strong central government would endanger peoples liberties.

Supported the French and condemned the pro-British policies of the Washington government.

Appealed to small farmers and urban workers, especially in the Middle Atlantic states and the South.

Believed in strict interpretation of the Constitution

Felt that democracy and liberty were only safe if ordinary people participated fully in the government. (D)

John Adams as PresidentJohn Adams was elected President after George Washington. His Vice President was Thomas Jefferson. Adams was a Federalist, Jefferson was a Republican, so they were always against each other on most issues.

Pressure to end neutrality in French/British affairs (E) France got mad at Washington because he declared neutrality and would not help them in their war against Britain. To punish Americans, the French seized American ships that traded any cargo with the British. Adams sent a delegation to France to try and resolve the dispute. The French foreign minister refused to meet with the Americans. Instead he sent three agents who demanded a bribe from the Americans if they wanted to settle the issue. This really angered the Americans. Adams referred to the 3 French agents, as X, Y and Z and the incident became known as the X.Y.Z affair. X, Y, Z

States rights versus the power of the federal government (F)The Kentucky Resolution, passed by the Kentucky legislature, suggested that the states could nullify (legally overturn) federal laws that the states considered unconstitutional. This resolution supported the principle of states rights over federal rights. It stated that federal government should be limited to those powers clearly assigned by the Constitution.

Many Americans wanted Adams to go to war with France because they were attacking our ships, but Adams got France to sign a treaty to stop attacking American ships. This was in the best interest of America not to go to war with France, but it hurt Adamss chances for reelection. At the end of Adamss term, Thomas Jefferson was elected President in the election of 1800.