The First The First Constitutional Constitutional Government…Government…

April 30, April 30, 17891789

Washington’s Cabinet Washington was sworn in

on Wall Street, NYC, the temporary capital.

John Adams was elected Vice President.

Thomas Jefferson was made Secretary of State.

Alexander Hamilton was made Secretary of the Treasury.

“Never has a ruler reigned more completely in the hearts of his subjects than did Washington”.

Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson► As Secretary of State, Jefferson As Secretary of State, Jefferson

was often a was often a HARSH CRITIC HARSH CRITIC of of George Washington. George Washington.

► In addition to being a politician, In addition to being a politician, he was he was ALSOALSO a planter, lawyer, a planter, lawyer, diplomat, writer, inventor, diplomat, writer, inventor, architect and violinist.architect and violinist.

► He believed that government He believed that government should be should be SMALLSMALL and and LIMITED….LIMITED….

► And thought slavery was a And thought slavery was a “moral evil”…“moral evil”…

► But he was also a lifelong But he was also a lifelong slave slave holder.holder.

Alexander Alexander HamiltonHamilton Secretary of the Secretary of the

TreasuryTreasury and a and a veteran of the veteran of the Revolutionary War.Revolutionary War.

Was a Was a STRONGSTRONG believer in the believer in the POWERPOWER of GOVERNMENT. of GOVERNMENT.

Became Became Thomas Thomas Jefferson’s strongest Jefferson’s strongest opponentopponent..

Might have been Might have been President, but was President, but was born in the born in the CaribbeanCaribbean..

Jefferson vs. Jefferson vs. HamiltonHamiltonStrict ConstructionismStrict Constructionism

Thomas Jefferson’sThomas Jefferson’s philosophy.philosophy.

Favored a Favored a WEAK WEAK national government.national government.

Believed the Believed the government government could not could not do anythingdo anything that the that the Constitution doesn’t Constitution doesn’t say it can do.say it can do.

Believed more in Believed more in people people than in than in government.government.

Loose ConstructionismLoose Constructionism Idea developed by Idea developed by

Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton.. Favored a Favored a STRONG STRONG

national government.national government. Thought the Thought the

Constitution was a Constitution was a loose loose frameworkframework of laws… of laws…

And that the And that the government government could do could do anythinganything that the that the Constitution did not Constitution did not specifically forbid.specifically forbid.

Political Parties Form The Democratic Republicans

—believed in a weak national government, states’ rights, and strict construction.

Supporters were rural, and less wealthy.

The Federalists—believed in a strong national government, and loose construction.

Supporters were often city-dwellers and more wealthy.

All of the following were characteristics of the Federalist Party, EXCEPT...A.) they believed in a loose interpretation of the Constitution.

B.) they supported the expansion of government power.

C.) they believed that government power should be limited.

D.) they were led by Alexander Hamilton.

All of the following were characteristics of the Democratic-Republicans, EXCEPT...A.) they tended to support a weak central

government.

B.) they enjoyed the support of Thomas Jefferson.

C.) they were mainly supported by wealthy Americans.

D.) many of their supporters were farmers.

Which of the following individuals would MOST LIKELY have been a supporter of the Federalist Party?A.) a farmer.

B.) a soldier.

C.) a banker.

D.) a blacksmith.

Unpaid DebtsDuring the Revolutionary

War, the states had had to borrow large amounts of MONEY…

That now needed to be repaid.

As Secretary of the Treasury, it was Alexander Hamilton’s responsibility to develop a PLAN…

The plan involved TWO new taxes.

New Taxes1. The first tax was a new TARIFF

—a tax on imports.2. The second was a tax on

WHISKEY. Whiskey was TREMENDOUSLY

important to citizens living along the western frontier…

Because it was one of the few things that could be shipped for long distances without spoiling.

Which political party would have been SUPPORTIVE of Hamilton's plan to tax whiskey?A.) the Federalist Party.

B.) the Democratic Republican Party.

The The Whiskey Whiskey RebellioRebellionn

► In 1794, a region in western Pennsylvania In 1794, a region in western Pennsylvania REVOLTEDREVOLTED over the whiskey tax…over the whiskey tax…

► Rebels began Rebels began closing down court houses closing down court houses andand attacking attacking tax collectors.tax collectors.

► Alexander Hamilton argued that this was an Alexander Hamilton argued that this was an opportunity for the US to display its opportunity for the US to display its NEW POWER…NEW POWER…

► George Washington gathered an army of George Washington gathered an army of 12,000 12,000 men men and led them into western Pennsylvania.and led them into western Pennsylvania.

► The rebellion The rebellion collapsed…collapsed…► And Americans were greatly impressed by theAnd Americans were greatly impressed by the

government’s tough response.government’s tough response.

The MOST IMPORTANT result of the Whiskey Rebellion was that...A.) the tax on whiskey was eliminated.

B.) it led to the end of George Washington's Presidency.

C.) it led to the election of John Adams as US President.

D.) the new US government was able to demonstrate its strength.

The Whiskey Rebellion was ended with ease and speed by the new Constitutional Government. This is in sharp contrast to another dispute that the previous government (under the Articles of Confederation) was UNABLE to stop. Which dispute am I referring to?

A.) Bacon's Rebellion.

B.) the French and Indian War.

C.) Shays' Rebellion.

D.) the Boston Tea Party.

Foreign Policy: NoninterventionForeign Policy: Nonintervention► At the height of the Revolutionary At the height of the Revolutionary

War, American and France had signed War, American and France had signed a a Treaty of AllianceTreaty of Alliance……

► In which they each In which they each PROMISEDPROMISED to fight to fight for each other if either one became for each other if either one became involved in a war. involved in a war.

► In 1794, In 1794, Britain and FranceBritain and France WENT TO WENT TO WAR…WAR…

► And there was tremendous debate And there was tremendous debate over whether or not the US should over whether or not the US should enter the war on the French side.enter the war on the French side.

► Despite our agreement with France, Despite our agreement with France, we decided to remain we decided to remain NEUTRAL…NEUTRAL…

► And many people viewed the decision And many people viewed the decision as a as a BETRAYAL of the French…BETRAYAL of the French…

► However, George Washington believed However, George Washington believed the US was too the US was too NEWNEW and and FRAGILEFRAGILE to to become involved in a world war. become involved in a world war.

Washington’s Farewell Washington’s Farewell AddressAddress

► Sick of politics, Sick of politics, Washington Washington refused a refused a third term.third term.

► In his farewell speech he In his farewell speech he warned against the two-warned against the two-party systemparty system..

► And urged the US to stay And urged the US to stay neutral neutral in world affairs…in world affairs…

► And to And to AVOID FOREIGN AVOID FOREIGN ALLIANCESALLIANCES..

► John AdamsJohn Adams (a (a Federalist) is later Federalist) is later elected President and elected President and Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson becomes Vice President.becomes Vice President.

George Washington's farewell address led to a long period of US "isolationism". Based upon your knowledge of the address, which of the following is the BEST description of isolationism?A.) a foreign policy wherein a nation seeks to establish

as many foreign allies as possible.B.) a foreign policy wherein a nation seeks to achieve

military domination over other countries.C.) a foreign policy wherein a nation seeks to become

deeply educated about its foreign neighbors.D.) a foreign policy wherein a nation avoids becoming

involved in the business of other countries.

The Adams Administration

From the beginning of Adams’ term, the US began to drift toward war with France.

The French were angry and felt betrayed by America’s refusal to join them in war with Great Britain.

In retaliation, they began seizing American ships on the high seas…

Eventually stealing 300 ships and cargo worth $20 million…

Although much of the country demanded WAR with France, Adams believed that such a war would be a DISASTER for the United States…

He was also STRONGLY influenced by George Washington’s advice that the US avoid FOREIGN CONFLICTS.

The issue was finally settled by the Convention of 1800, which established PEACE between America and France….

And CANCELLED their previous alliance. The US would not enter another

foreign alliance for the next 150 years.

George Washington's farewell address...

A.) influenced John Adams in his decision to support war with France.

B.) caused the US to become active in foreign affairs.

C.) helped convince Adams to seek peace with France.

D.) led to the US' decision to launch an invasion of Canada.