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The Young Republic, 1789-1800
George Washington &
America’s 1st Political Parties
Building the Machinery of Gov’tThe Constitution created a
“general framework” of gov’t but it was up to the 1st president & the 1st Congress to fill in the details:–The “gov’t” in 1789 had no
federal court system, navy, or tax collection system
–The Senate spent 3 weeks debating how the president should be addressed
One committee proposed: "His Highness the President of the United States and Protector of the Rights of the Same"
The “government” consisted of nothing more than a large debt, 75 post offices,
& an army of 700 soldiers
Building the Machinery of Gov’tWith James Madison’s leadership,
the House of Representatives:
–raised revenue by passing a protective tariff & a tax on liquor
–gave structure to the executive branch by creating the State, Treasury, Justice, & War Depts
–organized a federal court system via the Judiciary Act of 1789Judiciary Act of 1789
Consisted of a Supreme Court with six justices, a district court in each
state, and three appeals courts
The Importance of James Madison“Father of the Constitution;” drafted the Bill of Rights; was the leader of Congress who helped create the 1st federal taxes, depts & courts; &
will serve as the 4th president
Washington as President The unanimous choice for the
leader of the infant republic was George Washington
He established many precedents to make the presidency:–Created the 1st cabinet–Delivering an inaugural address–The title “Mr. President”
Washington as PresidentWashington’s 1st term as president
was defined by domestic policydomestic policy:–He helped define a strong &
active presidency–Appointed strong, able leaders
to cabinet posts–Focused on the U.S. economy–Traveled to every state to “show
the people” their national gov’t
Washington’s Cabinet Henry Knox, Secretary of War
Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of Treasury
Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State
George Washington, President
Edmund Randolph, Attorney General
Washington acted as president as he did as a military general: he surrounded himself with capable subordinates, listened to their advice,
then made the final decision
Hamilton & Jefferson proved to be his most capable cabinet members but were also the
most divisive because they had vastly different views on the role of gov’t for the new nation
Alexander HamiltonHamilton believed a strong central
gov’t was best for America:–He wanted the U.S. to grow as
an industrial power with less dependency on Europe
–He wanted the U.S. economy to mirror the English economy
–He feared democracy would lead to anarchy; power should be in hands of wealthy citizens
As Sec of Treasury, Hamilton shaped the economy of the new nation
Thomas JeffersonJefferson believed that a limited
gov’t would preserve liberty:–He saw the U.S. as an agrarian
nation with active foreign trade to buy manufactured goods
–He trusted the common people over the elitist aristocracy
–He favored close ties with France, especially when the French Revolution began
Hamilton’s Economic Plan for
America
Hamilton's Economic PlanBy 1789, one of America’s biggest
challenges was its huge debt Hamilton’s Report on Public Credit
(1790) proposed:–“Funding” the national debt –“Assumption" of state debts–Creating a national bank –Gov’t aid to manufacturing
$54 million in national debt
$25 million in state debts
Funding and AssumptionFundingFunding: Congress to redeem U.S.
certificates of debt at face value to prove to foreign investors that the U.S. would repay its debts
AssumptionAssumption: Federal government would purchase states' debts to gain a better interest rate & create a “national” problem rather than individual state problems
Foreign investment poured into the U.S.
Was unsuccessfully opposed because most certificates were currently held by speculators
And an excise tax on distilled liquors (whiskey)
Was initially defeated but salvaged when northern VA was proposed as
cite for new U.S. capital (Compromise of 1790In 1790, Washington signed into
law Hamilton’s proposals on funding & assumption
The Bank Controversy Hamilton proposed the creation of
a National BankNational Bank that would be privately owned, but federally chartered to regulate finance
Madison & Jefferson opposed the Bank of the U.S. (BUS) because:–It appeared to favor the rich –Its creation was not mentioned
in the Constitution
This type of interpretation of the Constitution is called “strict construction”
The Bank ControversyHamilton defended creating a
BUS under Article 1, section 8:–The Necessary & Proper Clause
gave Congress “implied powers” to interpret the Constitution
–This “Elastic Clause” allowed Hamilton to make a successful “loose construction” argument
–Congress chartered the Bank of the United States in 1791
Promoting Manufacturing Report on Manufacturing sought
to boost manufacturing & reduce U.S. dependency on Europe
Opposition to Hamilton’s plan:–Madison feared strengthening
the federal gov’t would destroy state sovereignty
–Jefferson feared that the rise of cities would destroy agriculture & agrarian civic virtue
This plan was soundly defeated
Foreign Affairs
The Battle over Foreign Affairs In the 1792 election, Washington
was unanimously chosen againForeign policy became the focus
of Washington’s 2nd term:–War between England & France
broke out in 1793 which divided Americans over who to support
–England refused to obey the Treaty of Paris (1783) & barred the U.S. from West Indian trade
France was engulfed in the French Revolution; The U.S. supported the revolution, but feared
its radical & bloody nature
U.S. neutrality seemed to be the best option
The French Revolution Led to War Between England & France
The Peril of NeutralityHamilton & Jefferson wanted
neutrality but disagreed how:–JeffersonJefferson: punish England (due
to impressmentimpressment) by cutting off trade & reward France
–HamiltonHamilton: England needed to be appeased, not coerced
Washington signed Proclamation Proclamation of Neutralityof Neutrality (1793) to keep America out of foreign wars
At least until the Genet Affair: French diplomat Edmond Genet challenged
American neutrality repeatedly in public
Americans seemed to favor France due to French assistance in the American Rev
English & French “impressment” of American sailors
Jay's Treaty with EnglandJohn Jay demanded from England
–The removal of British soldiers from western forts in America
–payment for impressed ships–acceptance of U.S. neutrality
Jay’s Treaty (1794)Jay’s Treaty (1794) –British vacated western forts –U.S. gained trade in West Indies–But, England did not recognize
neutrality or end impressment
The treaty avoided war with England but did not get the British to pay Southerners for lost
slaves or merchants for impressed ships
The House challenged the Senate’s Constitutional
authority to ratify the treaty
Jay was hung in effigy throughout
America
Pinckney’s Treaty with SpainPrior to 1795, Spain closed U.S.
access to the Mississippi River & encouraged Indian attacks
But, Spain interpreted Jay's Treaty as Anglo-American alliance against Spain & signed the Treaty of San LorenzoTreaty of San Lorenzo (Pinckney’s Treaty):–Spain reopened the Mississippi –Settled the disputed border
between Florida & U.S.
Treaty of Greenville with IndiansTo end Indian attacks against
white settlers in the West, the U.S. fought an Ohio Indian alliance led by the Shawnee at Battle of Fallen TimbersBattle of Fallen Timbers (1794)
Led to the Treaty of GreenvilleTreaty of Greenville:–Indians ceded lands in Ohio–The U.S. promised “fair”
dealings with Indian nations
Settlers rushed to Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, & western New York
America’s First Political Parties
America’s 1st Political Parties Disagreements over Hamilton’s
financial plans & Anglo-French Wars led to the 1st political parties:–Democratic-RepublicansDemocratic-Republicans:
led by Jefferson, favored states’ rights, “strict construction,” ties to France, & liberty
–Federalists:Federalists: led by Hamilton, favored a strong national gov’t, “loose construction”, ties to England, & public order
Also called Jeffersonian Republicans or simply, Republicans
Represented the “Spirit of 1776” & the fight against tyranny
Represented the “Spirit of 1787” & the fight for a stronger national gov’t
America’s 1st Political PartiesPolitical parties were seen as a
conspiracy against liberty –Federalists & Dem-Republicans
thought it was their duty to destroy the other party
–In the Washington & Adams eras, the Federalists dominated politics, but Jefferson’s election in 1800 killed the Federalists
Newspapers transformed political culture in the U.S.; they were widely read, highly
influential, & totally partisan
Commoners in the U.S. were highly literate
Whiskey RebellionThe whiskey tax led yeomen in
western Pennsylvania to start a Whiskey RebellionWhiskey Rebellion in 1794–When the governor of PA
refused to act, Federalists saw the revolt as a threat to safety
–Washington himself led the U.S. army to suppress the rebellion
–Both parties used the event to attack each other
Rioted with the same fervor as those against the Stamp Act
Hamilton interpreted the rebellion as a Jefferson-inspired
conspiracy
Jefferson saw it as an excuse by Federalists to
raise an army to intimidate Republicans
Whiskey Rebellion, 1794
President Washington is one of two presidents (Madison is the other) who participated in
combat while serving as president
His mere presence (and the 15,000 soldiers he brought with him) was
enough to end the Whiskey Rebellion
Washington's Farewell AddressWashington was not limited by the
Constitution to 2 terms, but in 1796 he announced his decision to retire
In his Farewell AddressFarewell Address his final advice was that the US should:– Be neutral– Remain united– Warned against “entangling alliances”
with foreign nations– Do not have political parties
Washington never acknowledged the faction in his cabinet, he tended to side with the Federalist perspective of gov’t
Washington’s decision to retire established the precedent of 2 terms in office for presidents
Discussion Question:George Washington is universally
agreed to be the most significant of America’s Founding Fathers…
But, who is the 2nd most important of these early political leaders:–James Madison?–Alexander Hamilton?–Thomas Jefferson?–Someone else?
Make an argument for each & then rank order them with a clear justification for your #1 choice
The Adams Presidency
The Election of 1796The political parties that quietly
emerged during Washington’s presidency played a pivotal role in the election of 1796
Former VP John Adams (Federalist)Thomas Jefferson
(Republican)
Adams won the presidency & the Federalists controlled the national gov’t from 1796-1800
The Adams Presidency Adams attempted to continue
with Washington’s policiesBut…his administration was
plagued with problems:–Jefferson, his campaign
opponent, was now his VP –Most of Adam’s cabinet took
their orders from Hamilton who had retired with Washington
–Tensions with France emerged
VP Jefferson & the Republicans constantly attacked Adams policies
Hamilton was the unquestioned leader of the Federalist Party, who undermined Adams by advising the cabinet to ignore the president
The XYZ Affair & Quasi-WarDuring Adams’ administration
relations with France declined:
–France interpreted Jay’s Treaty as an alliance with England
–France seized & impressed American merchant ships
–An American diplomatic mission to France failed when 3 French officials (X, Y, Z) demand bribes
French “impressment” of American sailors
The XYZ Affair & Quasi-WarThe XYZ Affair led to anti-French
sentiment in America & led to a “quasi-war” with France:
–The U.S. tripled its armed forces to prepare for a French invasion
–Adams created the Dept of NavyThe quasi-war increased the
dislike between the Federalists leaders Adams & Hamilton
“Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!”
Hamilton convinced Washington to pressure Adams to name him control of the army
Adams was forced to do so, but retaliated by failing to approve many key army appointments & decisions
The Alien and Sedition ActsFederalists used Alien & SeditionAlien & Sedition
Acts to silence Repub criticisms:–Alien Enemies Act—presidential
power to expel any foreigner–Naturalization Act—must be a
U.S. resident for 14 years to gain citizenship & vote
–Sedition Act—made criticism of the gov’t a criminal act
These acts were enforced by Federalist appointed judges
Kentucky & Virginia ResolutionsRepublicans saw Alien & Sedition
Acts as a dire threat to liberty:–Jefferson & Madison authored
the VirginiaVirginia && KentuckyKentucky ResolvesResolves suggesting that states could nullify federal laws that they saw as unconstitutional
–VA & KY Resolves weakened the Federalists & planted seeds of nullificationnullification that would be used to justify the Civil War
Adams’s Finest HourIn 1799, Adams sent a diplomatic
envoy back to France to address the XYZ “misunderstanding”:–Napoleon voided the 1778 treaty
that tied the U.S. to France–France ended its trade
restrictions in the West Indies–Adams dismantled Hamilton's
expensive & useless army The improved relations paved the
way for the Louisiana Purchase
Peaceful Resolution:The Election of 1800
The “Revolution of 1800”The Federalists were fatally
divided by 1800:–Hamilton tried to undermine
Adams’ reelection–Jefferson won election (despite
a tie with VP candidate Burr)1800 was a “revolutionary”
election because the presidency was peacefully transferred from one political party to another
In his inaugural address, Jefferson claimed: “We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists”“We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists”
To avoid another Jefferson-Burr tie, Congress passed the 12th Amendment which put
presidential & VP candidates on separate ballots