Unit 3: The New Republic

1783-1850

Founding Fathers

• Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)– Negotiator at Treaty of

Paris 1783– 1st Post Master General– Convinced French to

help in Am. Rev.– All around US

Ambassador

Thomas Jefferson

• 1743- July 4, 1826• Primary author of

Declaration of Independence

• 1st Secretary of State• 3rd President of US

George Washington

• 1732-1799• 1st Commander in Chief

of Continental Army• 1st President of the US– 1789-1797

• Presided over the construction of the US Constitution

John Hancock (Massachusetts)

• Governor of Massachusetts

• President of the Second Continental Congress

• Known for signing the Declaration of Independence first with giant signature.

Benjamin Rush (Pennsylvania)

• Signer of the Declaration of Independence.

• A physician from Penn. Served as Surgeon General in Continental Army.

• Considered the “Father of American Psychiatry”

John Jay (New York)

• First Chief Justice of the United States.–AKA-the head Judge

• From New York. He wanted to try to patch things up with G.B.

• Eventually Signed the D.o.I.

John Witherspoon (New Jersey)

• A Scotsman who signed the D.o.I.

• From New Jersey• A minister

(clergyman)• President of the

College of New Jersey. Later known as Princeton University.

John Peter Muhlenberg (Penn.)

• Senator from Penn.• Served as a colonel,

then as a brigadier general in the Continental Army during Revolutionary War.

• Station & helped train troops at Valley Forge

• Fought at the Battle of Yorktown.

Charles Carroll (Maryland)

• Wrote a series of newspaper articles protesting the right of the British government to tax the colonies without representation

• Signer of the Declaration of Independence to die.

• Last signer to die.• Served in the Continental

Congress

Jonathan Trumbull Sr. (Connecticut)

• Governor of Connecticut as a colony and state.

• Only colonial governor that supported the Revolutionary War.

New United States Territory

Articles of Confederation(1781)

• 1st document at starting a new government– Created a national legislature to pass laws– Unanimous support was required to pass major

pieces of legislation– National government had no power to levy taxes• Key philosophy- State’s Rights!

Ordinance of 1785(Land Ordinance)

• Dealt with land in Northwest Territory– Established a system of dividing and selling land.

1. Public land would be divided into townships 6 mi²2. Each township was divided into 36 sections; each 640

acres or 1 mi²3. Each section could be purchased for $1 per acre

– Goal:• $ Raise Revenue!

– Did not raise much revenue• Leaves “checkerboard” pattern

Northwest Ordinance 1787

• Provided process by which new states could join the Union1. Territories could receive 1 Representative in

Congress when population reached 5,000 votes (white males)

2. Territories could apply for statehood when total population reached 60,000

3. Freedom of religion and trial by jury were protected; slavery was prohibited in Northwest Territory

Problems with the Articles

• Each state had 1 vote:– Regardless of pop.– Unanimous support needed for new legislation

• Each state had power to negotiate treaties, coin its own money, and declare war.

• No national army and no power to enforce laws.

Shay’s Rebellion(1786-87)

• Economic hardship for farmers in Mass.– Farmers felt the new gov. should do something– Daniel Shay led angry army in rebellion

• Impact:– Demonstrated the weakness of the national

government.

Constitutional Convention(Philadelphia, 1787)

• Shay’s Rebellion made people realize the Articles of Con. are weak and needed change

• 55 delegates from colonies, except Rhode Is.– George Washington– Ben Franklin– James Madison- “Father” of the Constitution• Thomas Jefferson not attending

– US Ambassador to France

Virginia Plan

• Proposed by James Madison:1. Eliminate Articles of Con.2. Separate the gov. into three branches:

Legislative, Executive, & Judicial3. Representation in Legislative branch would be

based on a state’s population.• Wanted two houses in Congress, both based on

population.

New Jersey Plan

• AKA- The Small State Plan• Wanted to keep Articles idea of one vote per

state• Taxes based on state’s free inhabitant and

slave population• Congress elects executive person, w/o person

being re-elected

Great Compromise of 1787(Connecticut Compromise)

• Small states did not agree with Virginia Plan–Unfair representation

• Separate Legislative branch into two sections:–House of Representatives• Based on population

– Senate• Two per state

The Constitution and Slavery

• Should slaves be counted towards a state’s population?

• Slave states would have more representation in the House.

• 3/5 Compromise- 1 slave is equal to 3/5 of a person when determining a state’s population.

• Fugitive Slave Law- allowed for runaway slaves to be returned

• Congress could not outlaw African Slave Trade until 1808

Constitutional Republic

• A form of Government where officials are elected by the people and they must govern according to the laws of its constitution.– Democratic Republic

Alexis de Tocqueville

• French political thinker and historian. Wrote Democracy in America in 1835 about his studies of American government.

Alexis de Tocqueville• 5 Values of Democracy:– Liberty-Freedom from control, interference, obligation,

restriction, hampering conditions– Egalitarianism-the belief in human equality– Individualism-being who you are as an individual.– Populism-a doctrine that supports the rights and powers

of the common people in their struggle with the privileged elite.

– Laissez-Faire-the theory that government should not interfere with economic issues.

The U.S. Constitution

• America’s law! Law of the Land. Adopted Sept. 17, 1787. Went into effect March 4, 1789.

• Broken into 7 articles.– Articles 1-3: Branches of Gov. Executive, Legislative,

Judicial. Checks and Balances- each branch can regulate the power of another branch.

– Articles 4 & 6: Federalism- the relationship between State & State; State & Nation. The different levels of government (local, state, national)

– Article 5: Amendments-official change/addition in law.– Article 7: Ratifying/Ratification- approval, to make into

effect. To confirm.

U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights

• Intent and Meaning – To organize and form the constitutional republic of the United States government. The Bill of Rights was added to prevent abuse by the government of individual rights of citizens.

• Importance - The Constitution stands as a model of cooperative statesmanship and the art of compromise.

Amendments

• First 10- Known as the Bill of Rights– 1st-Freedom of Speech, Religion, Petition, Press,

and Peaceful Assembly– 2nd-Right to bear arms. You can have guns.– 3rd-no forced quartering (housing) soldiers.– 4th-no unreasonable searches and seizures, along

with requiring any warrant.– 5th- no self incrimination (I plead the 5th), the right

to due process, protection from double jeopardy.

Amendments cont…

– 6th-right to trial by jury, speedy trial, right to confront witnesses

– 7th-civil cases involved >$20 shall not have trial by jury.

– 8th-no excessive bail, or cruel and unusual punishment inflicted.

– 9th-cannot deny any rights not outlined in Constitution.

– 10th-powers not outlined in Constitution go to the States to make decision.

Washington’s Administration

• Washington did not want to be president– Electoral College selected him, John Adams VP

• Cabinet Members:– Thomas Jefferson- Secretary of State– Alexander Hamilton- Secretary of Treasury– Henry Knox- Secretary of War– Edmund Randolph- Attorney General

Judiciary Act of 1789• Supreme Court = 6 members• Establish federal courts in each state• Authorized Supreme Court to review state court

decisions.

National Debt

• Hamilton- proposed that paying off foreign debt and have national gov. assume state debt– Some states (mostly southern) already paid off their

debt. They did not want to pay other states debt• Compromise:– Southern states agreed to assumption of state’s

debt by national gov.– U.S. capital would be located in the south

Washington, D.C.

National Bank?• Hamilton thought a national bank would help

regulate state banks to protect the government’s money

• Jefferson’s strict interpretation of the Constitution: Congress did not have this power, it is reserved for the states

• Hamilton’s loose interpretation of the Constitution: Elastic Clause: Congress had power to “Make all laws necessary and proper” to carry out its functions.– Washington agreed, signed Bank bill, creating Bank of

the U.S.

Whiskey Rebellion (1794)

• Tax placed on whiskey– Help pay for war debt and gov. funding

• Farmers in Penn. protested tax and intimidated tax collectors

• Washington led forces to stop rebellion– Showed citizens that the new US gov. would not

allow violence to resist its new policies.

Foreign Policy

• France = Revolution broke out in 1789, America would stay neutral

• Spain = dispute over boundary in Florida and access to New Orleans– Pinckney’s Treaty (1796)- grants US free access to

Miss. And New Orleans

Foreign Policy cont…

• Great Britain= disputes in NW Territory over land boundaries. British troops still occupied forts in territory, seized American ships, forcing American sailors into servitude

• Jay’s Treaty (1795)- British will leave military posts in NW, pay back damaged cargo– Made no pledge to stop their actions in the future.

New United States Territory

Political Parties

• Federalists- Strong Central Government, Pro-business, Loose Interpretation of Const.– Washington, Hamilton, Adams

• Democratic-Republicans- States rights, small farmers, Strict Interpretation of Const.– Jefferson and James Madison

Washington’s Farewell

• Condemned political parties– Said it shows a threat to the young nation

• Warned of tangled alliances with foreign nations

• Retired after 8 years in office.– Set the standards for years a president serves• Actual amendment ratified in 1951.

John Adams

• 2nd President, defeating Thomas Jefferson– Jefferson becomes VP– Losing opponent in

presidential election automatically becomes VP

• Adams-Federalist; Jefferson-Dem.-Rep.

XYZ Affair(1797)

• France upset about Jay’s treaty (Am. talking with Brits, but stayed out of France’s affairs)– France seized Am. trading ships– Adams sends diplomats to France to avoid war

• France would only meet with diplomats if America paid $250,000– Anti-French sentiment swept the nation

• Quasi-War with France occurred in Caribbean islands– No declaration of war.

Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)

• Aimed at foreigners:– Expel any foreigner deemed a threat to the nation– Foreigners could be jailed or deported by

President during wartime– Residency for citizenship goes up from 5 to 14

years.• Limited Free Speech:– Illegal to defame or criticize President or Governor– Aimed at war critics, especially newspaper

columnists

Virginia & Kentucky Resolution

• States could judge constitutionality of laws passed by Congress

• If National Gov. overstepped its powers, states could nullify laws.– Written by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson• Dem.-Rep. in favor of states rights

– John Adams signed the resolution, not knowing who wrote it.

Age of Jefferson

• Election of 1800:– Federalists did not like the fact

that Adams sought peace with France

– The Press:• Attacked Adams as a

monarchist attacking individual liberties• Attacked Jefferson as an

atheist and supporter of radicalism

Election of 1800 cont…

• Jefferson and Burr elected, however it was a tie.– The House of Reps. made up of primarily Federalists– Multiple ballots cast and decided on Jefferson over

Burr in the end.– Alexander Hamilton convinced many to support

Jefferson over Burr• Stating Jefferson was the lesser of the two evils

– Burr was angry, challenged Hamilton to a duel and Hamilton was killed in 1804.

– Jefferson, 3rd President

Impact of Election

• Twelfth Amendment:– Electors would cast separate ballots for President

and Vice President• Peaceful transfer of power showed success of

American experiment in democracy

Marbury vs. Madison

• Before leaving office, Adams named several Federalists to positions in the judiciary– Maintain Federalist influence in gov.• AKA= midnight appointments

• William Marbury was the last named to a position. James Madison never delivered the papers

• Marbury sues Madison

Court Ruling

• Madison should deliver, but Supreme Court can’t force– The Const. never gave the court that power

• Impact:– Established Judicial Review• Power of courts to review constitutionality of laws

– Supreme Court became equal to other branches.

Purchase of Louisiana(1803)

• France gained back Louisiana Territory– Closed off New Orleans to Americans

• Jefferson sent diplomat Robert Livingston to buy the port of New Orleans for $2 million.

• Napoleon offered to sell all of Louisiana for $15 million.– Nearly doubled the size of the US. Only costing the

US $0.03 an acre

Westward Expansion

• 1800-1860, new land needed to be explored• Jefferson appointed Meriwether Lewis and

William Clark to explore the new territory• Goals:– Survey and study the land; map, chart, plants, and

animals– Any type of economic potential– Study Native American cultures

Lewis & Clark Expedition

• Set out from St. Louis in May 1804– Spent first winter with the Mandan Indians in ND

• Traded, hunted, and socialized; learning culture

– Spent second winter in Fort Clatsop in OR• Journal entries; gray skies, constant rain

• Returned home in 1806; trip was successful– Detailed land descriptions help future travelers– Descriptions of Native Americans help travelers know

where good & bad tribes are located– Help lay claims to Oregon & Washington

Leading to War

• Napoleon’s wars in Europe threatened American trading and shipment of goods to Europe

• British sailors deserted and joined American ships

• Chesapeake-Leopard Affair (1807)- US warship Chesapeake refused to be boarded by British ship, Leopard. British ship fired, killing 3 Americans, wounding many more– US citizens called for war.

Embargo Act (1807)

• Jefferson did not want war; wanted to ease tensions– Prohibited all US exports to foreign countries• Hope: European reliance on American goods would

force recognition of neutral rights• Result: Complete failure; unemployment rose.

James Madison

• Takes over Presidency in 1809-4th President– Loosened the embargo,

but US ships still seized by French and British

– British Navy controlled the seas, so Americans turn anger towards British

Causes of War of 1812

• Trading rights and forced servitude of American sailors by the British

• British support of Native Americans resisting US presence in NW Territory

• War Hawks: new group of members of Congress that supported going to war with Great Britain– Especially members from the South

War of 1812

• June 1812, Congress declared war on Britain– First time war is declared as a new nation

• Fighting would last 2 years– Americans tried to invade Canada; failed

• Battle of Bladensburg left Washington D.C. unprotected (1814)– British forces went to the nation’s capital, burned

down the President’s mansion and the Capital.

Treaty of Ghent

• Negotiations between US and GB to end hostilities

• Restore relations to pre-war status• News of agreement to two months of make it

back to the US– A few battles continued after the war had ended

• Battle of New Orleans- Andrew Jackson led forces to crush British troops, only the war was over. Symbolic victory!

Results of the War of 1812

• Federalists met in Connecticut to propose Constitutional Amendments– Require a 2/3 vote of Congress to declare war– Prohibit election of two successive Presidents

from same state.• Word reached citizens of the victory in New

Orleans and Treaty of Ghent; Federalists were seen as traitors, and the party was doomed

Symbols of Nationalism

• Presidential Mansion destroyed, a new house constructed, becomes White House

• Francis Scott Key wrote the poem “Star Spangled Banner” as he witnessed the British barrage of cannon fire on Fort McHenry as a POW on a British warship

• A new national hero: Andrew Jackson for his victory at New Orleans

Era of Good Feelings(1817-1825)

• Name given because of popular support when James Monroe was elected president.– Fighting between political parties was absent

Missouri Crisis

• 1819, Mizz. applies for statehood as a slave state.– Broken balance of 11 free & 11 slave states

• Proposal:– Gradually emancipate slaves

Missouri Compromise(1820-1821)

• Missouri enter Union as slave state• Maine enter Union as free state• Mason-Dixon Line:– Ran along Ohio River, outlining free & slave states

• Slavery was prohibited in areas of the Louisiana Purchase at 36° and 30’– Missouri Compromise Line

Monroe’s Administration

• Secretary of State, John Q. Adams, negotiated w/ G. Britain over the Oregon Territory.– Both agree to joint occupation for 10 yrs.– US settlement will eventually win it over.

• General Andrew Jackson, led forces into Spanish Florida, occupied two forts, and hanged two British citizens.– Spain could no longer control Florida.

Adams/Onis Treaty

• Spain ceded all of Florida to US.• US renounces claims to Texas• Spain gives up any claims to Oregon

Monroe Doctrine (1823)

• European powers cannot interfere with independent nations in western hemisphere

• New European colonization in western hemisphere was prohibited.

• The US would stay out of European affairs.

Presidential Election of 1824131 Majority to win Presidential Office

Candidate Electoral Vote Popular Vote

Andrew JacksonHero of New Orleans

99 43.1%

John Q. AdamsSecretary of State

84 30.5%

William CrawfordSecretary of Treasury

41 13.1%

Henry ClaySpeaker of the House

37 13.2%

Election Controversy

• If no candidate does not win majority of electoral college votes, the House of Representatives chooses the President among the top three finishers.– The House chooses Adams to be Prez.– Adams appoints Clay as Secretary of State.• Believed to be a “corrupt bargain”

Andrew Jackson

• 7th President (1829-1837)

• Ran as a Democrat• Defeated John Q.

Adams

Jacksonian Democracy

• Elimination of property qualification to vote• Supported the will of the American people to

govern:– Voters should directly elect the President and

Senators

Tariffs

• Tax on imported/exported goods.• Tariff of Abominations:– Congress passed protective tariff in 1828• Supposed to help New Eng. States, they backed high

tariffs.• Hurt and unpopular in the South, they wanted them

lowered.• Raised cost of manufactured goods• Other nations established tariffs hurting American

exports.

Nullification Crisis

• Jackson’s VP, John C. Calhoun, wrote the South Carolina Exposition and Protest.– Protested the abomination tariffs as

unconstitutional– States should nullify the law.

• Tensions between Jackson and Calhoun.– Calhoun resigned.

Compromise Solution

• A new tariff (passed in 1833) gradually lower tariff rates

• Force Bill: Allowed President to use force to collect tariff revenues.

Bank Crisis

• Jackson did not trust the Bank of the U.S.• Vetoed the renewal of the bank in 1832.– It was unconstitutional– It was harmful to the nation

• Federal money was removed from Bank of U.S. and put into state banks “pet banks”– Bank of U.S. died in 1836.

Jackson’s Opponents

• Whigs: Name given to political party opposed to Jackson.

• Second American party system evolved– Democratic Party (Jackson’s supporters)

VS.– Whig Party (Jackson’s Opponents)

Limits of Jacksonian Democracy

• Jackson was a slave owner• Did not support equality for women• Proposed Indian removal from lands.

Indian Removal

• By 1833, Native Americans were told to assimilate into U.S. society.– Native Americans adopt white society and culture.

• Discovery of gold in Cherokee lands in Georgia– Supreme Court said Indians should not be

removed– Jackson ignored ruling, passed Indian Removal Act

Trail of Tears (1838)

• A few Cherokee leaders agreed to move from land for money.– Not all agreed

• 15,000-18,000 Cherokee Indians forced to move from Georgia to Oklahoma– 25% died on the journey

American Transformation

• Population growth:– 1790: 4 million, most east of App. Mnts.– 1840: 17 million, 1/3 west of App. Mnts.

• Agricultural change:– Sustenance farming to commercial farming• New tools and techniques

– The NW Territory became the countries leading agricultural region.

Impact of Commercial Farming

• Debt increased among farmers– Need new tools to keep up production, take out a

loan, pay by credit.– Affected by outside markets, either domestic or

foreign.

Old Southwest Territory

• Alabama, Miss., Tenn., LA., Arkansas.– Commercial farming of cotton in territory– Alabama & Miss. produced 50% of exported

cotton in U.S. by 1820.• Eli Whitney- inventor of the cotton gin.– Led to expansion of plantations– Increase demand for slave labor

Transportation Change

• Steamboats used on rivers and canals made transportation of goods and people faster and easier.

• New York Erie Canal (1825)– Linked Hudson River to Lake Erie-360 miles• 8 years to build, $7 million

• Eastern markets open up to western farm goods with canals.

• Emergence of railroads in 1830s.

Industrial Growth

• Textile mills begin a work production growth.– Larger buildings and more workers needed to

produce clothing goods.• Majority textile workers were female– Long hours, hot/humid conditions.

• Urbanization:– Small cities became major cities due to industrial

growth.– Division between rich and poor

Immigrants

• European immigrants came to US for various reasons– Irish had no potatoes!

• Native-born workers felt immigrant workers would lead to lowered wages.– “No Irish Need Apply”

Era of Reform

• Temperance- Second Great Awakening, push for prohibition of alcohol in 1850s by religious leaders

• Education- school was a families responsibility, not required.– School mandatory and follow a standardized

curriculum. – Assimilate immigrants

• Opposition of Slavery• Women’s Rights