Unit 4. GEORGE WASHINGTON 1789-1797 Washington’s Presidency April 30, 1789 Washington (Virginia) is inaugurated (sworn in) as President. John Adams (Mass.)

Unit 4

GEORGE WASHINGTON1789-1797

Washington’s Presidency

April 30, 1789 Washington (Virginia) is inaugurated (sworn in) as President.John Adams (Mass.) becomes the Vice-President.

Washington’s Presidency

• Washington establishes many governmental precedents.PRCEDENT: an example that would become a standard practice.

Establishment of the Court System

Federal Judiciary Act of 1789: passed by Congress.

1. Created an independent federal court system with the Supreme Court and lower level courts.

2. The U.S. Supreme Court is to have a Chief Justice and five associate justices. Currently we have 9 total justices.

3. Washington appoints John Jay as Chief Justice.

Establishment of the Presidential Cabinet

A. The Constitution allows Congress to create departments to help the President – the Cabinet.

B. The first Presidential Cabinet had four departments:

The First Presidential Cabinet

1. Secretary of War (Henry Knox) oversee the nation’s defenses.


Secretary of State (Thomas Jefferson) oversee the relations between the U.S. and other countries.


Secretary of the Treasury (Alexander Hamilton) to manage the government’s money.


Attorney General (Edmond Randolph) to advise the government on legal matters.

Hamilton’s Financials Plan

NOTE: Alexander Hamilton believed that the federal government should be stronger than the state governments.

Hamilton’s Financial Plan

A. Pay off the war debt to develop the trust of other nations for trade.

B. Raise the federal government’s revenues through tariffs and taxes.TARIFFS – a tax on imported goods.


C. Tariffs would…1. encourage the growth of American

industry (buy American-made).2. raise money for the federal

government.


D. Create a NATIONAL BANK:

1. safe place to keep the government’s money.

2. can make loans to businesses.

3. would issue paper currency.

4. strengthen the federal government.

Debate on Interpretation of the Constitution

• STRICT CONSTRUCTION: only what the Constitution clearly states – favored by Jefferson and Madison.

• LOOSE CONSTRUCTION: the Constitution should be flexible to meet the needs of the country (Elastic Clause) – favored by Hamilton and Adams.

Jefferson and Hamilton argue these points on the creation of the National Bank.

Vocabulary:

Reform- makes changes in order to improve it; typically a social, political, or economic institution

Abolish- to put an end to a system, practice or institution

Vocabulary:

expansion- the action of becoming larger or more extensive

Innovation- a new method, idea or product

Vocabulary:

Migrate- move from one area or country to settle in another

Foreign- strange or unfamiliar; characteristic of a country or language other than ones own

Vocabulary:

Domestic- existing or occurring inside a particular country; not foreign or international

Assimilation- the process by which a person or persons acquire the social and psychological characteristics of a group

Vocabulary:

Doctrine- a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group

Cession- the formal giving up of rights, property, or territory especially by a state

Thomas Jefferson’s Presidency

1801-1809

The Beginning

• March 4, 1801– Thomas Jefferson is the

first President inaugurated in the new capital city of Washington D.C.

– He delivers his first inaugural address. This address outlines what he feels are the essential principles of government.

The Louisiana Purchase

• The Louisiana Purchase was the purchase of land by the United States from France in 1803.

• It was one of the most important land acquisitions in the history of the country.

• Many say that it allowed the United States to expand even further westward and to become the nation it is today.

• As President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson faced much opposition to the purchase of the land.

• Many said that it was unconstitutional and undermined the authority of the states in the government.

• Jefferson was exploring new bounds of governmental control. He didn’t want France and Spain to have the ability to block American trade across the port of New Orleans.

Benefits/Consequences Benefits Consequences

Doubled the size of the USA

Much of the land sold by France wasn’t actually theirs to sell

Ensured the access of the Gulf of Mexico

question of slavery in new territory

Quick Write

Imagine you are going to take a trip down the Amazon River.

Make a list of problems or issues you may face. Discuss and list

possible solutions to these problems

5 min

Exploring the Territory

Jefferson wanted to explore the new territory. Sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore in 1804-1806

Lewis and Clark Expedition• January 18, 1803

– Jefferson asks Congress for funds to explore the land west of the Mississippi

– His goal is to find a water route to the Pacific

• May 1804– Meriwether Lewis and

William Clark depart on the expedition

WHO ARE THESE GUYS??

• Meriwether Lewis and William Clark• Both former soldiers from Virginia (TJ’s

home state)• Jefferson chooses Lewis, who picks

Clark

Goals of the Exposition

1. Scientific – Study plants, animals, geography

2. Economic – Is area profitable for America? If so then how? Is there a passage to Pacific? “Northwest Passage”

3. Ambassadors to Indian Tribes – Bring messages of friendship – “Peace Medals”

James Madison

Born: March 16th, 1751 in Port Conway VA

•Education: Princeton University

•Political Experiences:

• Outlined VA’s Constitution

• Wrote the U.S. Constitution, “Father of

the Constitution”

• Secretary of State under Jefferson’s

presidency

First Term’s Main Issues

Domestic: Rechartering of the Bank of the U.S.• •Opposition from Republicans thought bank was unconstitutional & too

much Hamiltonian power

• **Anti-British objected to bank stock held by British & state banks**

What are some major events leading to The War of 1812?

• US shipping was being harassed, and cargo was seized. – Britain required licenses for ships bound for Europe– France confiscated cargo from licensed ships

• Impressment of American sailors – Many British sailors became naturalized US citizens

and deserted British vessels and joined American crews.

– British Navy kidnapped these sailors off American ships and had them rejoin the British Navy

What are some major events leading to The War of 1812?

• Economic Diplomacy Fails– Embargo Act of 1807

halted all trade with Europe

– Embargo is a government ban on trade with other countries

– Embargo was unpopular in port cities, especially in the North

What were some of the benefits of going to war with Britain?

• To allow reopening of trade

• National Pride• To stop the

impressment of sailors• CANADA!!!

What were some drawbacks to going to war?

• Not everyone in the US wanted to go to war• Military was small

– Standing Army was small– Militia comprised most of our forces, and they did

not like to fight outside of their state borders– Navy was quite small only 22 ships

• Britain was a great Superpower and could crush us like a bug and we could lose territory that was gained in the Treaty of Paris or the Louisiana Purchase

Declaration of War

• June of 1812 Madison asked Congress for declaration of war

• Vote was split along regional lines

• War started with Invasion of Canada

The roof is on fire…

• In August 1814, British Forces Sailed into Chesapeake Bay and capture Washington D.C.

• They burn the White House and the Capitol

• Madison and Congress Barely escape

Treaty of Ghent

• Treaty was Negotiated in Europe and was signed on Dec. 24, 1814 ending the war of 1812

• The War ended in a stalemate, where no party gained or lost any territory.

• The issue of impressment was not addressed, but faded on its own.

If The War of 1812 ended in a tie, why was it important?

• Gave the United States a National Identity– We were able to hold our own against the

British– Started us thinking about continuing

westward expansion– Ended bad feelings toward the British

• Creates a hero in Andrew Jackson and the Western Frontiersmen

James Monroe• Born in Virginia in 1758 • Fought with Continental Army• Practiced law in Virginia• Elected United States Senator• Helped negotiate the

Louisiana Purchase • Elected President in 1816 and

served from 1817 to 1825• Era of Good Feelings

The Era of Good Feelings

• Monroe’s election in 1816 helped lead to the death of the Federalist Party– Federalist liabilities included:

• "Disloyalty" during the War of 1812• Extremely sectional regarding the interests of New

England• Jefferson had adopted many of their most important

ideas (e.g. Hamilton’s financial plan, expansion, loose construction in certain cases)

The American System

Tariff of 1816

• The Tariff of 1816 was created to protect U.S. manufacturing from British competition– After the war, Britain flooded U.S. with cheap goods, often

below cost to undercut new U.S. industries• Americans saw this as British attempt to crush U.S. factories

– First protective tariff in U.S. History• Imposed roughly 20-25% duties on imports• Not really high enough to provide effective protection.• Started a protective trend in U.S. trade.

Panic of 1819

Causes of the Panic of 1819

• Over-speculation on frontier lands

• BUS forced "wildcat" western banks to foreclose on farms

• BUS stopped allowing payment in paper; now demanded payment in specie– State banks affected & called in loans in specie– Many farmers didn’t have specie so they lost their farms

Panic of 1819

Results of the Panic of 1819

• Western farmers begin to view the bank as an evil financial monster

• Hard hit poor classes looking for more responsive government

• New land legislation resulted in smaller parcels being sold for lower prices

• Widespread sentiment to end the practice of imprisoning debtors

Growing West

• Nine new states joined the union between 1791 & 1819– Most had been

admitted alternately free and slave

– Maintaining a sectional balance in Congress was a supreme goal

Growing West

Reasons for Westward Expansion

• Westward movement had been significant since colonial era.

• Cheap lands in Ohio territory attracted thousands of European immigrants.

• Land exhaustion in older tobacco states drove people westward.

• Speculators accepted small down payments & made purchase of land easier.

• Economic depression during the embargo years sparked migration westward.

Growing West

Reasons for Westward Expansion

• Transportation Revolution improved land routes to Ohio Valley.– Cumberland Road begun in

1811; from Maryland to Illinois– Advent of steamboat in 1811

made upstream travel possible– Canals beginning in 1826

allowed for increased trade between west and east

Growing West

• West still remained weak in population and influence– Allied with other sections regarding national political

issues.– Demanded land reform & cheap transportation, cheap

money, created its own "wildcat" banks, & fought the BUS.

Monroe Doctrine (1823)

• Background: – European monarchies were concerned about

democratic revolutions at home & abroad• Saw democracy as a threat to absolute

monarchy.• Sought to restore newly independent Latin

American republics to Spanish rule

– Americans were alarmed at European hostility to democracy in the Western Hemisphere

Foreign Policy Act the War of 1812


• Background:– Great Britain sought a joint alliance with

the US– Secretary of State John Quincy Adams

felt that Britain wanted an alliance in order to stop the US from expanding into Latin America

Foreign Policy Act the War of 1812Monroe Doctrine (1823)

• President Monroe’s annual message to Congress warned Europeans:– Colonial powers could keep

existing colonies but gain no new ones

– Leave America alone; let new republics govern themselves

– Directed largely at Russia which had designs on the Pacific coast



• Impact:– Immediate impact of the Monroe Doctrine was

small• US army & navy remained small & relatively weak• Became more important when President Polk revived

it in 1845

– Long-term impact of the policy was significant • Served as the cornerstone of US foreign policy during

last half of 19th century & throughout 20th century


Andrew Jackson

• Born in a log cabin on the frontier

• His parents were immigrants from Ireland

• They died by the time he was 15• He grew up tough• A military man • Studied Law at North Carolina

– Practiced in Tennessee

Spoils System

• After the election, he fired many government employees– He hired many of his supporters

• “The duties of all public offices are…so plain and simple…”

• A supporter said, “To the victor goes the spoils”– Very few of his supporters were qualified

• Unofficial advisors were referred to as his “Kitchen Cabinet”

Dealing with the Bank

• Jackson hated the federal bank– He let them know!

• He felt the National Bank was only helping the rich– Issue dealing with farmers and merchants

• He vetoed a renewal of the bank– Ended the National Bank and sent money to

state banks

Indian Removal of 1830

• In 1830 Congress passed the Indian Removal Act. This law said that all Indians living east of the Mississippi River must leave their lands and move to Indian Territory. (Current day Oklahoma)

• President Jackson signed the law and ordered the Choctaws, Creeks, Seminoles, Chickasaws, Cherokees, and other tribes to leave their lands.

The Fight Against Removal

• Many tribes fought against removal.• The Seminoles of Florida with the

help of runaway slaves struggled to keep their land.

• Many of the Seminoles were either killed or forced to leave their homes.

Cherokee Nation

• The 15,000 Cherokees made up one of the richest tribes in the U.S.

• Many Cherokees owned small farms, and a few had large plantations where Africans were enslaved.

• They had their own government with a Constitution and elected leaders.

• Gold was discovered on Cherokee lands in 1829. Settlers poured in to stake their claims.

Cherokee’s Fight Removal

• The Cherokee nation, led by Chief John Ross, fought back in the U.S. courts.

• Their case went all the way to the Supreme Court.

• In 1832, Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that the U.S. should protect the Cherokees and their land in Georgia.

Jackson’s Response

• Instead of supporting the court ruling, President Jackson ignored it.

• President Jackson sent soldiers to remove the Cherokees to the Indian Territory.

• By late 1838, soldiers had forced the last group of Cherokees to leave their lands.

• Their journey to the Indian Territory became known as the Trail of Tears.

The Trail of Tears- 116 day Journey

• The Cherokees traveled more than 800 miles through North Carolina and Georgia through Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas.

• The journey ended on March 26, 1839.• More than 4,000 Cherokees had died of cold,

disease, and lack of food during the 116-day journey.

Go West Young Man

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Unit 4. GEORGE WASHINGTON 1789-1797 Washington’s Presidency April 30, 1789 Washington (Virginia) is inaugurated (sworn in) as President. John Adams (Mass.)