Post on 11-Dec-2015
transcript
What does it mean to have an “unwritten Constitution”?
A: Not written explicitly in the Constitutionex. Political parties, judicial review, cabinet
Enter George Washington“A Born Leader”
1st President of the United States
General during the American Revolution
Although he had little administrative experience, he had an “air of authority”
“The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the republican model of government, are justly considered deeply, perhaps as finally, staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.”George Washington, First Inaugural Address,
April 1789
Who is Mr. Washington trying to appeal to?
The 1st Cabinet “GW’s Crew”Set a pattern for future presidentsWashington chose men he knew and trusted!Considered the best cabinet in U.S. HistoryCongress created the first 3 departments of
cabinet:State, treasury, and war
The 1st CongressJohn Adams becomes VP after losing electionConstitution stated Vice President would
preside over the Senate (only job at this time)Judiciary Act of 1789- Congress organized the
judicial branch6 person Supreme CourtJohn Jay named first chief justice
Dude where’s my money?Alexander Hamilton faced huge problems/US
was in debtHamilton’s Economic Plan
Taxes on imported goodsExcise tax on liquor and sugar (NOT HAPPY)National gov’t pays off debt
Jefferson not happy because North had more debt than the South (South gets screwed)
Views of the ConstitutionAlexander Hamilton “Federalists”
Thomas Jefferson“Democrat-Republicans”
“To constrain the powers of the federal government would mean to weaken it considerably.”
“Necessary and proper” clause would open the door to the abuse of power
Compromise over dinner…Capital would be moved from Philadelphia to
the South, near Virginia (Jefferson wins!)Hamilton had to convince Federalists of this
In return, southerners would vote for Hamilton’s debt bill to pass (Hamilton wins!)
How much power?Strict constructionist- Gov’t can only do what
is specifically in the Constitution (Jefferson)
Loose constructionist- Gov’t can take reasonable actions that are not outlined in the Constitution
Thomas “Teflon” Jefferson“Nothing sticks” to Jefferson though he
spreads information about other politiciansCould he get away with it today?
Believed Washington was a “monarchist bent on destroying the rule of the people and a senile follower of the policies of Alexander Hamilton”
Thought Hamilton was influencing Washington (“ignorant puppet”)
Letters between the men/ “Martha”
The “Reynolds Affair”Hamilton had an affair with Maria Reynolds,
who requested him to help her escape her abusive husband
Hamilton paid the husband over $1000 to keep it a secret
Eventually Jefferson got hold of the love letters and brought them to the newspaper, exposing Hamilton’s private life
Hamilton responded with a 95 page pamphlet in which he openly admitted to the affair but denied corruption
Debate over the bankHamilton wanted Congress to create a
national bankBelieved bank would win support of communityBank would help the gov’t in its financial
dealings
Democrat-Republicans argued that the Constitution didn’t give the gov’t the authority to create a bank
Hamilton said that any powers not stated in the Constitution were “implied” or needed for the common good
Washington signed the bank bill into effect
1. Who is the person in the cartoon? What is he holding?
2. What is the significance of the phrase “bottling up”?
Whiskey Rebellion
In 1794, Western Pennsylvania farmers protested and refused to pay the excise tax on whiskey
Washington called out state militias and put down the rebellion
Demonstrated that the new gov’t intended to enforce federal law
Why whiskey?
Farmers had a hard time getting their grain to market, so they turned their grain into whiskey, which was easier to transport.
They got more money for the whiskey anyway. Farmers traded the whiskey for salt, sugar, and
other goods. Farmers used whiskey as money to get
whatever supplies they needed. Farmers did not have the money to pay for the
tax.
Washington’s Farewell“It is our true policy to steer clear of
permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world…”Washington’s Farewell Address, 1796
1. Summarize this quote…What is Washington saying?2. Why do you think he said this to the American people?
Washington’s Farewell Address
Before he retired, Washington gave a farewell address (speech). In it he
Warned against political parties - he thought they caused arguments
Urged the nation to remain neutral and not become involved in foreign alliances.
Warned against a powerful military. Urged Americans to maintain and value a sense
of national unity.
Hamilton versus Jefferson
Alexander Hamilton led the Federalists. Thomas Jefferson led the Democratic-
Republicans. Northern merchants and manufacturers
became Federalists. Southern farmers and workers became
Democratic-Republicans
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The Evolution of Political Parties • Federalist Party: first
U.S. political party• Democratic-Republicans
formed in opposition to the Federalists
• Democratic Party developed from the Democratic-Republicans
• Whig Party arose to counter the Democratic Party
Andrew Jackson
Henry Clay
Daniel Webster
Political PartiesDebate between Federalists and Anti-
Federalists led to the creation of a two party system
Two major parties at this time were: Federalists Democrat-Republicans
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The Role of Political Parties
• Parties organize individuals with similar ideas who work to effect political change
• Citizens may freely choose their party affiliation, or opt to have none at all
• Parties can represent a wide variety of interests
• Parties aim to elect people to government who will help pass laws in their favor
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Third Parties in a Two-Party System
• Usually form in opposition to one or both major parties
• Have had great influence without ever winning the presidency
• Bring attention to important public issues ignored by the major parties
• Complaints about third parties:– They take votes away from
major candidates with similar positions
– Supporting a third-party candidate “wastes” one’s vote
Third-party poster from the 1912 presidential campaign
Election of 1796Issues in the Young Nation
• Federalists and Democratic-Republicans aren't speaking to each other.
End of the One-Party Systemhttp://www.james.com/beaumont/images/smith_melancton1.jpg
Election of 1796The Potential Candidates
• Final candidate was the Vice-President, John Adams, who was also a Federalist, but more strong-minded.
John Adamshttp://www.tamut.edu/academics/mperri/AmSoInHis/John-Adams.jpg
Election of 1796Results in the Electoral
College• Adams 71,
Jefferson 68, and Pinckney 59.– Adams takes
Jefferson as Vice-President.
– Does not trust Hamilton and Pinckney.
1796 Election Resultshttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/
ElectoralCollege1796-Large.png/400px-ElectoralCollege1796-Large.png
On this week’s episode of Desperate Founding
Fathers…• Constitution Says…
– Two candidates with the most votes become President and Vice President! So…..
• President Adams and Vice President Jefferson are from different political parties
• This is changed by Amendment XII (1804)
• Predictions?
Jay’s TreatyFrance and Great Britain had fought many
warsAgreement between the U.S. and Great
Britain designed to prevent future warsHamilton believed it would ease tensions
between the two countriesJefferson was concerned with our alliance
with France and that it may suffer because of this treaty
How do you think France felt?? Why?
The French Revolution Interferes
• American merchant ships being seized by French warships– French not happy with Jay’s treaty
• Adams sends delegates to France to negotiate
• XYZ Affair– French ministers (X, Y, & Z) requested bribes in order
to enter into negotiations
XYZ AffairAmerican Response
• Congress ends the French alliance.• Creation of a naval department.• Congress appropriates money to
triple the size of the army and build 40 warships.
• Washington comes out of retirement to lead the American forces.
• American privateers attack French shipping.
Public Opinion toward France Shifts
The XYZ affair - Maiden America ravaged by the French
5 members of the Directory in France
Britain looking on from on high
Rest of the world looking on
Fallout from XYZ Affair
• Many Americans calling for war with France– Hamilton, others thought U.S. could gain land– “Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!”
• Adams feels that U.S. Army and Navy not strong enough to fight a major power– Sends new ministers instead
• Unpopular move, but….?
Federalists take control
• Public anger with France strengthens Federalists in congress– Win majority of both houses in 1798– Enacted laws that were restrictive to Democratic-
Republican rivals
• What did Washington warn about again?
Naturalization Act
What did it do?• Increases from five to fourteen
number of years required to qualify for U.S. citizenship
Why would it favor the Federalists?
• Most immigrants voted with the Democratic-Republicans
Alien Acts
What did it do?• Authorized the president to deport
any aliens considered to be dangerous
• Authorized the president to detain any enemy aliens in a time of war
Why would it favor the Federalists?
• Democratic-Republicans sympathetic to the French Revolution
The Alien & Sedition Acts
The Alien Acts• Naturalization Act.– Increased the eligibility for
citizenship from 5 to 14 years.
• Alien Enemies Act.– Gave the President the
power to arrest or expel enemies in times of "declared war."
• Alien Act.– President can expel all
aliens deemed "dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States."
The Alien Acthttp://www.historicaldocuments.com/AlienandSeditionActs1.jpg
Sedition Act
What did it do?• Makes it illegal for newspapers
to criticize the president or Congress
• Imposed heavy penalties for editors who violated the new law– Fines– Imprisonment
Why would it favor the Federalists?• Are you kidding?
Representative Matthew Lyon of Vermont, arrested under the Sedition Act of 1798, attacking a fellow congressman
The Alien & Sedition Acts
The Sedition Act• Made it a crime to
"impede the operation of any law."– Illegal to publish
or speak any "false, scandalous, and malicious" criticism of high government officials.
A Fight in Congress Over the Sedition Act
http://www.apfn.net/MESSAGEBOARD/07-02-04/tjalien.jpg
Judging Adams
• Keeps U.S. out of war, preserves neutrality
• Strengthens the Navy
• Peaceful transfer of power in 1800
• Relationship with France damaged
• New taxes imposed
• Party politics become entrenched
Dislike for the Federalist Congress and the Alien and Sedition Acts cost Adams his reelection and
gave control of Congress to the Republicans. But in weighing his presidency, we have to
consider the negative along with the positive:
Food for Thought Why was Jefferson’s victory in the
Election of 1800 considered a “peaceful transfer of power”?
How did Jefferson’s acquisition of the Louisiana Purchase contradict his political views?
Election of 1800 Thomas Jefferson & Aaron Burr both tie with
73 votes. It goes to the House and Hamilton controls the outcome and chooses Jefferson! Why?
He hates Burr more than Jefferson! Thomas Jefferson became our 3rd president The Democratic-Republicans took control of
Congress The Twelfth Amendment was added to the
Constitution Pres and VP run as a ticket
"We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists."
The election of 1800 was the most important election in American
History No one knew after the election
(which lasted forever and was the closest ever) what would happen.
Would the Federalists give up power peacefully or would there be revolution, secession, or civil war??
It was the first time EVER, in the history of mankind, that power had been transferred from one group to another without bloodshed and war.
The Midnight Judges
The night before Jefferson is sworn in as President, John Adams does the unthinkable…
John Adams filled all open positions with Federalist Judges!
Why would he do this???
JEFFERSON WANTS NEW ORLEANS
JEFFERSON SENDS JAMES MONROE & ROBERT LIVINGSTON TO PARIS.
THEY ARE TO BUY NEW ORLEANS- CAN PAY AS MUCH AS $10 MILLION
Louisiana Purchase Jefferson’s purchase of Louisiana had
its origins in his desire to Give the United States control over the
Mississippi River Acquire a port to provide an outlet for
western crops Hoped to preserve an agricultural
(agrarian) society by making abundant lands available to future generations
To prevent war with France over control of the Louisiana Territory and secure American commerce
Louisiana Purchase April 30, 1803
Robert Livingston & James Monroe signed the Louisiana Purchase Treaty in Paris
The United States paid $15 million for the land, roughly 4 cents per acre
The purchase doubled the size of the United States
On July 4th the Louisiana Purchase is publicly announced Original treaty can be found at:
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/american_originals_iv/sections/louisiana_purc
hase_treaty.html
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
Map of Lewis and Clark’s RouteOriginal map can be found at:
http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/archive/maptrack_b.html
But wait a minute…
JEFFERSON IS A STRICT CONSTRUCTIONIST. What’s wrong with this picture?
He must use “implied powers” to justify the deal
FEDERALISTS ATTACK JEFFERSON FOR STRETCHING THE CONSTITUTION.