American History

Chapter 10

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Overview

Americans had overthrown King George III and the Articles of Confederation

Basic distrust of central authority--but saw it as a necessary evil

In debt and revenues limited Skeptical world doubted the upstart

United States

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Growing Pains Constitution launched in 1789 amid

growthPopulation doubling each 25 yearsPopulation about 90% ruralAll but 5% lived east of Appalachian

MountainsForeign visitors looked down their noses at

the roughness of pioneering lifeFurther west were Spanish and British

agents moved freely among the settlers

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Growing Pains America had done something no other

nation in history had ever done—free its people from tyranny, told its people they were all equal, and gave the people the power to govern themselves

The Virginia constitution was the first constitution adopted by the people’s representatives in the history of the world

The rest of the world looked with awe upon America

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Washington for President George Washington unanimously drafted

as first president by Electoral CollegeOnly nominee in history so honored6’ 2”, 175 pounds, broad sloping shoulder,

strongly pointed chin, pockmarks (from smallpox) on nose and checks

Didn’t seek the office—preferred Mount VernonBalanced, not brilliantStrength of character, but not politically artful

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Washington for President Temporary capital was New York City Took oath of office April 30, 1789 Washington’s first cabinet

Secretary of State: Thomas JeffersonSecretary of the Treasury: Alexander

HamiltonSecretary of War: Henry Knox

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The Bill of Rights

Unfinished of Bill of Rights Promised when states were ratifying

constitutionParticular concern of anti-federalistsWould be amendments to constitutionTwo ways to amend

○ Constitutional convention requested by two-thirds of states, or by

○ Two-thirds of both houses

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The Bill of Rights First 10 amendments are the Bill of Rights

Freedom of religion, speech, and the pressRight to bear arms Right to be tried by a juryRight to assemble Right to petition government to redress

grievancesFreedom from cruel and unusual punishmentsFreedom from arbitrary government seizure of

private property

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The Bill of Rights

Madison inserted two more—the 9th and 10th

9th: Certain rights “shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people

10th: All rights not explicitly delegated or prohibited by the federal Constitution “to the States respectively, or to the people”

Brought the constitution back to more anti-federalist stance

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The Bill of Rights

First congress also createdFederal courts under the Judiciary Act of

1789○ Organized the Supreme Court○ Federal district and circuit courts○ Established Office of Attorney General

John Jay became first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

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Hamilton Revives the Corpse of Public Credit Alexander Hamilton

First Secretary of the TreasuryBig central governmentNative of West IndiesDoubts about his character and loyalty to

republican government—thought that British government was the “best in the world”

Financial wizardArchrival of Thomas Jefferson

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Hamilton Revives the Corpse of Public Credit How to shape fiscal

policies to get America credit Favor wealthier

groupsWealthy would lend

monetary and political support to the government

Money would trickle down from wealthy classes

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Alexander Hamilton

Hamilton Revives the Corpse of Public Credit The was little confidence in the

governmentHamilton could not secure funds to support

his risky schemesUrged congress to “fund” the entire national

debt “at par”—face value of debt, plus interest○ At that time: $54 million○ People didn’t think the government capable of

the funding

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Hamilton Revives the Corpse of Public Credit Hamilton’s plan was to have the federal

government assume the debts for all the country—even the debts of the statesHe would tie together the states more

closely under the federal governmentHe got Jefferson to buy in—Virginia was

promised the District of Columbia would be on the Potomac River

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Customs Duties and Excise Taxes Behind Hamilton’s plan, the United

States owed $75 millionHamilton: “Father of the National Debt”Hamilton believed national debt was uniting

for a nation and a “national blessing”The more creditors of the nation, the more

to support the national enterpriseMaking debt an asset, not a liability

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Customs Duties and Excise Taxes Hamilton—as part of the plan—would

use tariffs to help pay the debtTo pay for the debtTo build a protection wall around American

goods

Hamilton started a tax on domestic items, most notably whiskey

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Hamilton Battles Jefferson for a Bank Hamilton argued that America needed a

national bank to conduct business and have a location to keep its assetsFederal would help businessPaper money would be printed

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Hamilton Battles Jefferson for a Bank Jefferson disagreed with Hamilton

Believed that banks were a state’s responsibility

The constitution didn’t authorize banks

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Hamilton Battles Jefferson for a Bank Washington asked Jefferson for a

written opinion—Jefferson respondedNo constitutional authorityAll powers not granted to the federal

government were reserved for the states○ The states, not congress, could charter banks

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Hamilton Battles Jefferson for a Bank Jefferson believed

the constitution should be interpreted literallyVery strictlyBased on concern for

states’ rightsTheory of “strict

construction”

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Thomas Jefferson

Hamilton Battles Jefferson for a Bank Hamilton replied

What the constitution did not forbid, it permitted

Hamilton invoked Art I, Sec VIII, para 18—Congress may pass laws “necessary and proper” to carry out the powers vested in the various government agencies

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Hamilton Battles Jefferson for a Bank Hamilton continues his argument

Government must collect taxes and regulate trade

Basic national functions require a bankBy virtue of “inference”—implied powers—

congress is justified in establishing a bankA “loose” or “broad” interpretation of the

Constitution is necessary“Loose construction”—through the “elastic

clause”

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Hamilton Battles Jefferson for a Bank Washington accepted Hamilton’s

arguments and signed the banking bill into lawThe commercial north had been for the billThe agricultural south had been against it

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Hamilton Battles Jefferson for a Bank The Bank of the United States

Created by congress in 1791Chartered for 25 yearsCapital of $10 millionStock sale to the public was sold out in two

hours

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Mutinous Moonshiners in Pennsylvania The Whiskey Rebellion in 1794

Southwestern PennsylvaniaRebellion against Hamilton’s whiskey taxTax collectors tarred and featheredWashington sent troops“Whiskey Boys” dispersedAdministration criticized for sending a

sledgehammer to crush a gnat

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The Emergence of political Parties Hamilton had established good credit

rating in AmericaNetherlands loaned America at low rates

The tax, the bank, the Whiskey Rebellion suppression, etc. created some states rights enemiesThe central government was “mistreating”

states

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The Emergence of Political Parties The Hamilton-Jefferson feud became

bitter political rivalry Founders had not envisioned political

partiesDemocratic government based on popular

consent shouldn’t need opposition voices○ Seemed disloyal and an affront to the

revolutionary effort

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The Emergence of political Parties Jefferson/Madison face Hamilton

Voices grew louderPolitical messages were publicizedJefferson and Madison formed the

Democratic-Republican party in 1792Hamilton led the FederalistsThe two-party system has worked ever

since○ The party out of power is the “loyal opposition”○ Ensures politics never drifts too far one way

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The Impact of the French Revolution Foreign policy issues bring Jefferson’s

Democratic –Republicans and Hamilton’s Federalists to a pitchJeffersonians watched the bloody French

Revolution with interestHamilton’s Federalists feared itJefferson: can’t expect “despotism to liberty

in a feather bed”

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Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation Britain had entered the conflict against

France Many Jeffersonians wanted to help

France and live up to America’s alliance Washington had different thoughts, even

though America owed France

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Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation The Founding Fathers were in

agreement that America needed a generation to grow its population

Washington issued his Neutrality Proclamation in 1793Claimed America’s neutrality in the

European warWarned Americans to remain neutral

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Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation Washington’s proclamation

Started a history of isolationist traditionBecame controversialAngered pro-Jeffersonians Had been announced without consulting

congress

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Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation A representative from the French

Republic, Edmond Genet, tried to recruit an American army to help France—he was replaced

As it turns out, American neutrality helped France anyway

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Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation France never ask America to live up to its

alliance The alliance favored France, not America In helping America, both France and

America were helped In helping France now, only France would

be helped America helped with foodstuffs to West

Indies

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Embroilments with Britain Britain had kept outposts in Great Lakes

RegionHad alliance with Miami Confederation, 8

tribesLittle Turtle, Miami chief, warned that the

Ohio River was the borderHis braves defeated American forces, killing

hundreds—1790-1791

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Embroilments with Britain General “Mad Anthony” Wayne’s

America forces defeat the Miami ConfederacyThe British refuse to help their Indian friendsThe Treaty of Greenville gave up vast tracts

of land—most of Ohio and IndianaThe Indians believed the treaty put limits on

control over the Indians

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Embroilments with Britain Britain’s navy attacked hundreds of

American merchant ships and placed navy personnel into service for the Brits

Still, Hamilton wanted trade with Britain and thus America didn’t respond by getting into the warHamilton’s financial system depended on

trade with the British

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Jay’s Treaty and Washington’s Farewell Washington dispatched John Jay to

Britain to try to avoid warJay’s negotiations were weak and angered

many JeffersoniansBritish promised to evacuate outposts, but

they had promised that before

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Jay’s Treaty and Washington’s Farewell Spain moved to chore-up relations—

fearing an Anglo-American alliancePinckney’s Treaty of 1795

○ Free navigation of the Mississippi○ Land in north Florida

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Jay’s treaty and Washington’s Farewell Washington had served two terms

Decided to retireStarted a trendIn farewell address, advised against

permanent alliancesDid not oppose all alliancesFavored temporary alliances for specific

purposes

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Jay’s Treaty and Washington’s Farewell Washington’s contributions enormous

Good economic foundation (Hamilton)Expanding nationInternational tradeKept out of foreign wars

Some still threw “brick bats” at him for the weak “Jay’s Treaty” and not helping France

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John Adams Becomes President The presidential campaign of 1796

featured Jefferson and AdamsJefferson: Democratic-RepublicanAdams: FederalistFollowers of each refused to drink in the

same tavern

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John Adams becomes President John Adams beats Jefferson in Electoral

College 71 to 68Jefferson becomes vice presidentAdams was intellectual, but tough and had a

prickly manner about him—”respectful irritation”

Hamilton and Adams hated each other

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John Adams Become President Adams had problems

Hamilton as an enemyFrance—who had a grudge against the

America for not helping when needed

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Unofficial fighting with France France angry about Jay’s Treaty

Refused to received the American ministerSaw it as moving toward BritainViolation of Franco-American Treaty of 1778Seized American shipsAdams sent diplomats who were bribed—

John Marshall, future Chief Justice, refused—the XYZ Affair

War preparations against France beganUnofficial war confined to the sea

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Adams Puts Patriotism Above Party France, wanting to avoid war with

America (it was fighting others on the continent) suddenly permitted the American minister to be received

Adams won much acclaim—remained coolHad avoided war while nation was weakCould have won popularity through war by

seizing Florida and Louisiana outright

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Adams Puts Patriotism Above Party France received American envoys and

signed a new treaty with AmericaThe Convention of 1800Deleted the old treaty—allianceAmerica agreed to pay damage claims on

shippersLast of “foreign entanglements” for a long

time

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Adams puts patriotism Above Party Adams given much credit

Kept peace with FranceLed to Napoleon selling Louisiana Purchase

to America while Jefferson was president (1803)

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The Federalist Witch Hunt Federalists wrote laws to muffle

Jeffersonians—riding high on anti-French feelingsNew aliens from Europe were poor

○ Scorned by Federalists○ Welcomed by Jeffersonians

Laws written to require 14 year wait verses the usual 5 to citizenship

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The Federalist Witch Hunt The Federalists also enacted the

Sedition ActAnyone impeding the policies of government

or defaming its officials could be tried on court

Very anti-free speechMany Jeffersonians put in jailFederalists felt the law was justified due to

the “verbal violence of the day

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The Federalist Witch Hunt Though the Federalist-written Sedition

Act seemed unconstitutionalThe Supreme Court was packed with

FederalistsDespite all this, the Federalists win the next

electionThe Federalists wrote the law to expire in

1801 so it wouldn’t be used against them if they lost the election

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The Virginia (Madison) and Kentucky (Jefferson) Resolutions Jefferson would not ignore the Sedition

and Alien actsFree speech was at stakeHis party might be eliminatedSecretly wrote resolutions approved by

KentuckyMadison did the same in Virginia

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The Virginia (Madison) and Kentucky (Jefferson) Resolutions The logic behind the resolutions

The 13 sovereign states created the federal government○ The states had created a contract in forming

the federal government○ The federal government was the agent (or

creation) of the states○ Since water goes no high than its source, the

states were the final judges of whether the federal government had broke this pact

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The Virginia (Madison) and Kentucky (Jefferson) Resolutions The Kentucky resolution determined that

the federal government had exceeded its powers with reference to the Alien and sedition actsNullification—a refusal to accept them—was

the rightful remedyBut no other states would followMany debated Jefferson saying the people

not the states had created the federal government

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The Virginia (Madison) and Kentucky (Jefferson) Resolutions The determination was made that it was

the Supreme Court which must nullify legislation passed by the federal government

Nullification resolutions were later used by southern states to secede from the Union

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The Virginia (Madison) and Kentucky (Jefferson) Resolutions The efforts by Jefferson and Madison

were not to break up the union but to preserve itThey were trying to crystallize their

opposition to the Federalist Party and unseat it in the upcoming election

Jefferson was trying to nullify Federalist abuses

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Federalists Versus Democratic-Republicans The Federalists believed the few should

run the countryHamilton said only the “best people” should

be in controlJohn Jay: ”Those who won the country

ought to govern it”Intellectual arrogance and Tory tastesFeared the “swayability” of the untutored

common folk

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Federalists Versus Democratic-Republicans Hamiltonian Federalists

Strong central governmentPower to crush rebellions like “Shays”Protect the property of the wealthySupport private enterprise—no interference

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Federalists Versus Democratic-Republican Jefferson’s Democratic-Republicans,

often referred to as “Republicans”Hinterland was anti-federalist territory

Jefferson and Hamilton had different theories of society, politics, and diplomacy

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Federalists Versus Democratic-Republicans Thomas Jefferson

Weak-voicedNot able to deliver rabble-rousing speechGreat organizerAble to lead people—not drive themAppealed to the middle class and under

privileged—”dirt” farmers, laborers, artisans, small shopkeepers

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Federalists Versus Democratic-Republicans Thomas Jefferson

A contradictionAn aristocrat with sympathy for the

downtrodden“I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal

hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man”

Best government was the one that governed least

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Federalists Versus Democratic-Republicans Thomas Jefferson

Bulk of power to the states—people, in intimate contact with local affairs, could keep an eye on the public servants

Leery of a dictatorship developingStrict interpretation of the constitutionNational debt, bequeathed to later

generations, should be paid off

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Federalists Versus Democratic-Republicans Thomas Jefferson

No special privileges for upper classMost support came from farming community“Those who labor in the earth are the

chosen people of God”Favored government by the peopleNot by all the people—only literate white

men who could inform themselves and wear the mantle of American citizenship worthily

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Federalists Versus Democratic-Republicans Jefferson had profound respect for the

ability of the masses, in their collective wisdom, when taught

Feared landless dependents would be political pawns in the hand of their landowning supervisors

Tortuously reconciled slavery by offering that cheap labor would free poor farmer to learn and vote

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Federalists Versus Democratic-Republicans Jefferson once said that he would rather

have “newspapers without government than government without newspapers

Hamilton respected the British, Jefferson the French

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