Constitution and New Republic,1776-1800
Philadelphia Convention 1787¨ Washington agrees to preside only
after Shays’ Rebellion¨ Complete overhaul of federal gov’t
on the agenda¨ Weaknesses of Articles of
Confederation obvious¨ Fear of centralized gov’t still
strong
Madison and the Virginia Plan¨ Madison, Randolph and other
Virginians dominate early proceedings
¨ Executive, legislative, and judicial branches called for by Randolph–Bicameral Congress (2 houses)
•Lower house by population•Lower chooses upper house
Small States Respond (New Jersey Plan)¨ Patterson calls for unicameral
Congress (one house)–Equal representation for all states–Increased taxing/interstate power
¨ VA Plan supporters knew they had to compromise with the small states to ensure ratification
The Great Compromise
¨ Bicameral Congress created–House of Reps. (Lower House)
•elected based on population•3/5 compromise
–Senate (Upper House) •equal representation for all states
Dodging the Issue¨ Southern delegates worry about the
legality of slavery and the fed. gov’t interfering with it
¨ Slave trade allowed to continue until 1808
¨ No heavy taxing on imported slaves
Federalists¨ Hamilton, Madison, and Jay
publish The Federalist Papers¨ Thought a stronger, more
centralized gov’t was needed¨ Abandoned the ideas of the
Articles of Confederation¨ Feared chaos and the power of the people
Anti-Federalists
¨ Jefferson led this group¨ Feared concentrated power¨ Trusted the will of the people¨ Thought Constitution was too
removed from the people¨ Demanded a bill of rights
Bill of Rights¨ Appeased the Anti-Federalists¨ #1-9 stop Congress from
impinging on rights¨ #10 Powers not mentioned
reserved to the state gov’ts
Washington takes the oath of office
Washington’s Presidency
¨ Received all electoral votes ¨ Adams (Federalist) becomes Vice
President¨ Remained “neutral” in politics
(actually, supported Federalists)
Forming the First Cabinet¨ Hamilton
–Sec. of Treasury¨ Knox
–Sec. of War¨ Randolph
–Attorney General¨ Jefferson
–Sec. of State
¨ Tried to balance regions and viewpoints
¨ Rift develops between Hamilton and Jefferson
Hamilton’s Financial Program¨ Washington supported¨ Tried to gain support of the elite¨ Gov’t should assume public debt
and state debt¨ Taxes raised by whiskey tax¨ Create a National Bank to stabilize
financial structure
Opposition to Federalist Program¨ VA protests assuming state debts
–Future capital is moved to Washington DC as compromise
¨ Small farmers protest taxes¨ National Bank
–“Loose” interpretation of Constitution troubled Jefferson, Madison, and others
–Passed over protests
Beginnings of Political Parties
¨ Constitution does not mention parties
¨ Washington opposed them¨ These early squabbles created
allies and enemies•Federalists•Republicans (Anti-Federalist)
Securing the Frontier¨ Northwest Ordinance was not
enough¨ Land claims sorted out¨ Whiskey Rebellion in
Pennsylvania put down by federal gov’t. when President Washington sent federal troops to stop it
Whiskey Rebellion Flag
Foreign Difficulties¨ Britain and France engaged in war¨ American neutrality declared
–“Citizen Genet”–British impressment–Jay’s Treaty w/ Britain
(Federalist influenced)–Pinckney’s Treaty w/ Spain (US
can use the Mississippi)
Pinckney’s Treaty
John Adams’ Presidency
¨ Washington’s Farewell Address¨ One-term Federalist, elected in
1796 over Jefferson (became VP)¨ Federalists were splintering
The Quasi War with France
¨ XYZ Affair outrages Americans¨ Undeclared naval warfare¨ Eventually tensions cool
Alien and Sedition Acts¨ Federalists attempt to quiet
Republican Opposition¨ Alien Act
–Harder for foreigners (tended to be Republican) to become citizens
¨ Sedition Act–Punished anti-gov’t activities
(writings and otherwise)
The “Revolution” of 1800¨ Rematch from 1796¨ Bitter campaigns¨ Jefferson elected after 36 counts¨ Republicans now control executive
and legislative branches of gov’t.¨ Federalists control judicial branch
–Adams appoints “midnight” judges