Jeffersonian Era

MAJOR Problems Post AR

1. Debt2. Useless currency3. Britain and Spain claiming territory “owned”

by the US 1. ORV2. FL

MINOR Problems Post AR

1. Small Army2. No federal court system3. No Navy4. No system for collecting taxes

Alexander Hamilton

1. Secretary of the Treasury2. His plan:

a. Federal government assume all debt from AR instead of individual states being responsible

b. Wanted a FEDERAL bank to1. Issue currency2. Collect taxes3. Hold government’s $4. Regulate private banks5. Make federal loans

Alexander Hamilton’s DEFEATED plans

1. High tariffs2. High bounties3. Encourage immigration4. Federal aid for roads

Thomas Jefferson/James Madison

1. Opposed to Hamilton’s plans2. Too much like England

French Revolution

1. Hamilton supports the British2. Jefferson supports the French3. Washington supports neutrality

Washington’s Administration

1. Genet Affair – French effort to get the US on their side in their war with England

2. Whiskey Rebellion – armed rebellion in Western Pennsylvania

3. Conflict with Native Americans4. Threat of war with Britain

Washington’s Farewell Suggestion

1. Avoid political partisanship2. Avoid entangling alliances with foreign

nations

John Adams’ Presidency

Alien and Sedition Actsa. Naturalization Act – increased residency

requirement for American citizenship from 5 to 14 years.

b. Allowed the president to imprison/deport aliens considered “dangerous”

c. Sedition Act – restricted speech that was critical of the federal government

Thomas Jefferson/James Madison

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutionsstates had the power to declare federal

laws “null and void”

Jefferson’s Election

Federalists (JA) vs Democratic-Republicans (TJ)Tie for the presidency

a. TJ and Aaron Burrb. HofR decidesc. Hamilton supports TJ; Burr never

forgivesd. TJ won on the 36th ballot

Monticello

Library of Congress

University of VA

Jefferson’s Presidency

1. Slashed army and navy expenditures2. Eliminated most federal taxes3. Cut the price of public lands for sale to private

citizens4. Lower the citizenship requirements down from

14 years (A/S Acts)5. Freed all people from the Sedition Acts6. Judicial supremacy/judicial review7. Acquired the Louisiana Territory in 1803