Land of the FreeCHAPTER 7

I. Articles of ConfederationA. Several Weaknesses (*Essay

Question*)

1. 9 states had to agree to pass law; 13 states had to agree to amend the Articles

2. Government had no executive or judicial branches

3. Congress had no power to tax

B. Shay’s Rebellion

1. Led by Daniel Shay

2. Massachusetts famers couldn’t pay their mortgage

3. They took up arms to defend their homes

C.Northwest Ordinance

1. Allowed states north and west of Ohio River

2. Guaranteed religious freedom, trial by jury, public education, and prohibited slavery

II. Constitution of United StatesA.Constitutional Convention

1. (1787) Met in Philadelphia

2. Proposed a strong, central government

3. James Madisona. “Father of the Constitution

b. Perhaps most important member of the convention

4. Connecticut Compromise (bicameral)a. Senate – 2 senators from each state

b. House of Representatives - # of reps based on pop.

5. Three-fifths Compromise – counted 3/5 of every slave for representation and tax

6. The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromisea. Congress couldn’t levy export taxes

b. Congress couldn’t regulate slave trade

B. States Decide

1. Federalist Papers – articles supporting Constitution

2. Bill of Rights – First 10 amendments to Constitution

C. The New Republic

1. Federal Republica. Set up by the Constitution

b. A government controlled by its citizens through elected representatives

2. Three branches of gov. (*Essay Question*)a. Legislative – makes the laws

b. Executive – enforces the laws

c. Judicial – interprets the laws

3. Checks and Balance System – controls the power of the 3 branches of gov.

III. President George WashingtonA. America’s First President (1788 Election)

1. Won by unanimous vote

2. John Adams – 1st Vice President

3. New York City – nation’s 1st capital

4. “So help me God”• Washington included this during inauguration address

B. First Presidential Cabinet

1. Cabinet – the President’s advisers

2. Alexander Hamilton – 1st Secretary of Treasury

3. Thomas Jefferson – 1st Secretary of State

4. Henry Knox – Secretary of War

5. Edmund Randolph – Attorney General

6. Samuel Osgood – Postmaster General

C. Early Acts of Congress

1. Judiciary Act of 1789 (federal court system)

2. Patent Office (promoted inventions)

D. Hamilton’s Financial Program

1. Whiskey Rebellion (farmers opposed tax)

2. Gold Standard (paper money backed by gold)

3. Mint Act (federal coinage)

E. Political Parties

1. Federalistsa. Followed Alexander Hamilton

b. Believed in powerful central government

2. Democratic-Republicansa. Followed Thomas Jefferson

b. Believed in states’ rights

F. Foreign Policy

1. French Revolutiona. Different from American

Revolution

b. Led to bloodshed and lack of liberty

2. America proclaims neutrality

3. The Jay Treatya. Negotiating peace with England

b. Avoiding war again

4. The Pinckney Treaty (with Spain)a. Settled boundary of Spanish West

Florida and U.S.

b. Americans could navigate the Mississippi

G.Washington, D.C.

1. Washington personally selected the location

2. Pierre L’Enfant (French) established original plans

3. Benjamin Banneker finished L’Enfant’s designs

H.Washington’s Farewell Address

1. Served until 1797 (eight years)

2. “it is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”

IV. President John Adams (1796 Election)A.The Runners

1. John Adams – Federalist Party (WINNER)

2. Thomas Jefferson – Democratic Republican

B. XYZ Affair

1. U.S. sought peace with France

2. France wanted bribe before negotiating peace

C.Alien and Sedition Acts

1. Foreigners had to wait to be citizens

2. It was a crime to rebel against gov.

D. End of the Federalist Era

1. Kentucky and Virginia Resolution• Condemned the Alien and Sedition Acts

2. George Washington Dies (1799)

3. Federalist Era – 1st 12 years of Constitutional Republic

4. Thomas Jefferson – won election of 1800