Launching the New Ship of State

1789 – 1800Mr. Love

AmericaPopulation – doubling every 25 years 90% rural 5% of people lived west of the Appalachian

Mountains

1791 – Vermont became 14th state

President Washington1789 - Unanimously drafted as president by the Electoral College

April 30, 1789 – took oath of office in New York City (the temporary capital) Established cabinet Sec. of State – T. Jefferson Sec. Of Treasury – A. Hamilton Sec. Of War – Henry Knox Attorney Gen – Edmund Randolph

The Bill of RightsAmendments – proposed in 2 ways New constitutional convention requested by

2/3 of the states 2/3 vote of both houses of Congress

James Madison – drafted the bill of rights Guided them through Congress

1791 – adopted

Freedoms ReligionSpeechPressBear armsTrial by juryAssembly

Petition of the gov’t for redress of grievancesProhibits cruel & unusual punishmentArbitrary gov’t seizure of private property

9th & 10th Amendment9th Amendment Specifying certain rights “shall not be constructed

to deny or disparage others retained by the people”

10th Amendment Reserved all rights not explicitly delegated or

prohibited by the federal Constitution “to the States respectively, or to the people.”

Preserved strong central gov’t while specifying protections for minority & individual liberties

Hamilton’s Economic Plan Pay off national debt - $54 million War bonds had depreciated & speculators had

bought most of the bonds Hamilton wants the debt of the AOC to transfer

to the new government. Why?

Assumption of state’s debts - $21.5 million Some states with smaller debts did not approve

Compromise Virginia would have the federal district

on the Potomac – Washington, D.C.

Bargain carried out in 1790

Hamilton's Plan conti.

Debt to be paid by custom duties (tariffs) which made trade with England importantWhat is a tarrif? Increased duties opposed by agriculture & the

commercial classes Excise tax passed on whiskey

Bank of the United States Constitutional? Strict construction v.

loose construction What are these constructions?

Hamilton Battles JeffersonSupported bank Constitution did not forbid itCongress may pass any laws “necessary & proper” to carry out the powers vested in the various gov’t agencies (Implied powers)

Opposed bankWhat constitution did not permit it forbadeAll powers not specifically granted to the central gov’t were reserved for the states (Reserved powers) Wanted state banksThis is me on the right

Interpretation of Constitution

Loose construction Hamilton Elastic clause- “all

powers necessary & proper”

Strict construction Jefferson Literal

interpretation

National Bank1791 – established in Philadelphia Chartered for 20 years

Capital - $10 million1/5 owned by federal gov’t Stock sold to public

The Whiskey RebellionPennsylvania – 1794 “Whiskey Boys” regarded it not as a tax on a frivolous luxury but as a burden on an economic necessity & a medium of exchangeTarred & feathered tax collectorsWashington summoned the militia of several statesRebellion was put down Proved gov’t could put down

rebellions

The Emergence of Political Parties

1792 – 1st political parties Federalists – Hamiltonians Democratic-Republicans – Jeffersonians

Proved to be among the indispensable ingredients of a sound democracy “loyal opposition” I think these are a flashy donkey and

elephant.

Democratic- Federalists v. Republicans

Led by A. HamiltonRule by the “best people”Strong central gov’tGov’t support for businessPro-BritishLaw & order

Led by T. JeffersonSympathy for common peopleWeak central gov’tGov’t support for agricultureUniversal educationPro-French

The Impact of the French Revolution

1789 - Originally supported by Americans French were fighting for liberty/ a republic

By 1792 – Americans viewed war as a bloodbathProblem: Franco-American Alliance – 1778 Bound US to help French

defend their West Indies against future foes

British were beginning to attack islands

Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation

Neutrality Proclamation of 1793 Warned American citizens to be

impartial towards both sidesCitizen Genet controversy

Came to Charleston & tried to convince citizens to support the French

Eventually deported

In 1778 both France & America stood to gain, in 1793 only France

SupportHamilton supported England 75% of all custom

duties came from British imports

Jefferson supported the French British occupation

of forts in the west & their impressment of US seamen

Embroilments with Britain British ignored Peace Treaty of 1783 Reluctant to abandon fur trade Also hoped to build up an Indian buffer state

to contain American expansion Battle of Fallen Timbers 1794 Treaty of Greenville 1795 – Indians ceded their

claims to Ohio country

Jay’s Treaty1794 - President Washington sent John Jay to London to avert war

Hamilton supplied British with the details of America’s bargaining strategy

Agreement British agree to evacuate (AGAIN) forts in the Northwest British consented to pay damages for the recent

seizures of American ships Did not agree to cease further acts of impressment or

seizure of American ships

US agreed to pay debts still owed to British merchants

Pinckney’s Treaty &Washington’s Farewell

1795 – Spain granted free navigation of the Mississippi River & yielded large area north of Florida that had been disputed Map p. 175

1796 – Washington’s Farewell Address Warned against dangers of

permanent foreign alliances Isolationist

John Adams Becomes President

1796 – Presidential election focused on the terms of the Jay Treaty & the Whiskey RebellionJohn Adams – President Federalists

Thomas Jefferson – Vice President As runner-up, he became Vice President

Hamilton – resigns his position Even plots with cabinet

against Pres. Adams

Unofficial Fighting with France

1797 – Angered by Jay’s Treaty, France began seizing American merchant shipsAdams sent envoy to Paris to meet with Talleyrand (French foreign minister) XYZ Affair - French demanded loan & bribe in

order to speak with Talleyrand

Adams sought to avoid war but was preparing Department of Navy & US Marine Corps established

(1789–1800) Undeclared hostilities At sea and in the West Indies

Adams Puts Patriotism Above Party

Talleyrand decided he would receive envoys with proper respect1800 - Adams sent envoys to Paris Napoleon Bonaparte had recently seized

power & wanted to “free his hands of America”

Convention of 1800 ended alliance between France & America United States agreed to pay the damage claims of American shippers

Alien & Sedition Acts1798 –passed by the Federalists

Jeffersonians had support of European Immigrants

Alien Act Residency requirements for citizenship raised

from 5 years to 14 years President could deport dangerous aliens

Sedition Act Newspapers who “falsely” defamed the gov’t

would be fined & their editors imprisoned (violation of the 1st Amendment!)

Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions 1798

Virginia (Madison) / Kentucky (Jefferson)Stressed the compact theory of gov’t 13 sovereign states had entered into a

“compact” or contract regarding jurisdiction. Therefore, the states were the final judges of

whether the gov’t had overstepped their authority

Stressed doctrine of nullification States decide when to nullify unconstitutional

legislation