Sec. 1 – Govt. & Party Politics
New York, 1789 – George Washington inaugurated into office
Unanimous vote of electoral college (John Adams – VP) Great dignity and strong personality Role of new government still not determined Capital - NY to Philadelphia for 10 years New capital – District of Columbia DC; L’Enfant
designed city to display power and authority Washington’s administration set precedents Cabinet: Jefferson (State), Hamilton (Treasury), Knox
(War), Randolph (Attorney General)
Hamilton’s Plan
Jefferson – domestic affairs; great diplomat and leader; distrusted govt.
Judiciary Act 1789 – Set up federal court system (13 federal courts, 3 circuit (appeals) courts and 6-member Supreme Court); John Jay (first Chief Justice)
Hamilton – favored strong national gov. – believed it could accomplish great things
Alexander Hamilton (Fed.) proposed plan to strengthen national power & develop a commercial and industrial economy
Hamilton’s Plan cont.
Pay off national & state debtsWould restore credit and establish
trustworthiness abroadProposed excise taxes and high tariffs Placed tax on whiskeyHoped to pay off slowly so countries would take
continued interest in U.S. (long term investment)Bank of U.S. established 1791
Hamilton’s Plan cont.
Loose construction of the Constitution – broad interpretation; could do anything unless it said you CAN’T!
Alarmed critics (Jefferson) – strict construction of Constitution – only those powers stated in Constitution; no “stretching” of powers
Believed Federalists had betrayed the Revolution
Opponents of Hamilton’s plan
Resented federal power & new taxes, tariffs, Bank of U.S.
Seemed like a return to the British monarchy – alarmed people
Jefferson eventually resigned his post
Whiskey Rebellion
Many farmers refused to pay whiskey tax Followed the tradition of Stamp Act and
Shay’s Rebellion – attacked collectorsWashington & Hamilton determined to stop
the rebellion; gathered troops and marched on W. Pennsylvania – rebellion dissolved
***Showed world that govt. would enforce the laws (unlike Shay’s Rebellion)***
Two Party System
Whiskey Rebellion highlighted tensionsEmerged into two parties:Federalists – Hamilton, Adams; northern
merchantsDemocratic-Republicans – Jefferson,
Madison; farmersBut supporters from all parts of country
Section 2 – Foreign Policy
British had kept forts – Ohio River, Great Lakes – made U.S. mad
Gave weapons to Indians to resist our expansion
Battle of Fallen Timbers – General Anthony Wayne defeated Native Americans
Treaty of Greenville - opened N.W. Territory
French Revolution - 1789
Liberty, Equality, FraternityDeteriorated into a “reign of terror” where
thousands lost their lives, including King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette
Divided U.S.Federalists opposed it as extremist;
anarchists who would destroy society
French Revolution cont.
Democratic Republicans supported it as an extension of the Am. Rev., Republican ideals; applauded its rejection of kings
Americans torn between British who ruled the seas, or France who had helped us in the Revolution
Chose neutrality – remained U.S. policy for a century
Treaties with Britain and Spain
Washington decides to improve relations with Britain
Jay Treaty - Removed remaining British troops/forts in NW territory, expand trade w/GB
Americans furious – a betrayal of France, sell-out to British
Pinckney Treaty – with Spain; guaranteed shipping rights on Miss. River; established northern boundary of Florida
Washington’s Farewell
After 2 terms set precedent and stepped downAchievements: Indian defeat, western lands
opened for settlement, Whiskey rebellion suppressed, kept nation out of war, improved economy and foreign trade, helped pay national debt
Farewell Address – warned against “entangling alliances” and political parties
Foreign Policy
John Adams – 2nd Pres (Federalist) lacked prestige of GW; faced growing divisions in U.S.
Drift towards war w/France – angry over Jay’s treaty w/Britain; began seizing Am. ships
XYZ Affair – Adams sent officials to Paris, met by officials demanding bribe ($250K) and loan of $10 million; outraged Americans, “Millions for defense but not one cent for tribute.”
Undeclared war, fired on, seized shipsAdams keeps us out of major war w/France
Alien and Sedition Acts
Alien – Pres. could imprison or deport immigrants who criticized govt.– Most immigrants supported Dem-Rep.(why?)
Sedition – Made it a crime for citizens who published or said anything false, scandalous about the govt.
Silenced much Republican opposition with this
VA and KY Resolutions
Response to A & S acts – Rep. believed they violated Constitutional right to free speech
VA & KY Resolutions declared the Sedition Act unconstitutional
Nullification is a defiance of federal powerGrowing tensions in U.S. – State power vs.
Federal power is a sign of things to come...
Election of 1800
Jefferson wins election against AdamsAaron Burr, running mate got same
number of votesWent to the House to decideHamilton (congressman) preferred
Jefferson so swayed vote to himLater Burr killed Hamilton in a duel for
slandering him
Section 3 - Jefferson
Election of 1800 a “revolution” in government principles according to Jefferson
Known now as Jeffersonian Republicans or Republicans (NOT the modern Republican party)
Reduced military, streamlined government bureaucracy, increased trade, sale of western lands
More common style than the aristocratic Federalists, but Jefferson was wealthy, educated and refined
The Marshall Court
John Marshall new Chief JusticeHelped build prestige and power of CourtEstablished judicial review in Marbury v.
Madison – courts can determine constitutionality of laws
Established federal authority over state authority– Gibbons v. Ogden, McCulloch v. Maryland
Loose constructionist - increased power of court tremendously; not stated anywhere in Constitution
Louisiana Purchase - 1803
Napoleon sold all French claims to U.S. for $15 million – Louisiana Purchase
Jefferson concerned over the purchase and spending public funds
Contradicted his principles about govt. power but signed anyway; doubled size of the U.S.
Lewis & Clark expedition; 2 years, reached Pacific; helped by Sacajawea
Foreign Troubles
British began kidnapping American sailors to serve in British military – impressment (at war with France); interfering with trade also
Embargo of 1807 as punishment – outlawed trade w/ foreign countries
New Englanders hated embargo; bankrupted merchants, hurt farmers who couldn’t export
Embargo backfiredHurt his 2nd term, retired to Monticello unpopular
Section 4 – War of 1812
More battles w/Native Americans; Americans believed GB supplying weapons
Tecumseh defeated at TippecanoeWar Hawks – Clay and Calhoun called for
war against GB (impressments of American sailors) to restore national honor
Federalists don’t want war with GB (why?)
War of 1812 cont
War breaks out 1812 Early defeats for AmericansDisastrous invasion of CanadaNavy did surprisingly well thoughBattle of Lake Erie – victory for U.S.Andrew Jackson crushed Creek Indians of
Alabama, killed Tecumseh, invaded Florida and defeated Seminole Indians
War of 1812 cont.
Major attacks by British (including New Orleans)
Burned White House (Madison flees – Dolly saves picture of George) & Capitol
Ft. McHenry (Baltimore) – Francis Scott Key wrote Star Spangled Banner
Americans win on Lake Champlain
Cont.
Treaty of Ghent – ended war 1815Not all supported war (Federalists) – capital
burned, treasury depleted, trade stopped due to blockade (“Mr. Madison’s war”)
Andrew Jackson’s important battle of New Orleans – two weeks after treaty! Created illusion that this had led to British defeat
Hartford Convention 1814 – Federalists had looked weak & defeatist in opposing war; wanted to consider leaving nation (secession)
Post War - results
Surge of national pride (nationalism)Nation grows – settlement spreads westEnd of Federalist party (for favoring GB)Settlers going into Florida too, conflicts with
Seminoles; fugitive slaves heading to FloridaSpain cedes Florida to U.S. – Adams – Onis
Treaty of 1819; US now larger/strongerWar showed the nation would endure