A New Republic
Daily Lecture and Discussion Notes
End
I. President Washington
A. Although George Washington thought he was going to retire to Mount Vernon after the war; he was elected the __first president of the United States___.
On April 30, 1789, he took the oath of office. John Adams became vice president.
B. Precedents – examples for future presidents that would shape the future of the United States
C. Congress set up a cabinet with three departments:
1. The State Department – Relations with other nations, Thomas Jefferson
2. The Treasury Department – Financial matters, Alexander Hamilton
3. The War – Provide for Common Defense, Henry Knox
D. Attorney General – Handle government’s legal issues, Edmund Randolph
E. Postmaster General – Direct postal service, Samuel Osgood
F. Issue over President’s power – Congress gave president authority over hiring and firing cabinet officers without Senate approval. Strengthened the president’s position and created separation between legislative and executive branches.
G. The Judiciary Act of 1789
Established a federal court system with 13 district courts and 3 circuit courts
H. 1st Chief Justice of Supreme Court - John Jay
II. Bill of Rights
1. Who presented the Bill of Rights? – James Madison
2. Congress passed __12___ amendments.
3. The states ratified ___10___ of them.
4. The 1st ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights, added in 1791
III. Financial Problems
A. Hamilton’s Plan – pay off debt owed to other countries and citizens
1. Pay for the cost of their help
2. By assuming states’ debts, give states a strong interest in success in new government
B. Opposition to Hamilton’s Plan
Congress agreed to pay money to other nations, but not American Citizens
C. Bonds – paper notes promising to repay money in a given period of time
1. Hamilton proposed paying off these bonds at their original value
2. Speculators – bought bonds for less than their value, hoped to make huge profit later
D. Southern States debt – Opposed because their debt was lower than the North’s and they felt that they would have to pay more than their fair share
E. Hamilton’s Compromise –
1. Move nation’s capital from New York City to the South
2. South agreed to support his plan to pay off the state debts
IV. Building the Economy
A. The Hamilton Plan
1. Creation of a national bank, Bank of the United States
2. A tariff (tax) on imports
3. National Taxes
B. Opposition to National Bank
1. People – James Madison and Thomas Jefferson
2. Reason against – Benefit the wealthy and was unconstitutional
C. Protective Tariff
1. Purpose – Protect American industry from foreign competition and encourage people to buy American
2. Opposition – South opposed because they had little industry and had to import their goods
D. National Taxes
1. Purpose – Government could have more money to operate and make payments on national debt
2. Most infamous –Tax on whiskey
E. Hamilton’s economic program gave the country new financial powers, but it split _Congress_____ and the _nation______. His opponents, including __Madison____ and __Jefferson___, feared a national government with strong economic powers to protect the __wealthy__.
Early Challenges
End
I. The Whiskey Rebellion (Pages 263–264)
A. Farmers attitudes toward tax and why?
Farmers could not pay tax, usually exchanged whiskey for other goods
B. Whiskey Rebellion
Armed protest where tax collectors came to collect taxes owed by farmers on whiskey
C. President Washington’s Response
Sent army, showed that the new government would use force to maintain social order, change must come through democratic process
II. Struggle over the West (Page 264)
A. Native Americans Issues
Did not want settlers moving on to their land west of Appalachian Mountains, treaties were signed but ignored by settlers, raids and conflicts broke out
B. Native American demands
All settlers north of the Ohio River must leave the region
C. Battle of Fallen Timbers
Fight between American army and Native Americans, American Army defeated 800 Native Americans, led to Treaty of Greenville
D. Treaty of Greenville
Signed in 1795, Native Americans surrender most of land in present-day Ohio, Native Americans receive $20,000 for land (1/8th cent per acre)
III. Problems with Europe (Pages 264–266)
A. French Revolution
Began in 1789 right after Washington took office
B. Britain and French war
Began in 1793, Washington wanted American to remain neutral, both sides wanted our help
C. Proclamation of Neutrality
Issued by Washington, prohibited Americans from fighting in the war
D. British Impressment
Britain responded to proclamation by stopping American ships, taking crew and forcing them into British navy (impressment)
E. John Jay
Sent to Britain to negotiate a peace deal and avoid war
F. Jay’s Treaty
1. Britain withdraw from America
2. Britain pay damages for ships they seized
3. Allow some American ships to trade with British colonies in the Caribbean
E. Approval of Jay’s Treaty
Very controversial, Many Americans disapproved because it did not deal with impressment and trade problems
F. Pinckney Treaty
1. Gave Americans the right to use Mississippi River
2. Open up the port of New Orleans for trade
Rise of Political Parties
I. Washington’s Farewell
A. Washington’s Precedent
Only stayed in office for 2 terms
B. Washington’s Farewell Address
1. Avoid foreign alliances
2. Avoid Debt
3. Avoid political parties
Washington’s speech is read aloud in the Senate each year on his birthday.
End Chapter 3 Section 3
II. Opposing Views
A. Most Americans in the late 1700s considered political parties ___harmful___ and to be avoided. Political parties were not mentioned in the Constitution. Washington also denounced them.
B. Political Parties
1. Federalist
2. Republicans (Democratic-Republicans)
C. The Federalist
Leader – Alexander Hamilton
Policies
1. Strong Federal Government
2. Banking and Shipping Interest
3. Rule by the wealthy
4. National Bank
5. Representative Government
6. Loose Interpretation of the Constitution
7. British Alliance
8. Protective Tariff
D. The Republicans, or Democratic-Republicans,
Leaders – Jefferson and Madison
Policies -
1. Strong State Government, limited federal government
2. Emphasis Agriculture
3. Rule by the people
4. State banks
5. Government in which people participate
6. French Alliance
7. Against Tariff
8. Strict Interpretation of Constitution
Turn
E. The 1796 Presidential Election, candidates were members of a political party. At _caucuses_ or political-party meetings, members of Congress and other leaders chose their party’s candidates.
1. The Federalists
John Adams and Charles Pinckney
2. The Republicans
Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr
3. Result
Adams – 71; Jefferson – 68
Adams wins presidency, Jefferson becomes Vice President; They were from two different political parties with two totally different views; a lot of conflict
Adams’ Presidency
I. President John Adams
A. Adam’s Background
Served as vice president under Washington, spent most of life in public service
B. XYZ Affair
1. French seized American ships because we signed treaty with Britain
2. The French Foreign Minister refused to meet with the American and instead sent 3 agents who demanded a bribe
3. Americans refused the bribe, Adams referred to the agents as X,Y, and Z.
C. Preparing for War
1. Strengthened the armed forces
2. Created Navy Department
3. Set aside money to build warships
D. Alien and Sedition Acts
1. Americans became more suspicious of aliens , or people living in the United States who were not citizens, especially Europeans who came in the 1790s and who supported the ideals of the French Revolution. People were concerned that if the United States and France went to war, these aliens might not remain loyal to the United States.
This allowed the President to
- Deport or send away aliens the he considered dangerous to the country
2. Sedition refers to
- Activities aimed at weakening established governments.
This made it a crime to _speak__, write___, or publish _criticisms of the government and its officials.
E. The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions of 1798 and 1799
Written by – Madison and Jefferson
The resolution said –
1. The Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional
2. States had the right to nullify or cancel a federal law
Many Americans feared a strong central government that would interfere with their rights
F. Convention of 1800
A treaty with France where they agreed to stop attacking our ships; signed by Napoleon Bonaparte
G. Federalist Party Split
Federalist wanted Adams to go to war with France. The Convention of 1800 stopped this and caused a problem within the Federalist Party. The split opened the door for the Republicans to win the next presidential election.