Chapter 8 – Launching a New Nation (1789-1800)

Vocabulary –

  1. inauguration-ceremony in which the president officially takes the oath of

office

  1. precedent-act or decision that sets an example for others to follow
  2. bond-certificate issued by a government for a certain amount of

money that the government promises to pay back with interest

  1. speculator-person who invests in a risky venture in the hope of making a

large profit

  1. unconstitutional-not permitted by the Constitution
  2. tariff-tax on foreign goods brought into a country
  3. faction-opposing group within a party
  4. neutral-not favoring either side in a dispute
  5. impressment-practice of forcing people into military services
  6. alien-outsider, someone from another country
  7. sedition-stirring up rebellion against the government
  8. nullify-to cancel
  9. states’ rights-the rights of states to limit the power of the federal government
  10. Cabinet-group of officials who head government departments and

advise the President

  1. Judiciary Act-1789 law that created the structure of the Supreme Court and

set up a system of district courts and circuit courts for the nation

  1. national debt-total sum of money that a government owes to others
  2. Bank of the US-bank set up in 1791 to hold government deposits and to issue

paper money to pay government bills

  1. Whiskey Rebellion-1794 protest over a tax on all liquor made and sold in the US
  2. French Revolution-1789 rebellion in France that ended the French monarchy for a

time

  1. foreign policy-actions that a nation takes in relation to other nations
  2. Neutrality Proclamation-1793 statement by President Washington that the US would not

support or aid either France or Britain in their European conflict

  1. Jay’s Treaty-1795 agreement between Britain and the US that called for

Britain to pay damages for seized American ships and to give up forts it still held in the West

  1. Farewell Address-final official speech of Presidents as they exit office
  2. Democratic Republican-supporter of Thomas Jefferson
  3. Federalist-supporter of a strong federal government
  4. XYZ Affair-1797 French attempt to bribe the US by demanding money

before discussing French seizure of neutral American ships

  1. frigate-fast-sailing ship with many guns
  2. Alien and Sedition Acts-1798 - Federalist-supported laws that permitted the President

to expel foreigners, made it harder for immigrants to become

citizens, and allowed for citizens to be fined or jailed if they criticized the government or its officials

  1. Kentucky/Virginia Resolutions-declaration passed in 1798 and 1799 that claimed that each

state has the right of popular sovereignty to decide on the issue of slavery

Chapter 8 – Section 1 – Washington Takes Office

Obj: to refer to the steps Washington took to make the new government work; to explain Hamilton’s plan to reduce the nation’s debt and build the economy; and list the causes and results of the Whiskey Rebellion

April 30, 1789 – NYC – George Washington’s presidential inauguration ceremony

  • Constitution provided the framework of how government worked
  • Did not explain the day to day role of the president

**Washington set important precedent: only ran for two consecutive terms and it was not until 1940 that any President sought a third term (FDR)

The First Cabinet

Constitution said little about how the executive branch should be organized

President clearly needed talented people to help

  • 1789-the first Congress created five executive departments
  • Department of State
  • Department of Treasury
  • Department of War
  • Attorney General
  • Postmaster General
  • (today Department of Homeland Security)

**head of these departments made up the President’s Cabinet (advisors in their areas)

  • Washington set another precedent by choosing well-known leaders to serve in his Cabinet
  • The two most influential:
  • Secretary of State (Thomas Jefferson)
  • Secretary of the Treasury (Alexander Hamilton)

The Federal Court System

Constitution called for a Supreme Court.

Congress was left to set up the federal court system

  • 1789 – Congress passed the Judiciary Act
  • Calling for the Supreme Court to consist of one Chief Justice and five Associate Justices (today there are eight – totaling 9 Justices)
  • John Jay named the first Chief Justice of the US
  • Set up system of district courts and circuit courts
  • Decisions in these lower courts could be appealed to the Supreme Court

The National Debt

The American Revolution put the nation in debt

Hamilton’s duty to try to reduce or repay it

His plan:

  • Government repay both federal and state debts
  • Government will buy all the bonds issued by the national and state governments before 1789
  • New bonds would be issued to pay off the old debts
  • As the economy improved, government would pay off the new bonds as well
  • Bankers and investors welcomed the plan
  • Others attacked it
  • James Madison let the opposition
  • Argued that
  • Plan would reward speculation
  • The southern states had already paid their debts from the Revolution
  • Thought other states should do the same
  • Hamilton’s plan was bitterly opposed
  • Hamilton’s Compromise
  • Because many southerner’s wanted the nation’s capital to be located in the South (at this time is way New York), he offered to support that goal if they agreed to his plan to repay state debts
  • Compromise was accepted
  • July 1790 –
  • Congress voted to repay state debts
  • To build a new capital city
  • City would not be part of any state
  • Would be built on land along the Potomac River between VA and MD
  • Until it was ready by 1800, the nation’s capital was moved from NY to Philadelphia
  • Hamilton’s next challenge – to strengthen the faltering national economy
  • His plan designed to help both agriculture and industry

1791 – Congress set up the Bank of the United States –

  • Government deposited money from taxes
  • In turn, Bank issued paper money to:
  • Pay government’s bills
  • Make loans to farmers and businesses (which encouraged economic growth)
  • Hamilton wanted Congress to pass a tariff on foreign goods (Protective tariff)
  • Protected local industry from foreign competition
  • North supported
  • South opposed (bought many imported goods)
  • Hamilton wanted American-made products to be less expensive and in more demand
  • In the end, Congress did not pass tariff Hamilton wanted, did pass a more “diluted” version.

Whiskey Rebellion

To raise money for Treasury – Congress approved tax on all liquor made and sold in the US

Sparked a rebellion

  • Backcountry farmers grew corn and converted it to whiskey
  • Barrels of whiskey shipped easier than bulky corn which was hard to haul
  • Backcountry farmers hated and reused to pay tax, causing rebellion and protest in Pittsburgh (compared it to the taxes Britain imposed on the colonies)
  • Washington responded quickly, called on militia, farmers retreated to farms.
  • Hamilton wanted them executed, Washington disagree
  • They were pardoned showing the government’s strength and mercy

Whiskey Rebellion tested the will of the new government.

Washington showed power of government and that violence would not be tolerated.

Chapter 8 – Section 2 – The Birth of Political Parties

Obj: to explain why many Americans distrusted the idea of political parties; contrast the views of Hamilton and Jefferson; to discuss why political parties developed; and, to describe how the election of 1796 increased political tensions

Hamilton –

  • born in the West Indies
  • worked his way up from poverty
  • enjoyed political debate

Jefferson –

  • born in Virginia
  • wealthy planter
  • spoke informally

Hamilton and Jefferson

  • disagreed on many issued
  • quarrels rooted in their different views about what was best for nation

Manufacturing or Farming:

  • Hamilton –
  • Wanted US to model itself on Britain
  • Government will encourage manufacturing and trade
  • Favored growth of cities and merchant class
  • Jefferson –
  • Thought farmers, not merchants, the backbone of the new nation
  • Feared manufacturing economy would corrupt US by concentrating power in the hands of a small group of wealthy Americans

Federal or State Power:

  • Hamilton –
  • Wanted the federal government to have greater power than the state
  • Felt a strong federal government was needed to increase commerce
  • Strong government would also be able to restrain mob violence (ex. Whiskey Rebellion)
  • Jefferson –
  • Wanted as small a federal government as possible
  • To protect individual freedom
  • Feared strong federal government might take over powers that the Constitution gave to the states

Strict of Loose Interpretation of the Constitution:

  • Hamilton –
  • Preferred a loose interpretation of the Constitution
  • Giving Congress the power to make all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out its duties
  • The Bank was necessary for the government to collect taxes and pay its bills
  • Jefferson –
  • Worried that a national bank would give too much power to the government and wealthy investors who would help run it
  • He opposed the law setting up the bank
  • Claimed it was unconstitutional
  • Nowhere in the Constitution did it give Congress the power to create a Bank
  • Any power not specifically gien to the federal government belonged to the states

Britain or France:

  • Hamilton – wanted close ties with Britain – a major trading partner
  • Jefferson – wanted ties with France – the first ally of the US

The Development of Parties (Republican and Federalist)

At first, Hamilton and Jefferson clashed in private

As Congress began to pass many of Hamilton’s programs, Jefferson and Madison decided to organize supporters of their views.

Once in the open – leaders in other states were organizing to either support Hamilton or Jefferson

  • Federalists – supported Hamilton
  • Merchants and manufacturers in cities
  • Some southern planters
  • Democratic Republicans (shortened to Republicans)– supported Jefferson
  • Small farmers, artisans
  • Some wealthy planters

Even Newspapers were choosing sides

Election of 1796 –

Who would succeed Washington?

Federalists – backed John Adams for President and Thomas Pinckney for VP

Republicans – backed Thomas Jefferson for President and Aaron Burr for VP

Election had an unexpected outcome.

  • Under the Constitution
  • Person with the most electoral votes becomes President
  • Person with the next highest total becomes VP
  • Federalist John Adams became President
  • Republican Thomas Jefferson became VP

**Having a President and VP from opposing sides further increased political tensions.

**Events soon deepened the distrust between the nation’s 2nd President and his VP

Chapter 8 – Section 3 – Troubles at Home and Abroad

Obj: to describe how American opinion was divided over the French Revolution; to explain why Washington wanted the nation to remain neutral in foreign affairs; and, why it was difficult for the US to remain neutral

A few years after the Americans had won their independence, the French Revolution broke out.

July 14, 1789 – Paris, France

  • Angry mob destroyed the Bastille (ancient fort used as a prison)
  • This was an early event in the French Revolution
  • Before long, Revolution would topple the monarch and lead to the execution of thousands of ordinary French citizens
  • French fought for liberty and equality
  • But their Revolution grew more violent
  • Deepened political divisions within the US
  • French has many reasons to rebel against King Louis VI
  • Peasants and middle class paid heavy taxes
  • Nobles paid none
  • Reformers wanted a constitution to protect their rights as the American had

At first, most Americans supported the French Revolution

  • Relating the same struggles
  • Also the fact that they were the United States’ first ally

1793 –

  • Revolution turned more and more violent
  • Radical reformers gained power
  • King was beheaded and later the queen
  • Reign of Terror
  • Tens of thousands of ordinary French citizens executed

Violence in France divided Americans

  • Jefferson and others continued to support the French
  • Condemned executions, but felt that the French had a right to use violence to win freedom
  • Hamilton, John Adams and others strongly disagreed
  • Felt no one could create a democracy through widespread violence

The fear of revolution plunged European lands into a string of wars that lasted on and off for more than 20 years.

  • With these wars, especially in France, Washington had to decide on a foreign policy
  • Although US and France were allies:
  • France now wanted to use US ports to supply its ships and launch attacks on British ships
  • After much debate, Washington’s solution:
  • Neutrality Proclamation of 1793 (stated US would not support either side in the war and forbade Americans from aiding either side)
  • This proclamation was a defeat for Jefferson, this and other defeats eventually led Jefferson to leave the Cabinet
  • Declaring neutrality was easier than enforcing it – both Britain and France seized American cargo ships headed for each other’s ports
  • 1793 – Britain captures more than 250 American ships trading in the French West Indies
  • Some Americans called for war
  • Washington knew American too weak to fight
  • Sent Chief Justice John Jay to Britain for talks
  • Jay negotiated agreement that called for:
  • Britain pays for damages for seized American ships
  • Give up forts it still held in the West
  • Americans had to pay debts long owed to British merchants
  • JAY’S TREATY
  • Sparked loud protests, but approved by Senate in 1795

Before retiring in 1796 – Washington published his Farewell Address

  • Advised Americans against becoming involved in European affairs
  • Did not oppose foreign trade, but rejected alliances that could drag the country into war

**His advice guided American policy for many years

Chapter 8 – Section 4 – The Presidency of John Adams

Obj: to understand how John Adams handled the conflict with France; to explain why the Federalist party split; to describe how the Alien and Sedition Acts raised the issue of the rights of states; and, toe role Congress played in the Election of 1800

Adam takes office and is faced with a crisis with France

  • French objected to Jay’s Treaty (felt it favored Britain)

1797 –

  • French ships began seizing American ships in the West Indies as the British had done
  • Again, Americans demanded war, this time against France
  • To avoid war, Adams sent diplomats to Paris to talk
  • Sent three representatives to offer deal
  • Names never revealed (XY and Z)
  • XYZ Affair (1798)
  • Outraged many Americans who still called for war
  • Adams refused to ask Congress to declare war
  • Like Washington, wanted to keep country out of foreign affairs
  • Strengthen navy by building frigates
  • This helped convince France to stop attacking American ship

Federalist Party Splits:

Many Federalists, led by Hamilton, criticized Adams

  • Hoped war would weaken the Republicans, who supported France
  • War would also force the nation to build military forces
  • Strong military would increase federal power (a key Federalist goal)

Adams’ diplomats (XYZ) arriving in France, came upon a young, ambitious army officer

  • Napolean Bonaparte
  • Planning for war with several European nations
  • Had no time for war with the US
  • Signed agreement to stop seizing American ships

**Like Washington, Adams kept nation out of war. His success cost him the support of many Federalists and weakened the party for the election of 1800.

Alien and Sedition Acts:

  • 1798 – Federalists pushed several laws through Congress (Alien and Sedition Acts)
  • Alien Act
  • President could expel any alien or foreigner thought to be dangerous to the country

(Before 1798, white immigrants could become citizens after living in the US for five years, the new law made them wait for 14 years. This passed because many recent immigrants supported Jefferson and the Republicans and the act would keep them from voting for years)

  • Sedition Act
  • Citizens could be fined or jailed if they criticize the government or its officials.
  • Several Republican newspaper editors and members of Congress were fined and jailed for expressing their opinions

(Republicans protested that the Sedition Act violated the Constitution’s First Amendment)

Rights of States:

  • VP Jefferson bitterly opposed the Alien and Sedition Acts
  • Could not ask courts for help because the Federalists controlled the courts
  • With help from Jefferson and Madison, the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions were passed in 1798 and 1799
  • Claiming each state has an equal right to judge for itself whether a law is unconstitutional
  • If not, state has power to nullify that law within its borders
  • This resolution raised the issue of states’ rights
  • Within a few years, the Alien and Sedition Acts were changed or dropped

**the issue of states’ rights to nullify federal laws would come up again