Bell Ringer

1. Bell Ringer • Listen to the following song and explain the life of Alexander Hamilton • http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/lin-manuel-miranda-performs-white-house-poetry-jam-8-8?v=accessibility

2. The Constitution and the new republic Chapter 6

3. Forming a New Government • Shay’s Rebellion showed the need for a stronger central government • Many nationalists (including Hamilton) had been calling for a strong government even before the A of C. • After the war most citizens turned back to their states’ interest • Elite upper class began push for a stronger national government to support the economy and pay debt

4. Forming a New Government • James Madison, George Mason, and George Washington urged state legislatures to agree to uniform commercial regulations, duties, and currency laws • Despite disagreements between localists and nationalists, most Americans agreed the Articles needed revision • In 1787, the Confederation Congress cautiously endorsed a convention for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles

5. Forming a New Government • The Constitutional Convention opened in Philadelphia in May, 1787 • Three key people were absent: Jefferson, Adams, and Henry • All the rest of the Founding Fathers were in attendance • The convention lacked diversity – all participants were white, male, and socially elite

6. Forming a New Government • Washington was unanimously elected to be presiding officer • The convention proceedings were to be secret, but Madison kept extensive notes • He and other Virginians gathered before the convention and wrote the Virginia Plan • Presented to the convention by Governor Edmond Randolph

7. Philadelphia Convention Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA

8. Philadelphia Convention This is the convention hall that the “Founding Fathers” created our country in.

9. Philadelphia Convention Washington’s chair has a sun carved into the top, depicting the “rising sun” according to Franklin.

10. Forming a New Government • Virginia Plan: • Scrap the Articles of Confederation • Bicameral Legislature • House would be elected by popular vote • Senate elected by state legislatures • Senate would control foreign affairs and appoint officials • Executive and judiciary would be appointed and given veto power over state and national legisation

11. Forming a New Government • Small states feared being overrun by larger states • William Patterson of NJ proposed a second plan (New Jersey Plan) • Unicameral legislature with equal representation • An executive branch with up to three presidents • After weeks of debate, delegates agreed to the Great Compromise • Created current system: • House by population • Senate had equal representation • Elected by state legislatures

12. Forming a New Government • Debate over slaves as population and tax base • Eventual compromise counted slaves as 3/5 of a person • Slavery, while not specifically mentioned in the Constitution, was allowed in order to preserve the Union

13. Forming a New Government • Surprisingly, many founding fathers were in favor of some form of monarchy • They eventually settled on a strong judicial branch with the ability to judge legislation against the Constitution • Created an elected executive branch • Fears that commoners could not wisely select a president, the Electoral College was created as a buffer to the popular vote

14. Forming a New Government • Madison, known as the Father of the Constitution, feared that the compromised plan would create a government of inaction • In the final speech of the convention, Franklin declared that the Constitution was as good as could possibly be produced • Delegates voted on September 17, 1787, and the document was sent out for ratification

15. Forming a New Government • Two groups immediately emerged • Federalists (Nationalists) supported the new constitution (Hamilton) • Anti-Federalists strongly opposed the system (Jefferson)

16. Forming a New Government • Anti-Federalists and many other political thinkers, including Montesquieu, argued that republican government only worked in small countries • The Federalist Papers, written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, refuted the arguments of the Anti-Federalists • Due to diversity of opinion, it is difficult for a majority to tyrannically control a minority in a large country

17. Forming a New Government • Pennsylvania formed the first ratification convention • Opinions on the Constitution often aligned with a person’s line of work • Farmers were generally anti-federalist • Merchants were generally federalist • This trend carried through most other states

18. Forming a New Government • Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut ratified the Constitution quickly • Massachusetts narrowly ratifies on the support of the townspeople • Maryland and South Carolina approve shortly after • New Hampshire became the 9th state to ratify • Rhode Island is the only state at this point to reject the Constitution

19. Forming a New Government • North Carolina initially rejected the Constitution, but ratified in 1789 • Rhode Island was the last to ratify, waiting until 1790 • New York only ratified because NYC threatened to secede and join the Union if the state did not approve the Constitution • Virginia approved only because of promises of amendments to protect individual rights

20. Forming a New Government • Virginia tried to push a version of the Virginia Declaration of Rights into the Constitution • This becomes the model for the Bill of Rights • Out of 200 potential amendments proposed by the states, Madison transformed them into 12 • 10 amendments survived ratification, and went into effect in 1791

21. The New Nation • Washington was unanimously elected in 1789 • Ran without opposition in 1792 • Stepped down in 1797 • Inaugurated in New York City, which was the temporary capital • The government started off with controversy trying to decide what to call the President • Fearing a close flirtation with monarchy, “His Highness the President of the United States” was shot down • Washington himself solved the crisis by simply suggesting “Mr. President”

22. The First Election, 1789 Site of the first Inauguration New York City, Wall Street New York Stock Exchange View in front of the 1st capital

23. The New Nation • Washington came across as elitist • Rode in carriage drawn by 6 horses • Followed British custom personally speaking to Congress • A strict constructionist, Washington only used veto power on legislation he believed to be unconstitutional, and sought the advice and consent of the Senate

24. The New Nation • Congress quickly established department to advise the President on various issues • This group becomes known as the cabinet • Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State • Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury • Henry Knox, Secretary of War • Edmond Randolph, Attorney General • In choosing such diverse people to fill these position, Washington showed his desire of a unified nation

25. The New Nation • The most important piece of legislation from the first Congress was the Judiciary Act of 1789, which established the federal court system • Congress set the Supreme Court at 6 justices (later increased to 9) • 3 circuit and 13 district courts • Nationalist wanted uniform civil and criminal laws • Localists wanted states to retain their law-making ability • Localists won, so federal courts have limited jurisdiction

26. The New Nation • Hamilton proposed that the national government should assume the debt of the states • This would tie the states in to the success of the national government • Congress agreed to Hamilton’s plan on condition that the capital be moved to the south (DC) • Hamilton also proposed creating a national bank • Strengthen the government and improve national credit • Washington signed this into law in 1791 • Upon the success of the Bank of the United States, Washington declared, “our public credit stands on that ground which three years ago it would have been considered as a species of madness to have fortold”

27. The New Nation • The bitter debate between Jefferson and Hamilton over fiscal issues would grow deeper once foreign concerns were introduced • John Jay was sent to England to negotiate a second treaty with England to have them remove soldiers from the Northwest Territory and to quit seizing American ships and impressing sailors • This treaty is known as Jay’s Treaty which also open limited trade for America in the West Indies***New info!

28. The New Nation • Americans, feeling connected to the oppressed French under the monarchy, initially supported French Revolution until the Reign of Terror and the execution of King Louis XVI • The Franco-American alliance of 1778 required the US to support France in its war with Britain • Despite contrasting views, Washington decided upon neutrality, in which he said the US would remain friendly and impartial and continue to do business with both sides • Hamilton’s supporters were pleased; Jeffersonians were outraged

29. The New Nation • Citizen Genêt, ambassador from France, demanded Washington call Congress into special session to debate neutrality • Even Jefferson, a longtime supporter of France, declared Genêt hot-headed and indecent toward the President • This did not save Jefferson’s reputation in the eyes of Washington • Jefferson stepped down in 1793

30. The New Nation • Under Washington, a fair policy toward natives was attempted with the Indian Intercourse Act • The act established fair trading policies, although it wasn’t really enforceable • The act declared public treaties as the only legal means for obtaining Indian land • Warring still continued between settlers and Indians • The worst was an attack in the Northwest Territory by Chief Little Turtle, killing or wounding more than 900

31. The New Nation • Washington’s presidency was not without crisis • He viewed the nation under siege during the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 • Angered by a tax on distilled spirits, people in western Pennsylvania began an armed rebellion • Washington ordered up and personally commanded a militia force of over 12,000 soldiers • Although rebels could not be found, 20 people were arrested • This marked the first real extension of federal authority over citizens

32. The New Nation • Washington’s farewell address to the nation had two key points • Avoid dividing the nation into political parties • Do not become entangled in alliances

33. Washington’s Farewell

34. Federalists and Republicans • The framers of the Constitution believed that patriotism and virtue would prohibit the growth of political parties • Madison viewed them as harmful to the nation • Ironic—he was the first to organize political opposition to the Washington Administration • This opposition became known as the Democratic Republican Party • Hamilton organized that other party called Federalists • By the election of 1800 the parties were a fundamental part of the government

35. Federalists and Republicans • Factions existed in all aspects of government • Agrarian v. Commercial • Atlantic states v. frontier states • Most importantly, North v. South • To avoid this troublesome issue, anti-slavery legislation was simply dismissed whenever submitted • Also, slaves that ran away to the North were ordered, by Congress, to be returned to the South

36. Federalists and Republicans • When Washington stepped down in 1796 there were two leaders of the political parties: Adams (Federalist) and Jefferson (Democratic Republican) • Adams won the election • Problem: the original way the vice-president was selected was whoever came in second—Jefferson • This first non-Washington administration was born divided

37. Federalists and Republicans • Adams foreign policy was dominated by the Quasi-War (1798-1800) and the XYZ Affair • France, upset with the Jay Treaty and in need of money to finance their European wars, decided to attack American merchant ships • Adams sent three U.S. envoys to try to make peace • These envoys were met by Nicholas Hubbard (W), Jean Hottinguer (X), Pierre Bellamy (Y), and Lucien Hauteval (Z) who demanded bribes for Marquis de Talleyrand • Talleyrand argued that they would attack the US if these demands were not met

38. Federalists and Republicans • At home, news got out of the correspondence from the envoy • Democratic-Republicans, suspicious of Adams desire to go to war, demanded the memo be made public • Adams released the memo, replacing the French intermediaries names with W, X, Y, and Z • Talleyrand realized that he was not going to make any gains from this so he backed down • Not before the US had begun attacks in the Caribbean • One Quaker attempted to negotiate peace with Talleyrand without the government’s permission • The Logan Act was passed by Congress making it illegal for unauthorized diplomatic relations

39. Federalists and Republicans • War was avoided as Napoleon came to power in France and Talleyrand backed off the demands • The Treaty of Alliance (1778) was annulled • The Treaty of Mortefontaine (1801) was passed ending hostilities between France and America • Nearly 50 years passed before the US joined another alliance • When Adams took the offer of peace, Federalists who had wanted war (Hamilton) scorned him • His greatest accomplishment would be his greatest failure according to them

40. Federalists and Republicans • Adams’ domestic presidency wasn’t much easier • Adams signed a series of acts, opposed by the Democratic Republicans • Naturalization Act: had to wait 14 years instead of 5 to gain citizenship • Alien Act (Alien Enemies Act): President could imprison or deport any alien during wartime • Sedition Act: fined or imprisoned anyone who published, wrote, or spoke anything “false”, scandalous, or malicious against the government

41. Federalists and Republicans • Many were imprisoned under the Sedition Act, including Matthew Lyon, Rep. VT • Earlier, Lyon had spit on Roger Griswold (CT) leading to a fight • After his arrest, Lyon was successfully re-elected from jail

42. Federalists and Republicans • Madison wrote that the Sedition Act should alarm the people • He and Jefferson wrote the Virginia and Kentucky Resolves which said that the Constitution was no more than a compact between the sovereign states • Furthermore, the states should be able to nullify laws that it believes to be unconstitutional • This argument would be the central theme leading into the Civil War, earning the name “Nullification Crisis”

43. Federalists and Republicans • The Federalists, divided over the Quasi-War, also found themselves divided over domestic issues • Congress had placed a direct tax on housing (similar to the Whiskey tax) which led to similar uprising that required federal troops to end • John Fries (a leader in the Whiskey Rebellion) led Fries’ Rebellion in eastern PA • Three were sentenced to death, but pardoned by Adams • Federalists were outraged • Side note: Washington had tried to get Hamilton appointed as second in command of the military during the Quasi-War, Adams called him a “bastard” • Hamilton wrote a nasty note about Adams, which Aaron Burr got a hold of and published