The Washington Era

The Washington Era “I am …bringing the voice of the people and a good name of my own on this voyage; but what returns will be made of them, Heaven alone can foretell.” ~George Washington~

EXECUTIVE EXAMPLE • -National Hero • Led Continental Army • Led Constitutional Convention • -set many precedents for future leaders • Act/statement that becomes rule or tradition “About 10 o’clock I bade adieu to Mt. Vernon, to private life, and to domestic felicity; and with a mind oppressed with more anxious and painful sensations than I have words to express, set out for New York…with the best intentions to render service to my country in obedience to its call, but with less hope of answering its expectations.” ~The Diaries of George Washington~

EXECUTIVE EXAMPLE • -developed Cabinet • Group of advisors appointed to help him run the nation • -defined appointment powers • President can put people in office with Senate approval • -expanded foreign affairs powers • -became legislative leader • Washington defined the role of the President To help Washington and Adams (VP) govern, Congress created three executive departments: the Dept. of State (foreign affairs), the Dept. of War (military affairs), and the Dept. of Treasury (financial affairs). Washington chose Jefferson, Knox, and Hamilton to lead those, and with Attorney General Edmund Randolph, he formed the first Cabinet.

FINANCIAL DEBATE • -nation had large war debt • From American Revolution • -Alexander Hamilton’s plan(CHART) • -tariff(Tax on imports) • Excise tax on whiskey • pay all debts • Make one national debt out of state debt • Southerners angry about this (no debt) • Compromise on Washington, DC • -national bank system • To control all money and pool private investments • -debate over power to create a national bank • Hamilton – loose interpretation • Jefferson – strict interpretation • -implied powers? – “Necessary and Proper” clause

The Bank of the United States as established by Alexander Hamilton

POLITICAL AFFAIRS • -Whiskey Rebellion • -farmer’s rebellion over an excise tax on whiskey they produced • Whiskey critical to economy and farmers refuse to pay tax • -rebellion crushed by Washington and the army before it begins • -proves the strength of the new federal gov’t • Sends thousands of troops to stop rebellion Hamilton looked upon the Whiskey Rebellion as a way for the federal government to show that it could enforce the law. Accordingly, some 15,000 militiamen were called up. Accompanied by Washington part of the way, and Hamilton all the way, the federal troops hiked over the Alleghenies and scattered the rebels without the loss of a single life.

WASHINGTON’S WARNING -served two terms but refused another Would not be another “King George” -political fighting had already begun Hamilton v. Jefferson -Farewell Warnings -no political parties -no involvement in foreign affairs “As a very important source of strength and security, cherish public credit. One method of preserving it is to use it as sparingly as possible.” ~George Washington~

Quotes from Washington’s Presidency “We are in a wilderness without a single footstep to guide us.” ~James Madison “A National debt, if it is not excessive, will be to us a national blessing; it will be a powerful cement of our new nation. It will also create a necessity for keeping up taxation…which without being oppressive will be a spur to industry…” ~Alexander Hamilton “The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible.” ~George Washington “Observe good faith and justice towards all nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all.” ~George Washington

Federalist Era NCSCOS Goal 1

PARTIES DEVELOP “I will now tell you what I do not like. First, the omission of a bill of rights…Let me add, that a bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth.” ~Dem.-Rep. Thomas Jefferson • -Hamilton and Jefferson had opposing views of government • Hamilton distrusted ordinary • Jefferson more power to the people Hamilton Jefferson

PARTIES DEVELOP • -Federalists- led by Hamilton • -supported strong Nat’l Gov’t • -NE businessmen / merchants • Less rights to people and states • -Democratic-Republicans- led by Jefferson and Madison • -supported limited role of Gov’t • -southerners/common people • -yeoman farmers • Favored small federal gov. with limited power (strong state governments) “It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one part against another; foments [incites] occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption.” ~George Washington, Farewell Address

ADAMS IS ELECTED • -1796 election (winner is top two vote-getters) • Adams elected President • Federalist • Jefferson elected V.P. • Democratic-Republican • -They were from different political parties • Both had different ideas about how the gov. should work • -This problem fixed by 12th Amendment • Pres./VP from same party In the presidential election of 1796, Federalists nominated Vice President John Adams for president and Thomas Pinckney for vice president. The Democratic-Republicans nominated Thomas Jefferson for president and Aaron Burr for vice president. Adams received 71 electoral votes, and Jefferson received 68. Because the Constitution stated that the runner-up should be vice president, the country found itself with two leaders from two political parties.

The election map of 1796 shows a new politically-divided nation. This election also underscored the growing danger of sectionalism, placing all the interests of one region over those of the nation as a whole. Almost all the electors from the southern states voted for Jefferson, while all the electors from the northern states voted for Adams. What problems will this lead to later?

ALIEN & SEDITION ACTS • -Federalists passed laws to limit criticism of gov’t by those sensitive to the French (Dem-Republicans) and restrict citizenship rights • -would have limited freedom of speech and allowed deportation of unpopular aliens • Could not speak out against the government • Quieted all opposition Anti-French feeling flourished, and many Federalists believed that French agents were everywhere, plotting to overthrow the government. New arrivals from foreign countries were held in particular suspicion, especially because immigrants were active in the Dem.-Rep. party. Some of the most vocal critics of Adams were foreign-born and immigrants. To counter what they saw as a growing threat against government, the Federalists passed the Alien and Sedition Acts.

ALIEN & SEDITION ACTS • -Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions • -issued to declare the laws unconstitutional – violates the First Amendment • -Written by Jefferson and Madison • Sent to state governments for approval; fed. gov. enforcing laws • -presented idea ofnullification • Declare unfair laws null and void; idea of states’ rights “Let the honest advocate of confidence [in government] read the alien and sedition acts, and say if the Constitution has not been wise in fixing limits to the government it created, and whether we should be wise in destroying those limits.” ~8th Resolution, the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

Jeffersonian Era 1800-1808 NCSCOS Goals 1 & 2

ELECTION OF 1800 • -Jefferson and Aaron Burr tie for President (vs. Adams/Pinckney) • -both are Democratic-Republicans • -Tie broken in Jefferson’s favor • Hamilton convinces House to vote for Jefferson • - Future problems avoided with 12th Amendment • Added in 1804 to prevent ties • Separate vote for Pres/VP Thomas Jefferson & Aaron Burr

Hamilton v. Burr

ELECTION OF 1800 • -1st peaceable transfer of political power from one party to another in modern government • -Federalists to Dem.-Republicans • No violence in transfer of power • -Jefferson’s philosophy brought to the White House and Democratic-Republican Congress • laissez-faire government • Jefferson promises a small gov. with a hands-off approach • Wants to reduce size of federal government “Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle,…We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists.” ~Thomas Jefferson’s 1st Inaugural

JUDICIAL REVIEW • -Midnight Judgesappointed • Adams wants to leave behind Federalist judges • Appoints judges right before leaving office • -Jefferson refused to recognized judges • Didn’t force Madison to deliver appointment to Marbury • -Marbury v. Madison • Marbury sues Madison to get Court to enforce appointment John Adams & William Marbury (Federalists) Thomas Jefferson and James Madison (Democratic Republicans)

WESTERN EXPANSION • -Louisiana Purchase (1803) • US wants mouth of Mississippi River for trade • Jefferson bought Louisiana from France for $15 million • Jefferson debates deal – strict constructionist • Doubled the size of the U.S., as well as the national debt

WESTERN EXPANSION • - Lewis and Clark Expedition • To explore the Louisiana Purchase • Main purposes were to find a Northwest water route to Pacific and to study resources on land • Sacajawea • Native woman who helped Lewis and Clark by serving as a tracker, translator, and guide

Thomas Jefferson’s popularity during his first term in office got him reelected by an overwhelming majority in the Election of 1804.

WAR OF 1812 • -US wins Battle of New Orleans • Two weeks after war • - Andrew Jackson becomes hero • Badly defeats British • Unified country, restored patriotism “The war had renewed and reinstated the National feelings and character, which the Revolution had given…The people…are more American: they feel and act more as a nation.” ~Albert Gallatin, U.S. Minister to France

Federal Powers • -Powers expanded • -growth of the national government’s powers • Federal government grows very strong “This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof…shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every State shall be bound thereby.” ~U.S. Constitution~ John Marshall, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, upheld these beliefs in the Constitution, and he helped establish the supremacy of the federal government.

Missouri Compromise • -slavery had not been issue since Convention • -abolitionist movement growing • People began the fight to end slavery • -1820: equal number of free and slave states • Balance in Congress • -Missouri and Maine will enter at same time to keep balance • -line is drawn at Missouri to determine future of slavery • Line drawn at 36’30 • Everything north in LA Purchase is closed to slavery; everything south is open to it “The Missouri question…is the most portentous one which ever yet threatened our Union. In the gloomiest moment of the Revolutionary War I never had any apprehensions equal to what I feel from this source.” ~Thomas Jefferson~

Missouri Compromise map U.S. in 1820

The Washington Era