Chapter 10 Washington and Adams

1. Chapter 10 Washington and Adams

2. Rapid Growth • Population doubling every 25 years - 4 million people - 1790 • 90% rural - only 5% lived west of the Appalachian Mountains • Largest city - Philadelphia • World was watching: feared both failure and success of US

3. Washington - 1789 • Unanimous vote - no political party • Good character, not necessarily a good politician! • Inauguration - NYC, April 30, cannons, flowers, singing • Couldn’t blame others, set standards for presidency

4. Creation of the Cabinet • Not mentioned in Constitution • “May require” written opinions of the heads of the executive departments (supply advice) • At first only 3 Departments - all headed by a Secretary

5. Secretary of State - Thomas Jefferson - deals with foreign affairs • Secretary of Treasury - Alexander Hamilton • Secretary of War - Henry Knox - head of army and navy • Attorney General - Edmund Randolph - comes in later

6. Hamilton • Federalist, wanted active government - to help economic growth • Powerful commercial nation with high tariffs to pay for education, growth, promote immigration • Anti-Slavery, financial wizard • “Loves country more than countrymen”

7. Jefferson • Republican Party (Democratic-Republicans) • Laissez-faire government - “Government that governs least governs best” • Quiet agrarian nation, low tariffs, for the common people • Slaveholders and landowners

8. Judiciary Act of 1789 • Created the federal courts • Organized Supreme Court - hear appeals from Circuits Courts • Chief Justice - John Jay - and 5 Associate Justices • 13 District Courts and 3 Circuit Courts

9. Bill of Rights • 1791 - First 10 amendments • Major criticism of Constitution by the Anti-Federalists • Protect individual rights from the strong central government • 2 Ways to propose amendments - 2/3 of Congress or Conventions

10. James Madison feared a new convention would lessen Federalist victory - drafted amendments himself • Adopted 1791 • Amendments 9 and 10 very important - other rights and states rights

11. Four Major Programs • Alexander Hamilton • Payment of the National Debt • Payment of State Debts • The Bank of the United States • Customs Duties and Excise Taxes

12. 1. Payment of the National Debt • During Revolution - gov’t sold bonds (promised payment with interest) and issued paper money • Hamilton wants government to fund national debt “at par” - face value with interest ($54 million) • Thought debt would ensure longevity?!

13. People had lost faith in bonds and sold them to rich speculators • Hamilton criticized - rich are getting richer - mostly Northerners • Plan passed by Congress - called the “funding fathers”

14. 2. Assumption of State Debts • Hamilton wants gov’t to assume state debts ($21 million +) • South opposes - little debt - had already paid them off - angry - South would once again help pay debt of North

15. Jefferson returns from France and argues against • Hamilton pleads for his support • Compromise - Jefferson will support and sway votes if Hamilton agrees that the nations new capital will be located in Virginia on banks of Potomac

16. 3. The Bank of the US • Hamilton wants federal bank in which Nat’l gov’t would be major stockholder - 1/5 of share to gov’t, 4/5 private investors • Tax $ and private $, could make huge loans if necessary • Washington asks for opinions!

17. Jefferson cries out against the bank - fights for states rights - state banks would die • Strict Constructionist • Hamilton argues for the bank - Elastic Clause “necessary and proper” • Loose Constructionist • Washington signs into law

18. 4. Customs Duties and Excise Taxes • Money to pay debts from customs duties derived from high tariffs • Tariff on foreign trade (first one - 8% on imports) • Also wants to protect US manufacturers - wants industrial revolution to spread to the US • Agrarian Congress - little increases

19. Whiskey Tax • Levied an excise tax on making and selling of whiskey 7 cents/gallon • Mainly affected backcountry distillers - easier to transport whiskey than grain • Also a form of currency for many • Angry farmers get together and rebel

20. Washington summons militia to put down rebellion in western Pennsylvania (13,000) • No real battle, most had fled (3 killed) Whiskey Rebellion - 1794 • Few captured and pardoned by Washington • New respect for Washington’s new government

21. Political Parties • Develop out of Hamilton/Jefferson feud • Only factions before Washington era - No parties • 2 Distinct parties by 1792/93 - Hamiltonian Federalists, Jeffersonian Republicans

22. Hamiltonian Federalists • Believed in rule by the “best people” - upper classes • Those who own the country ought to govern it - common man -dumb • Supported strong central gov’t - should foster business not interfere with it

23. Pro-British - wanted friendly ties with G.B. - needed them to trade with - some mild Loyalists still sentimental to mother country • Made up mostly of merchants, shippers, and manufacturers

24. Jeffersonian Republicans • Also party of James Madison • Wanted weak central gov’t - “government that governs least governs best” • Bulk of power should be retained by the states - people remain in closer contact

25. Rule for the people, but not all of the people - only people who were literate and could make informed decisions • Freedom of Speech necessary to voice against the government • Pro-French - ideals of revolution • Made up mostly of agrarians from the South and Southwest

26. French Revolution • Began in 1789 (26 years) • Affected American political and social life - saw is as continuation of own Revolution • France proclaims itself a republic - excited Americans • England later sucked into the conflict - Americans mixed

27. Washington's Second Term • Both France and G.B. want US on their side • US had an alliance with France to help defend West Indies • Republicans want to honor Alliance obligation • Federalists want to avoid war altogether

28. Neutrality Proclamation - 1793 • Washington wants to avoid war at all costs - weak military, shaky economy, political disunity • Best for the country - need time to grow - both parties agree • Issued Proclamation - warned people to be impartial to both countries

29. Citizen Edmond Genet - French Representative in US - tried to bring US into the war - underhanded - replaced later • France would actually gain more if US remained neutral - could be a provider • G.B. upset with the proclamation

30. Seizing US ships, taking supplies, impressing Americans into service, threw some in dungeons, people very upset • Federalists stay calm - need British for the economy • Republicans want war - defend liberties - at least an embargo

31. Jay's Treaty • Washington sends John Jay to England in 1794 - upset Republicans - thought he would sell out • British promised to evacuate posts on US • Promised to pay damages for the seizures - no promise to stop

32. Bound US to pay pre-war debts • Outraged Jeffersonians - Southern farmers would foot the bill again, Northern shippers being paid for damages • Washington backs treaty - avoid war - narrowly passes Senate • Created deep split between Federalists and Republicans

33. Jay’s Treaty • John Jay (Chief Justice) sent to London for agreement • England leave all forts in Northwest Territory • Expand trade • Treaty didn’t end English stopping US ships searching for British subjects

34. Pinckney's Treaty • Spain fears Anglo-American alliance - 1795 • Granted free navigation of the Mississippi River • Yielded large area north of Florida to the United States

35. Washington's Farewell • Begins tradition by deciding not to run for a 3rd term - exhausted and tired of verbal abuse • Great accomplishment - he kept us out of war • Farewell Address - not delivered orally, but published in newspapers

36. Warns of the dangers of three things! Peace out!

37. Rise of political parties - need cooperation to run government • Sectionalism - political divisions based on geography • Involvement in foreign wars - avoid permanent alliances - alright in emergencies - isolationism

38. Washington’s Death 1799

39. Election of 1796 • Federalists - John Adams (71) • Republicans - Thomas Jefferson (68) - becomes vice-president • Campaign focuses on personalities • Issue also becomes Jay’s Treaty

40. Election of 1796

41. Adams Faces Many Problems • Washington’s successor • Hated by Hamilton - resigns from Treasury • Cabinet was against him • Inherited quarrel with France • Vice-President from different party

42. Adams as President • Didn’t have prestige as Washington • Known as very honest, devoted to public service • Cooled relations with France • Failed to silence critics (decreased popularity)

43. Quasi-War with France • Undeclared war with France • French upset w/Jay’s Treaty - saw it as alliance w/England - violated Franco-American Treaty of 1778 • French warships begin to seize defenseless American vessels (about 300

44. French regime refused American diplomats to Paris • American people are outraged and want respect - Adams wants to stay out of any kind of war • Leads to deteriorating relationship with France in the 1790’s • Adams tries a final time to negotiate

45. XYZ Affair • Cause of the undeclared war • Adams sent 3 men headed by John Marshall to meet with Tallyrand (Foreign Minister) • Secretly approached by 3 go betweens known as X,Y,Z • Want loan and bribe to meet • Intolerable - return home

46. X Y Z Show us the Money!

47. War Preparations - 1798 • Created Navy Dept., expanded Navy • Established Marine Corps • New Army of 10,000 led by Washington/Hamilton • Undeclared battles, sea warfare • Navy captured 80 vessels, lost hundreds of merchantmen

48. France doesn’t want war - no new enemies, spread out the fight, didn’t want GB and US close again, Napoleon wants power in Europe • Tallyrand invites America to send a new Minister • Adams also wants to avoid full scale war - nations too weak and young - would have increased his popularity

49. Convention of 1800 • Sent 3 envoys to Paris • Welcomed by Gov’t - Napoleon • Granted break from Treaty of 1778 • Americans had to pay damages to American shippers • Impact on future (Louisiana)

50. Alien and Sedition Acts Measures passed by the Federalists designed to muffle or minimize their foes (Republicans) and Silence their critics