Chapter 8

1. Chapter 8 Launching a New Nation

2. Section 1 Washington Takes Office

3. The First President • George Washington – inaugurated 30 April 1789 • New York City • Washington would set precedent • Constitution gave general outline of the office of President • Government included: • 75 post offices • Few clerks • Army of 672 soldiers • President, Vice President, 26 Senators, 66 Representatives

4. First Job of President/Congress • Congress passed laws to set up: • Department of State – Thomas Jefferson • Department of Treasury – Alexander Hamilton • Department of War – Henry Knox • President appointed: • Edmund Randolph – Attorney General • Began meeting regularly - Cabinet

5. Judiciary Act of 1789 • Supreme Court – 6 Justices • 3 Circuit Courts • 13 District Courts • Main job of federal courts – hear appeals from state courts • John Jay – Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

6. First Economic Crisis • US - $52 Million in debt • Bond – certificates issued by government that it promises to pay back with interest • Americans/foreigners invested • Speculators – people who invest in risky ventures in hope of big profit • Would Federal government pay back state’s debts

7. Hamilton’s Financial Plan • US Government would pay all federal and state debts • US would charter a national bank for depositing government funds • US impose a high tax on imported goods

8. Paying the Debt • Hamilton wanted to show the world that the US would not renege on debts • Wanted people to be willing to invest again • South opposed plan to pay off debts • Southern states had already paid some off • Congress debated for 6 months • Compromise • The new US capital city would be built in the South • Along the banks of the Potomac/Maryland, Virginia • South agreed

9. National Bank • Privately owned bank of the US • Safe place to deposit money/issue paper money • Jefferson opposed • Argued that the Constitution didn’t allow a bank • Strict interpretation of the Constitution • Hamilton argued • Art. 1 Sect.8 gave Congress power to make laws necessary and proper to fulfill its duties • Loose interpretation of the Constitution • 1791 Congress passed law • Washington signed it

10. High Tariff on Imported Goods • Raise money for government • Protect US manufacturing • Congress did not pass it • Southerner opposed • North had more industry • South would pay more for goods they bought

11. The Whiskey Rebellion • 1791 – Congress placed tax on whiskey made/sold in US • Raise funds for gov’t • Led to a revolt • Backcountry farmers made extra $ making corn whiskey • Sensitive to taxes • Organized protests, refused to pay tax

12. The Whiskey Rebellion • Officials in western Pennsylvania tried to collect taxes • Farmers rebelled – burned house of tax man • Large, angry mob marched on Pittsburgh • Washington sent a militia – 13,000 troops • Rebels backed down • Washington later pardoned the leaders • Showed the nation - armed rebellions would be dealt with by the gov’t

13. Section 2 The Birth of Political Parties

14. Political Parties Emerge • Framers thought people would rise above personal or local interests • People talked of factions • Washington, Jefferson & Hamilton hated factions • Madison thought they were selfish • By 1790s two political parties were forming

15. Republicans Against Federalists • Republicans • Led by Jefferson • People have political power • Strong state gov’t • Strict interpretation • Pro-French • Opposed National Bank • Opposed tariffs • Federalists • Led by Hamilton • Wealthy, educated have political power • Strong central gov’t • Loose interpretation • Pro-British • Favored National Bank • Favored tariffs

16. Political Parties • Republicans • Named after political clubs • Southern planters • Northern farmers • Madison/Jefferson • Jefferson resigned as Secretary of State 1793 • Federalists • Named after people who supported Constitution • Merchants, Property owners/ordinary workers • Strong in the North • Hamilton • Washington favored Hamilton’s policies

17. The Election of 1796 • Washington refused to seek a third term • Republican’s candidate – Jefferson • Federalist’s candidate – John Adams • Did not elect President/Vice President together • Adams finished first/Jefferson finished second • Serious tensions during the Adams’s presidency

18. Section 3 Troubles at Home and Abroad

19. Conflicts in the Northwest Teritory • British had promised to remove troops from forts in NW Territory within a reasonable time • 10 years later – troops were still there • Supplying guns to Native Americans

20. A Struggle Over Lands • Native Americans wanted to keep lands • Attacked settlements • American leaders thought settling western lands would be important to nation • Government tried to pay the Natives for land • Successful in Kentucky and Tennessee • North of the Ohio River Natives refused

21. A Series of Battles • 1790 Washington sent troops to end attacks • Natives led by Little Turtle (Miami) and Blue Jacket (Shawnees) • Troops defeated – 900 soldiers killed/wounded • Washington sent Anthony Wayne (war hero) • Defeated Natives at Battle of Fallen Timbers 1794 • Battle defeated Native American nations • Treaty of Greenville • Gave most of Ohio to US

22. The French Revolution • Began 1789 – most Americans supported • Became controversial • More violent – peaked in 1793 – Reign of Terror • Revolutionaries executed 17,000 people • Included King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette • Beheaded by guillotine • Federalists denounced • the violence • Jefferson argued that • in fight for freedom some • in justices are expected

23. British and French Problems • 1793 – France and Britain were at war • Washington declared the US as neutral • US needed to trade with both sides • France/Britain feared that trade would benefit the other • Began to stop US ships and seize cargoes • British made it worse – impressment of sailors – seized sailors and forced them to serve in British navy

24. French/British Problems • Hamilton – stay friendly with Britain • Britain bought 75% exports • Britain supplied 90% imports • Washington agreed • Sent John Jay to London

25. Jay Treaty of 1795 • US will pay all debts to British merchants • British agree to pay for all ships they seize • British agreed to remove troops from NW Territory and stop aiding Native Americans • But: • Refused to recognize right to trade with France • Refused to cease impressment of US sailors

26. Jay Treaty of 1795 • Republicans • Angered • Claimed US gave away too much • Federalists • Like the treaty • Kept peace with Britain • Had control of Congress • Approved the treaty

27. Washington Retires From Public Life • Published a letter to the American public • Farewell Address made two points • Warned against political divisions • Feared violent divisions might tear nation apart • Accomplishments • US had a functioning gov’t • Economy was improving • Avoided war • British now had to leave forts in NW Territory • Area safe for settlement

28. Section 4 The Presidency of John Adams

29. John Adams • 2nd President of the United States • March 4, 1797 – March 4, 1801 • Federalist • Former Ambassador to Great Britain • Quincy, Massachusetts • Married to Abigail Adams • New States admitted under Washington • Vermont – March 1791 • Kentucky – June 1792 • Tennessee – June 1796

30. Troubles With France • President Adams faced immediate crisis • French - angry about neutrality • Hadn’t the French supported the colonists? • Jay Treaty increased tensions • Put US on Britain’s side • French reacted by snubbing a US diplomat • Continued to attack American merchant ships

31. The XYZ Affair • 1797 – Adams sent 3-person mission to France • Met with agents from France • French agents demanded a bribe of $250,000 • They also wanted US to loan France money • Became public – caused a sensation • Kept the names secret so they were called X,Y,Z

32. War Fever • XYZ Affair stirred war fever • Federalists demanded Adams ask Congress to declare war on France • Adams asked to increase size of army/navy • Created separate department of the navy • Fought undeclared naval war with France

33. Adams and Views of War • Opposed full-scale war • Sent a new mission to France to negotiate • Napoleon Bonaparte busy with war in Europe • Agreed to stop seizing American ships • Agreement angered Federalist Party leaders especially Hamilton (pro-British) • Weakened Adams politically

34. The Alien Act • War fever deepened mistrust between Federalists and Republicans • Federalists fear of revolutionary France spread to a fear of immigrants • Feared that immigrants would become Republicans • Needed to destroy political opponents • Passed the Alien Act • Lengthened time to become a citizen from 5 to 14 yrs • President has power to deport or imprison any alien he considers dangerous

35. Sedition Act • Sedition - an activity designed to overthrow a government • Sedition Act limited free speech • Strongest limit of free speech ever passed • Made it a crime to write or say anything insulting or false about the President, Congress or the government in general • 1798-1799 – 10 convicted under the act • Most were Republican editors and printers

36. Opposition to the Acts • Republicans denounced the Alien and Sedition Acts • Charged that the Sedition Act violated the First Amendment • Unclear if the Supreme Court could declare a law unconstitutional • Expressed opposition in state legislatures

37. Jefferson/Madison lead the attack against the Alien/Sedition Acts • Wrote resolutions suggesting that states could overrule federal law • Declared that states has the right to declare laws passed by Congress unconstitutional • Madison’s resolution passed in Virginia • Jefferson’s resolution passed in Kentucky • Resolutions themselves had little impact • Sedition Act expired at end of two years • 1802 – time for immigrants to become citizens restored to 5 years

38. States Rights • Resolutions were more important for what they symbolized • Claimed that states could nullify a law passed by Congress • Boosted ideas of ‘States Rights’ • Idea that the union binding “these United States” is an agreement between the states and that they can overrule federal law • In the future, states will refuse to obey certain federal laws