CHAPTER 6 FORGING A NEW REPUBLIC

CH. 6-1 WASHINGTON BECOMES PRESIDENT

ORGANIZING THE GOVERNMENT

Washington elected President February 1789

John Adams became Vice President Inauguration Day – April 30, 1789 Washington took the Oath of Office in

New York City Suit made of American broadcloth to

encourage American business

Washington gave a short speech and fireworks followed Washington & Congress went to a church service in

Saint Paul’s Church

WASHINGTON CHOOSES A CABINET 1789-Congress creates the first 3 executive

departments 1) State—domestic and foreign affairs 2) Treasury—money and banking 3) War—military These departments became known as the President’s

Cabinet

Washington chose men he trusted Secretary of War—Henry Knox Secretary of State—Thomas Jefferson Secretary of the Treasury—Alexander

Hamilton Attorney General—Edmund Randolph

(President’s legal advisor) Washington & Adams were old opponents They avoided working closely with each

other.

The new government received pressure from Federalists and Anti-Federalists

Federalists led by Hamilton Anti-Federalists led by Madison and

Jefferson (This group became known as Jeffersonian Republicans)

THE FIRST CONGRESS Only 10 states had joined the government

—the first Congress was small Judiciary Act of 1789—Set up the

Supreme Court 1 Chief Justice—John Jay 5 Associate Justices District Courts and Courts of Appeal were

also created

SETTLING THE NATION’S DEBT

HAMILTON’S ECONOMIC PLAN 1) Federal Government would take on all

Revolutionary War debt-both state and national

Bonds had been sold to pay for the war People sold bonds to Speculators at less

than face value because they needed money

Government would pay face value for the bonds

Speculators would make a profit Some people thought that was unfair

IMPOSING NEW TAXES Constitution gave Congress the power to

tax Tariff Act of 1789—tax on imported goods Excise Tax (1791)—liquor, sugar, snuff,

carriages Very unpopular

Hamilton’s plan to pay off war debt was controversial.

The North had more debt than the South

Southern states didn’t want to pay off Northern debt

Congress rejected this policy several times

COMPROMISE LEADS TO A NEW CAPITAL Hamilton tries to change Jefferson’s and

Madison’s minds Over dinner, they crafted a compromise 1790-US Capitol moved from New York to

Philadelphia By 1800-Capitol would move to a new

federal city in the South Southern congressman would pass

Hamilton’s economic plan

New city on Potomac River between VA and MD

March 1791—Washington chose French engineer, Pierre Charles L’Enfant to plan the layout of the new capitol

Mathematician Benjamin Banneker, an African-American, was appointed to the planning commission at Jefferson’s request.

Washington like L’Enfant’s plan but Jefferson thought it should be simpler

L’Enfant was eventually dismissed from the project but his plan was followed

DEBATING A NATIONAL BANK

strict construction vs. loose construction

HAMILTON’S BANK PLAN Article I, Section 8 listed a number of

specific, or expressed powers Hamilton’s bank was example of loose

construction (any law necessary or proper)

JEFFERSON OPPOSES THE BANK He wanted smaller central government

WASHINGTON SIGNS THE BANK BILL Madison, Jefferson, and Randolph oppose Washington “greatly perplexed” but

didn’t want to veto bank bill Bank of the United States created

February 1791

FIRST POLITICAL PARTIES FORM

THE WHISKEY REBELLION 1794-Farmers in western PA violently

opposed Hamilton’s excise tax on whiskey

Rebel farmers rebelled—tax collectors attacked, barns of tattle-tails burned

A crowd of >2,000 threatened Pittsburgh

There was talk of an independent nation

Washington took control Rebellion would not be tolerated Militia from VA, MD, NJ—13,000 men Washington and Hamilton rode out to

lead the troops Surprised farmers scattered. Militia

caught and arrested them 2 were convicted of treason but

Washington pardoned them

POLITICAL PARTIES DEVELOP Most framers thought parties were

dangerous 1790s—Americans became politically

divided Two sides—Jeffersonian Republicans vs.

Federalists (Hamilton) Two-Party System was beginning Jeffersonian Republicans became known

as the Democratic-Republicans