Chapter 5, Section 2:Early Challenges

Political ideas and major events shape how people form governments. The new American

government struggled to keep peace at home and avoid war abroad.

The Whiskey Rebellion• Main idea: Hamilton’s taxes

led to rebellion in western Pennsylvania and changed the way the government handled protesters.○ Major differences between

“easterners” and “westerners”

Life in the West• “Frontier farmers” were self-

reliant, as grain rarely shipped east of Appalachians

• System of bartering rather than money

• Worth more to transport whiskey than grain○ Grain → whiskey for

exchange of goods

The Tax Leads to Protest• 1791 tax on whiskey/alcohol approved by Congress

○ Hamilton wanted tax to help with national debt• When federal officers enforced collection of taxes, farmers

attacked tax collectors and burned buildings• The “protest” worried government, but now they had Constitutional power to

tax/raise army, they knew they could quell (stop) rebellion○ Washington sent an army to stop the protest,

but the protesters were already over it…• However, the message was clear: don’t mess with the

government! They had the constitutional ability to maintain power

1. How did the Whiskey Rebellion affect the way government handled protesters?

2. How were Shay’s Rebellion and the Whiskey Rebellion similar and how did they differ?

Struggle Over the West• The new government faced difficult

problems in the West (specifically, the Northwest Territory)○ Mostly w/ Native Americans & land rights

• NA insisted US had no authority over them, prepared to defend lands (encouraged by British/Spanish)○ Washington sent an army to restore order in

Northwest Territory, but they were defeated by Miami people and chief Little Turtle

Battle of Fallen Timbers• Native Americans demanded that all settlers west of the

Appalachian mountains move ASAP• Army sent to challenge their demands and defeated more than

1,000 Native Americans in the Battle of Fallen Timbers• Outcome of battle crushed Native American hopes of keeping

their land as Treaty of Greenville was signed

In 1792, President George Washington appointed Anthony Wayne as the commander of the United States Army of the Northwest, then currently serving in the Northwest Territory. The major purpose of this army was to defend American settlers from Indian attack. Josiah Harmar and Arthur St. Clair had both suffered defeat at the hands of Native Americans in the previous few years, and Washington hoped that Wayne would be more successful. Wayne arrived with additional troops to supplement the Army of the Northwest in May 1793. He positioned his force at Fort Washington, near Cincinnati. Wayne repeatedly drilled his troops, hoping to avoid the horrific defeats that befell Harmar and St. Clair. In October, Wayne finally left the Cincinnati area and headed to Fort Jefferson. He proceeded six miles to the north of Fort Jefferson and ordered the construction of Fort Greene Ville. His army remained here for the winter of 1793-1794. He also had his men build Fort Recovery on the site of St. Clair's Defeat.

Tensions escalated between the Americans and the Indians during the summer of 1794. On June 30, 1,500 Shawnee Indians, Miami Indians, Delaware Indians, Ottawa Indians, and Ojibwa Indians led by Little Turtle attacked a supply train leaving Fort Recovery for Fort Greene Ville, killing or capturing many of the white Americans. In late July, Wayne moved into northwestern Ohio. In early August, he ordered his men to construct Fort Defiance to protect his army as well as to serve as a supply depot. During this time, Wayne's men also destroyed native villages and crops. Believing that the Indians needed to sue for peace, Little Turtle, a leader of the Miami Indians refused to lead the tribes into battle and deferred to Blue Jacket, a Shawnee leader.

As Wayne moved toward the Maumee River, the Indians prepared to attack him in an area known as Fallen Timbers, where a tornado had knocked down many trees. The Indians expected the Americans to arrive on August 19, but they didn’t arrive until the next day. The natives fasted before the battle for spiritual and cultural reasons and avoid having food in their stomachs. The likelihood of infection increased if a person was wounded in the stomach and there was food in it. By August 20, the natives were weak from hunger. Although the Indians used the fallen trees for cover, Wayne's men quickly drove them from the battlefield. The Americans had 33 men killed and roughly 100 wounded, while the Indians lost approximately twice that number. The fight became known as the Battle of Fallen Timbers. Blue Jacket's followers retreated to Fort Miamis, hoping the English would provide them with protection and assistance against Wayne's army. The English refused. Wayne followed the natives to the fort. Upon his arrival, Wayne ordered the British to evacuate the Northwest Territory. The English commander refused. Rather than force the issue, Wayne decided to withdraw to Fort Greene Ville.For the next year, Wayne stayed at Fort Greene Ville, negotiating a treaty with the Indians. The natives realized that they were at a serious disadvantage with the Americans, especially because of England's refusal to support the Indians. On August 3, 1795, the Treaty of Greenville was signed. Representatives from the Miami Indians, Wyandot Indians, Shawnee Indians, Delaware Indians, and several other tribes agreed to move to the northwestern part of what is now the state of Ohio. Not all Indians concurred with the treaty, and bloodshed continued to dominate the region for the next twenty years as Americans and Indians struggled for control.

Treaty of Greenville• Signed in 1795• Native Americans

agreed to surrender most of their land to present-day Ohio

1. Why did President Washington send troops to the Northwest Territory?

2. What consequences do you see for Native Americans once they give up their claims to Ohio?

3.

Problems with Europe• Main idea: President Washington wanted the

nation to remain neutral in foreign conflicts.○ French Revolution had just begun, at first Americans

were thrilled, then opinions became divided■ Too bloody/violent■ New republic copied US

• Britain & France went to war, Washington wanted nation to be neutral, but that soon became difficult

Washington Proclaims Neutrality• French sent Edward Genet to US to recruit

volunteers to help attack British ships○ BUT, Washington issued a Proclamation of

Neutrality prohibiting Americans from fighting in war and keeping British and French warships from the ports

• Genet failed, but some people still helped out the French, serving on French ships, seizing British vessels/cargo

• Outraged British started capturing American ships and sometimes forced American crews to work for the British navy (IMPRESSMENT)

○ Angering Amerincas

A Controversial Treaty• John Jay (Supreme Court justice) sent to

France to negotiate peace and prevent a costly war with Britain

• Jay’s Treaty:○ British agreed to evacuate all forts on

American soil, pay damages toward American ships, and allow some American ships to trade with British colonies

• Americans angry about treaty:○ Didn’t deal with impressment or Britain’s

interference with American trade○ But did promote “peace” so the Senate

approved it after a debate

Treaty with Spain

• Jay’s Treaty worried Spain because they thought the US and Britain would join together to take over Spanish territory in North America

• In order to keep the US happy, Spain decided to make concessions…○ 1795 Pinckney’s Treaty gave US free

navigation of Mississippi River and trade in New Orleans

Washington’s Farewell• Served two 4 year terms, establishing a

precedent for all future presidents• Worried about divisions in American politics and

the growth of American political parties • Also worried about being too involved with

foreign affairs• “Observe good faith and justice toward all

nations…Tis our policy to steer clear of permanent alliances”

Farewell Address: Advice(1) Didn’t want political parties(2) Didn’t want too much involvement with foreign countries(3) Explained why he wasn’t running again(4) Maintained need for strong central government

*Address read each year on Washington’s birthday in Senate

1. What was the impact of Washington’s Farewell Address?2. Was Washington’s foreign policy effective? Why or why not?3. What message was Washington sending to the American

people when he used force to stop the Whiskey Rebellion?4. What precedent did George Washington set for future

presidents?

For next time...

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