Chapter 9 Notes: Launching a New Republic

It’s About Time!

GW, you’re my hero!

Washington Takes Office• Inaugurated

(sworn in) on April 30th, 1789

• At Federal Hall in NYC

• Washington D.C. is not the capital yet

• Capital=city Capitol=building

Washington Takes Office

• Washington’s presidency would set a precedent- an example that would become standard practice

• Once president, Washington goes right to work forming the new American government exactly the way he wants

Federal Judiciary Act

• Establishes the Supreme Court

• John Jay named 1st Chief Justice

Created a Cabinet

• Secretary of War

• Henry Knox

• Nation’s Defenses

There is nothing I love more than cannons and a good buffet!

Created a Cabinet

• Secretary of State

• Thomas Jefferson

• Relationships with other countries

I wish I was in France!

Created a Cabinet

• Secretary of the Treasury

• Alexander Hamilton

• Manage the Government’s Money

I’m gonna slice and dice some Hessians!

Created a Cabinet

• Attorney General

• Edmund Randolph

• Legal Matters

I LOVE the Virginia plan!

Economic Problems

• National Debt= $52 million

• Left over from Rev. War

• Costs of setting up new government

• If new nation doesn’t pay its debts, it will lose credibility in the world

Hamilton’s Financial Plan(Also Known As: How To Get Out Of Debt!)

• 1. Pay off all war debts as soon as possible

• 2. Raise government revenue WITHOUT raising taxes

• 3. Create a national bank to oversee money and policy

Hamilton’s Plan Provoked Mixed Reactions:

• 1. Southern states had already paid off their share of the Rev. War debt and did NOT want to have to pay again!

• 2. Tariffs- taxes on foreign goods imported into America- idea was to raise $ for government and promote American industry

Hamilton’s Plan Provoked Mixed Reactions:

• 3. National Bank- • Safe place for

government’s $$• Loans to businesses and

states• Would print/coin first

National currency

Hamilton’s Plan Greatly Strengthened the Federal

Government’s Power!• This worried

Thomas Jefferson and James Madison!

X-ray vision is Sweet!

Did the Constitution Allow For A National Bank???

• It does not say anything specific about allowing a National Bank….

• BUT: It doesn’t really say it isn’t OK either!

• Loose Construction of the Constitution:

• Anything not specifically prohibited is OK!

• Necessary and Proper Clause

• Strict Construction of the Constitution:

• Government can only do exactly what the Constitution says and no more!

Section 3: The Federalists in ChargeWashington’s cabinet members argued over a number

of issues:

1)How to interpret the Constitution?

-loose vs. strict

2)Hamilton’s creation of a National Bank

-necessary or too much power?

3)Who to side with in the war between Britain and France?

-ally or trading partner?

4)What kind of a nation would the U.S. be?

-world power, leader or mind own business?

Washington Retires- 2 Statements:

1) Avoid party politics at all costs!

-only leads to fighting

2) Foreign policy- stay neutral and out of other countries business

Listen up dudes!

The Formation of Political Parties• A political party tries to

influence government policy by promoting its ideas

• Have a lot of power in American government despite not being mentioned in the Constitution

• Began separating over the issue of strict vs. loose interpretation of the Constitution

• Federalists vs. Democratic-Republicans

Election of 1796

• John Adams elected president

• Thomas Jefferson, his rival and runner-up in the election is vice-president

• U.S. Capital moves to Washington D.C.

Finally!

XYZ Affair

• Alliance with France breaks down• Adams sends representatives to try and talk

to France• Three French agents “X,Y, and Z” say that

they will talk but only if the U.S. gives France $10 million and a $250,000 bribe to the French minister of foreign affairs

• Leads to the end of the U.S./French alliance

Alien and Sedition Acts

• Many people thought John Adams was becoming too powerful

• Federalist Congress passes laws:– Increased waiting period to become a

citizen– President could arrest “disloyal” aliens– Sedition (saying anything false or harmful

about the government) is outlawed– Did this take away freedom of speech???

I HATE Federalists!

States Rights

• Democratic-Republicans led by Jefferson and Madison fought back

• States’ rights theory says that a state could nullify (cancel out) any federal law they felt violated the Constitution within their state

• Challenged the authority of the National government and led to Jefferson’s election

Thomas JeffersonAlexander Hamilton

Democratic - RepublicansFederalists

Objective: To analyze the differences between the first political parties.

Hamilton and Jefferson: Differing Views

Alexander Hamilton Thomas Jefferson

• Favored trade, manufacturing and cities

• Believed that the federal government should have more power than the states

• Believed in a loose interpretation of the Constitution

• was pro-British

• Favored farmers and rural communities

• Believed that states should have more power than the federal government (state’s rights)

• Believed in a strict interpretation of the Constitution

• was pro-French

• pro-British

First Political Parties

• led by Alexander Hamilton

• strong central government led by industry and the wealthy

• emphasis on manufacturing, shipping, and trade

• loose interpretation of the Constitution

• favored the national bank

• favored protective tariffs

• led by Thomas Jefferson

• strong state governments led by the “common man”

• emphasis on agriculture“Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens.” – Thomas Jefferson • strict interpretation of the Constitution • opposed the national bank

• opposed protective tariffs• pro-French