The New Government

George Washington

• On April 30, 1789 George Washington took the oath of office (the promise the President takes to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution) as the first President of the United States

Shaping the Executive Branch• As the first President, Washington had to

make wise choices. His decisions would be precedents (examples for others to follow). • The first Vice President was John Adams• He set up the first Cabinet• Thomas Jefferson – Secretary of State• Alexander Hamilton – Secretary of

Treasury• Henry Knox – Secretary of War

New Laws

• Under Washington, new laws were passed• The Judiciary Act of 1789 – created a

federal court system• Neutrality Proclamation of 1793 – stated

the US would remain neutral and friendly to both France and England during the French Revolution

Hamilton vs. Jefferson• Hamilton and Jefferson had very different ideas on how

the country should be run.Hamilton Jefferson

Government strong central strong stateEconomy manufacturing agriculture

industryWar Debts pay state and pay national

national debt debt onlyConstitution loose interpretation strict

interpretation

Political Parties

• Hamilton and Jefferson’s ideas were the basis for the two political parties that developed during this era• Federalist Party – supported Hamilton’s

ideas• Democratic Republicans – supported

Jefferson’s ideas

Whiskey Rebellion• To get money for the federal government

Hamilton suggested an excise tax (a tax on a product’s manufacture, sale, or distribution)• He proposed to add an excise tax on the

manufacturing of whiskey.• This upset farmers because they made more

money on whiskey than they did on corn. • Corn was hard to carry to market, but they could

distill it into whiskey which was easier to carry.

Whiskey Rebellion• This excise tax made farmers angry!• They refused to pay the tax• Beat up federal marshals who tried to

enforce it• Threatened to secede from the union•Washington and Hamilton led militiamen

to put down the rebellion without one death• This was the first use of federal power for

a domestic issue

French Revolution and America• French Revolution – France declared war on

England to develop a government based on the will of the people.•Most Americans supported this because it was

like the Revolutionary War• President Washington didn’t think America was

prepared to fight a war and declared that we would remain neutral (Neutrality Proclamation of 1793)

America’s Neutrality• Britain and France did not respect America’s

decision to remain neutral.• Both began to capture ships headed to the other

country• The US lost hundreds of ships and cargo• Britain even began to practice impressment

(taking American sailors and forcing them to serve in the British navy)• This greatly angered Americans

Jay’s Treaty

•Washington sent John Jay to England to negotiate a treaty. • Jay’s Treaty would allow the US to

continue to trade with England • This angered France who believed Jay’s

treaty violated the alliance France and US signed during the Revolutionary War

Pinckney’s Treaty

•Washington sent Thomas Pinckney to Spain in 1795.• The US wanted to secure land west of the

Appalachian Mountains and shipping rights along the Mississippi River• Spain agreed to these requests but

maintained their ownership of Florida.

Problems with Native Americans• Pioneers continued to settle farther west.• The Native Americans claimed this as their

tribal lands• They often attacked white settlers who

moved into the territory

Chief Little Turtle

• In 1790 US General Josiah Harmar and his men fought Miami Chief Little Turtle and his men• The Native Americans won the battle.

• In 1791 US General Arthur St. Clair and his men fought Chief Little Turtle and his men.• The Native Americans won this battle as

well.

Battle of Fallen Timbers• In 1792 Washington sent General Anthony Wayne to

battle the Native Americans• Wayne defeated the Native Americans

• This victory ended the Native American resistance in Ohio.

• In 1793 the Miami Confederacy signed the Treaty of Greenville.

• This started a pattern of paying the Native Americans much less for their land than it was worth.

Washington’s Farewell Address•Washington served two terms. •When he left office, he gave the country

some advice in his Farewell AddressAvoid foreign alliances (don’t promise to

support another nation while America is still young and developing)

Avoid strife between political parties (don’t develop political parties because they cause problems between the people)

End of Part 1

The 2nd President

•Washington warned against political parties, but two had already developed• The election of 1796 had one

representative from each party John Adams – FederalistThomas Jefferson – Democratic

Republican

John Adams Wins!

• John Adams wins the election.

• Because he came in 2nd, Thomas Jefferson becomes the Vice President

Foreign Troubles for Adams

• Adams was now faced with the reaction from France of Jay’s Treaty.• France was angry that America had entered a

treaty with Britain and they began to seize American ships.• This angered Americans.• President Adams did not think America was

ready for war. • He tried to negotiate with France first.

XYZ Affair

• President Adams sent delegates to France to negotiate for better relations.• The French sent three men (called X, Y and

Z) to the meeting.• They refused to negotiate until America had

paid $250,000 to see French foreign minister Talleyrand.• The Americans refused to pay the bribe and

the event became known as the XYZ Affair.

War with France

• The XYZ Affair led to an “unofficial” war with France. • Both countries seized each others ships for

2 years• Eventually they solved their problems

without declaring war.

Domestic Troubles

• President Adams had many critics.

• In an effort to stop them he pushed through laws called the Alien and Sedition Acts.

Alien and Sedition Acts• The Alien and Sedition Acts allowed the

President to expel foreigners, whom he considered dangerous to the nation or to jail anyone who said bad things about the government.• Jefferson and the Democratic Republicans

opposed these acts and claimed they were unconstitutional (First Amendment Freedom of Speech)• Jefferson urged states to nullify (refuse to obey)

the laws.

Election of 1800

• In 1800, Adams ran again as the Federalist candidate and Jefferson as the Democratic Republican (also called Republican) candidate.

• Jefferson won the election and became the 3rd President of the United States.

• This became known as the Republican Era.

Read your notes and answer the following questions.

_____1. Which event marked the way Washington reacted to the war in Europe between France and Britain?A. Proclamation of Neutrality B. Alien and Sedition Acts C. Jay’s Treaty

_____2. Who was the President when the Alien and Sedition Acts were passed?B. George Washington B. John Adams C. Thomas Jefferson

_____3. Who was the 3rd President of the United States?C. George Washington B. John Adams C. Thomas Jefferson

_____4. Which of the following was Jefferson’s political party?D. Tory B. Federalist C. Republican

_____5. What was the practice of taking sailors off American ships for the British navy called?E. Suffrage B. Internment C. Impressment

_____6. Which of the following started a minor revolt among the frontier farmers called the Whiskey Rebellion?F. Tarrifs B. Excise Tax C. Payment of Revolutionary War debts

_____7. What were the laws aimed at supporters of the Republican Party (many of whom were foreigners) called?G. Alien and Sedition Acts B. Navigation Acts C. Neutrality Acts

_____8. Which was a result of the XYZ Affair?H. American sailors were impressed B. US navy attacked French ships in an unofficial war C. US declared war on France

_____9. With which of these would Thomas Jefferson not agree?I. Strong state government B. Federal government paying all war debts C. Strict Constitution interpretation

_____10. How many terms of office did George Washington serve?A. 1 B. 2 C. 3

Read the following passage and answer the questions related to it.

There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. This within certain limits is probably true…..But in those of the popular character, in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume. From Washington’s Farewell Address

_____1. What is the author’s warning for the country in the future?A. Not to form allegiances with foreign countries B. Not to allow arguments between political parties to get out of controlC. Do not quench the spirit of liberty

_____2. What is a spirit not to be encouraged?A. Political parties B. Liberty C. Vigilance

_____3. Arguments between political parties are in constant danger of what?A. Fire B. Liberty C. Excess

_____4. How did Washington feel about political parties?A. He supported them B. He was worried about them C. He liked them

_____5. When was this speech given?A. When Washington became President B. When Washington left the Presidency C. On his birthday

Read “Life of the Upper Crust” on pages 182-183 in your book and answer the following questions.

_____1. What was used to glue women’s hair in place? a. Flour paste b. Tape c. Hairspray

_____2. Who wore shoes with laces?a. Federalists b. Republicans c. Everyone

_____3. How long did people sit to have portraits painted?b. 1 hour b. 6 hours c. 15 minutes

_____4. People took baths every day.A. True B. False

_____5. How long had it been since Elizabeth Drinker had taken a bath?a. 1 day b. 28 weeks c. 28 years

_____6. What did it mean to own the latest and best tea set?A. You were wealthy b. You were poor c. You like tea

_____7. Who could have portraits painted?a. Everyone b. The king only c. The wealthy only

_____8. What was the median age of Americans in 1800?b. 61 b. 16 c. 6

_____9. What was the median age of Americans in 1993?c. 13 b. 33 c. 63

_____10. On boys clothes, what kind of collar did they have?a. Separate white ruffled collars b. No collars c. Plain collars