The Young Republic, 1789-1800

George Washington &

America’s 1st Political Parties

Building the Machinery of Gov’tThe Constitution created a

“general framework” of gov’t but it was up to the 1st president & the 1st Congress to fill in the details:–The “gov’t” in 1789 had no

federal court system, navy, or tax collection system

–The Senate spent 3 weeks debating how the president should be addressed

One committee proposed: "His Highness the President of the United States and Protector of the Rights of the Same"

The “government” consisted of nothing more than a large debt, 75 post offices,

& an army of 700 soldiers

Building the Machinery of Gov’tWith James Madison’s leadership,

the House of Representatives:

–raised revenue by passing a protective tariff & a tax on liquor

–gave structure to the executive branch by creating the State, Treasury, Justice, & War Depts

–organized a federal court system via the Judiciary Act of 1789Judiciary Act of 1789

Consisted of a Supreme Court with six justices, a district court in each

state, and three appeals courts

The Importance of James Madison“Father of the Constitution;” drafted the Bill of Rights; was the leader of Congress who helped create the 1st federal taxes, depts & courts; &

will serve as the 4th president

Washington as President The unanimous choice for the

leader of the infant republic was George Washington

He established many precedents to make the presidency:–Created the 1st cabinet–Delivering an inaugural address–The title “Mr. President”

Washington as PresidentWashington’s 1st term as president

was defined by domestic policydomestic policy:–He helped define a strong &

active presidency–Appointed strong, able leaders

to cabinet posts–Focused on the U.S. economy–Traveled to every state to “show

the people” their national gov’t

Washington’s Cabinet Henry Knox, Secretary of War

Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of Treasury

Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State

George Washington, President

Edmund Randolph, Attorney General

Washington acted as president as he did as a military general: he surrounded himself with capable subordinates, listened to their advice,

then made the final decision

Hamilton & Jefferson proved to be his most capable cabinet members but were also the

most divisive because they had vastly different views on the role of gov’t for the new nation

Alexander HamiltonHamilton believed a strong central

gov’t was best for America:–He wanted the U.S. to grow as

an industrial power with less dependency on Europe

–He wanted the U.S. economy to mirror the English economy

–He feared democracy would lead to anarchy; power should be in hands of wealthy citizens

As Sec of Treasury, Hamilton shaped the economy of the new nation

Thomas JeffersonJefferson believed that a limited

gov’t would preserve liberty:–He saw the U.S. as an agrarian

nation with active foreign trade to buy manufactured goods

–He trusted the common people over the elitist aristocracy

–He favored close ties with France, especially when the French Revolution began

Hamilton’s Economic Plan for

America

Hamilton's Economic PlanBy 1789, one of America’s biggest

challenges was its huge debt Hamilton’s Report on Public Credit

(1790) proposed:–“Funding” the national debt –“Assumption" of state debts–Creating a national bank –Gov’t aid to manufacturing

$54 million in national debt

$25 million in state debts

Funding and AssumptionFundingFunding: Congress to redeem U.S.

certificates of debt at face value to prove to foreign investors that the U.S. would repay its debts

AssumptionAssumption: Federal government would purchase states' debts to gain a better interest rate & create a “national” problem rather than individual state problems

Foreign investment poured into the U.S.

Was unsuccessfully opposed because most certificates were currently held by speculators

And an excise tax on distilled liquors (whiskey)

Was initially defeated but salvaged when northern VA was proposed as

cite for new U.S. capital (Compromise of 1790In 1790, Washington signed into

law Hamilton’s proposals on funding & assumption

The Bank Controversy Hamilton proposed the creation of

a National BankNational Bank that would be privately owned, but federally chartered to regulate finance

Madison & Jefferson opposed the Bank of the U.S. (BUS) because:–It appeared to favor the rich –Its creation was not mentioned

in the Constitution

This type of interpretation of the Constitution is called “strict construction”

The Bank ControversyHamilton defended creating a

BUS under Article 1, section 8:–The Necessary & Proper Clause

gave Congress “implied powers” to interpret the Constitution

–This “Elastic Clause” allowed Hamilton to make a successful “loose construction” argument

–Congress chartered the Bank of the United States in 1791

Promoting Manufacturing Report on Manufacturing sought

to boost manufacturing & reduce U.S. dependency on Europe

Opposition to Hamilton’s plan:–Madison feared strengthening

the federal gov’t would destroy state sovereignty

–Jefferson feared that the rise of cities would destroy agriculture & agrarian civic virtue

This plan was soundly defeated

Foreign Affairs

The Battle over Foreign Affairs In the 1792 election, Washington

was unanimously chosen againForeign policy became the focus

of Washington’s 2nd term:–War between England & France

broke out in 1793 which divided Americans over who to support

–England refused to obey the Treaty of Paris (1783) & barred the U.S. from West Indian trade

France was engulfed in the French Revolution; The U.S. supported the revolution, but feared

its radical & bloody nature

U.S. neutrality seemed to be the best option

The French Revolution Led to War Between England & France

The Peril of NeutralityHamilton & Jefferson wanted

neutrality but disagreed how:–JeffersonJefferson: punish England (due

to impressmentimpressment) by cutting off trade & reward France

–HamiltonHamilton: England needed to be appeased, not coerced

Washington signed Proclamation Proclamation of Neutralityof Neutrality (1793) to keep America out of foreign wars

At least until the Genet Affair: French diplomat Edmond Genet challenged

American neutrality repeatedly in public

Americans seemed to favor France due to French assistance in the American Rev

English & French “impressment” of American sailors

Jay's Treaty with EnglandJohn Jay demanded from England

–The removal of British soldiers from western forts in America

–payment for impressed ships–acceptance of U.S. neutrality

Jay’s Treaty (1794)Jay’s Treaty (1794) –British vacated western forts –U.S. gained trade in West Indies–But, England did not recognize

neutrality or end impressment

The treaty avoided war with England but did not get the British to pay Southerners for lost

slaves or merchants for impressed ships

The House challenged the Senate’s Constitutional

authority to ratify the treaty

Jay was hung in effigy throughout

America

Pinckney’s Treaty with SpainPrior to 1795, Spain closed U.S.

access to the Mississippi River & encouraged Indian attacks

But, Spain interpreted Jay's Treaty as Anglo-American alliance against Spain & signed the Treaty of San LorenzoTreaty of San Lorenzo (Pinckney’s Treaty):–Spain reopened the Mississippi –Settled the disputed border

between Florida & U.S.

Treaty of Greenville with IndiansTo end Indian attacks against

white settlers in the West, the U.S. fought an Ohio Indian alliance led by the Shawnee at Battle of Fallen TimbersBattle of Fallen Timbers (1794)

Led to the Treaty of GreenvilleTreaty of Greenville:–Indians ceded lands in Ohio–The U.S. promised “fair”

dealings with Indian nations

Settlers rushed to Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, & western New York

America’s First Political Parties

America’s 1st Political Parties Disagreements over Hamilton’s

financial plans & Anglo-French Wars led to the 1st political parties:–Democratic-RepublicansDemocratic-Republicans:

led by Jefferson, favored states’ rights, “strict construction,” ties to France, & liberty

–Federalists:Federalists: led by Hamilton, favored a strong national gov’t, “loose construction”, ties to England, & public order

Also called Jeffersonian Republicans or simply, Republicans

Represented the “Spirit of 1776” & the fight against tyranny

Represented the “Spirit of 1787” & the fight for a stronger national gov’t

America’s 1st Political PartiesPolitical parties were seen as a

conspiracy against liberty –Federalists & Dem-Republicans

thought it was their duty to destroy the other party

–In the Washington & Adams eras, the Federalists dominated politics, but Jefferson’s election in 1800 killed the Federalists

Newspapers transformed political culture in the U.S.; they were widely read, highly

influential, & totally partisan

Commoners in the U.S. were highly literate

Whiskey RebellionThe whiskey tax led yeomen in

western Pennsylvania to start a Whiskey RebellionWhiskey Rebellion in 1794–When the governor of PA

refused to act, Federalists saw the revolt as a threat to safety

–Washington himself led the U.S. army to suppress the rebellion

–Both parties used the event to attack each other

Rioted with the same fervor as those against the Stamp Act

Hamilton interpreted the rebellion as a Jefferson-inspired

conspiracy

Jefferson saw it as an excuse by Federalists to

raise an army to intimidate Republicans

Whiskey Rebellion, 1794

President Washington is one of two presidents (Madison is the other) who participated in

combat while serving as president

His mere presence (and the 15,000 soldiers he brought with him) was

enough to end the Whiskey Rebellion

Washington's Farewell AddressWashington was not limited by the

Constitution to 2 terms, but in 1796 he announced his decision to retire

In his Farewell AddressFarewell Address his final advice was that the US should:– Be neutral– Remain united– Warned against “entangling alliances”

with foreign nations– Do not have political parties

Washington never acknowledged the faction in his cabinet, he tended to side with the Federalist perspective of gov’t

Washington’s decision to retire established the precedent of 2 terms in office for presidents

Discussion Question:George Washington is universally

agreed to be the most significant of America’s Founding Fathers…

But, who is the 2nd most important of these early political leaders:–James Madison?–Alexander Hamilton?–Thomas Jefferson?–Someone else?

Make an argument for each & then rank order them with a clear justification for your #1 choice

The Adams Presidency

The Election of 1796The political parties that quietly

emerged during Washington’s presidency played a pivotal role in the election of 1796

Former VP John Adams (Federalist)Thomas Jefferson

(Republican)

Adams won the presidency & the Federalists controlled the national gov’t from 1796-1800

The Adams Presidency Adams attempted to continue

with Washington’s policiesBut…his administration was

plagued with problems:–Jefferson, his campaign

opponent, was now his VP –Most of Adam’s cabinet took

their orders from Hamilton who had retired with Washington

–Tensions with France emerged

VP Jefferson & the Republicans constantly attacked Adams policies

Hamilton was the unquestioned leader of the Federalist Party, who undermined Adams by advising the cabinet to ignore the president

The XYZ Affair & Quasi-WarDuring Adams’ administration

relations with France declined:

–France interpreted Jay’s Treaty as an alliance with England

–France seized & impressed American merchant ships

–An American diplomatic mission to France failed when 3 French officials (X, Y, Z) demand bribes

French “impressment” of American sailors

The XYZ Affair & Quasi-WarThe XYZ Affair led to anti-French

sentiment in America & led to a “quasi-war” with France:

–The U.S. tripled its armed forces to prepare for a French invasion

–Adams created the Dept of NavyThe quasi-war increased the

dislike between the Federalists leaders Adams & Hamilton

“Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!”

Hamilton convinced Washington to pressure Adams to name him control of the army

Adams was forced to do so, but retaliated by failing to approve many key army appointments & decisions

The Alien and Sedition ActsFederalists used Alien & SeditionAlien & Sedition

Acts to silence Repub criticisms:–Alien Enemies Act—presidential

power to expel any foreigner–Naturalization Act—must be a

U.S. resident for 14 years to gain citizenship & vote

–Sedition Act—made criticism of the gov’t a criminal act

These acts were enforced by Federalist appointed judges

Kentucky & Virginia ResolutionsRepublicans saw Alien & Sedition

Acts as a dire threat to liberty:–Jefferson & Madison authored

the VirginiaVirginia && KentuckyKentucky ResolvesResolves suggesting that states could nullify federal laws that they saw as unconstitutional

–VA & KY Resolves weakened the Federalists & planted seeds of nullificationnullification that would be used to justify the Civil War

Adams’s Finest HourIn 1799, Adams sent a diplomatic

envoy back to France to address the XYZ “misunderstanding”:–Napoleon voided the 1778 treaty

that tied the U.S. to France–France ended its trade

restrictions in the West Indies–Adams dismantled Hamilton's

expensive & useless army The improved relations paved the

way for the Louisiana Purchase

Peaceful Resolution:The Election of 1800

The “Revolution of 1800”The Federalists were fatally

divided by 1800:–Hamilton tried to undermine

Adams’ reelection–Jefferson won election (despite

a tie with VP candidate Burr)1800 was a “revolutionary”

election because the presidency was peacefully transferred from one political party to another

In his inaugural address, Jefferson claimed: “We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists”“We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists”

To avoid another Jefferson-Burr tie, Congress passed the 12th Amendment which put

presidential & VP candidates on separate ballots