U.S. History - UNITS 1- 6

1. “BUILDING BLOCKS”

Beginnings to 1789

We become a country

2. “RULES TO LIVE BY” 1787 – 1789 Constitution

3. “BABY STEPS” 1789 – 1841 First 9 Presidents

4. “GROWING PAINS” 1790s - 1850s Lots of issues

5. “HOUSE DIVIDED” 1840s - 1860s Civil War & Reconstruction

6. “LAND OF OPPORTUNITY”

1860s - 1914

And that’s it, time for High School!

UNIT 3

“baby steps”

Chapters 4-61789-1841

The First Nine Presidents

Chapter 4

First Steps1789-1800

As the nation’s first president, George Washington establishes the U.S. government’s

authority in domestic as well as foreign affairs. Political divisions and strife with France will rock John Adams presidency.

Chapter 4 Focus Question:

How did Americans respond to internal and external challenges?

Chapter 4, Section 1

Launching a New Nation p. 156-163

George Washington oversaw the creation of new federal departments and asked

Alexander Hamilton to tackle the nation’s debt problem.

QUESTION FOR DISCUSSION:

Is it important to keep your promises? Why or why not?

The First President • Washington unanimously

elected 1st President– No one ran against him.

• Inauguration takes place in New York City– ceremony of the oath of

office of the Presidency

• Sets 1st precedent by adding the phrase, “so help me God.” to the oath– an example to be followed

by others in the future– He picked a good team….. Washington’s Inauguration,

April 30, 1789 New York City

Washington was president for two terms:

April 30, 1789 -March 4, 1797

Washington’s 1st Cabinet

• Secretary of State: Thomas Jefferson– Foreign relations

• Secretary of the Treasury: Alexander Hamilton– Finance

• Secretary of War: Henry Knox– Defense

• Attorney General: Edmund Randolph– Legal advisor *Show video (p. 157)

Hamilton,Washington, Knox, Jefferson, Randolph

Washington’s “Dream Team”

Judiciary Act of 1789*• Establishes the Supreme Court

(with 6 Justices)

• Also establishes lower court system:– 3 Circuit Courts of Appeals– 13 District Courts

• 1st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court: John Jay - Appointed by Washington

* The Supreme Court will declare this act (law) to be unconstitutional in 1803– Marbury vs. Madison– They said one branch can’t grant

powers to another branchJohn Jay

1st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

The Nation’s First Economic Crisis

• Most of the national debt was in the form of bonds– a certificate for an amount of

money the government promised to pay back with interest

• Many bonds were sold to speculators for much less then they were worth.– people who invest in a risky

venture in order to make a profit

• How bad was the crisis?– Government was so poor that

Washington had to borrow $3000 to pay for his move to New York.p. 158

Hamilton’s Financial Plan (3 parts)

1. “Assumption” - U.S. Government assumes (will pay) all federal & state debts

2. Charter a national bank3. Impose a high tariff

(taxes) on imported goodsHow did people like it?

– Northern states favored (liked) the plan.

– Southern states HATED the plan (and Hamilton)

– Why? Alexander Hamilton: Washington’sSecretary of the Treasury

The Debt, the Bank, and the TariffsDetails of Hamilton’s 3-part plan:

1. “Assumption” = prove to the world that the new nation could pay off its debts - Convince others to invest in the U.S.

2. Bank = Safe place to deposit government $$$ And allow the bank to print a national currency

- Jefferson believed in a “strict” interpretation of the Constitution (No mention of a bank.)

- Hamilton believed in a “loose” interpretation of the Constitution - Article 1, Section 8: “necessary and proper” clause

3. Tariff = Impose a tax on all imported goods– Raise money for the federal treasury and protect

U.S. manufacturers from European competitionHamilton & Jefferson needed to make a deal…..

Jefferson = “strict”

Hamilton = “loose”

How did the capital end up in D.C.?• Our first capital was in

New York (1789), then Philadelphia (1790-1800)

• The South agrees to repay war debts if a new capital would be built in the South: Virginia/MD– It was a swampy land.

• Washington never lives in Washington.– Adams is the first

President to live in the “Presidential Mansion”.

The Whiskey Rebellion• 1791 - Congress passes new

tax on distilled spirits– Hamilton hopes to generate new

federal revenues (income)– To pay off war debt

• Western Pennsylvania farmers refuse to pay tax– “No taxation without

representation!” *

• 1794 – Tax collectors sent to Western Pennsylvania– Protestors march through

Pittsburgh– There’s talk of using guillotine,

secession, independence…– Sound familiar? 1791 -Tax collector is tarred and feathered

Whiskey tax was part of Hamilton’s plan to raise funds for the U.S. treasury.

Whiskey Rebellion (cont’d)

• Washington orders 13,000 soldiers to march into Pennsylvania– Militia raised from Virginia,

Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland

• Rebellion fizzles out– Washington later pardons the

leaders of the rebellion• Armed rebellion is not

acceptable in this new republic.– We got to vote for our reps

• Demonstrates the strength of the new Federal Government

Washington reviews troops in Maryland before they leave for Pennsylvania

Insurrections:

Shay’s vs. Whiskey• Similarities:1. Both were about taxes2. Both involved angry

farmers3. Both were veterans of the

Revolution4. “No taxation without

representation!”5. Both attacked local

governments

• Differences:1. Shay’s were losing their farms2. Whiskey tax collector was

tortured3. Whiskey tax not collected for

3 years4. Whiskey farmers HAD

representation5. Pennsylvania was backed by a

strong Federal Government.