Transcript Federalist Era/First 5 Presidents

The Constitution Tested
1789 - 18
The First President
On April 30, 1789, George
Washington was inaugurated
as the first president of the
United States.
"As the first of every
thing, in our situation will
serve to establish a
Precedent,”
George WashingtonLetter to James Madison
Washington’s Domestic Policy
Task: What problems do you think George Washington faced being the
first president of the United States?
1) Needed to help form a strong, stable government.
2) Needed to raise money for the government.
3) Watch his every move – he would be setting precedents.
Precedent: an example for others to follow.
Accomplishments –
•Bill of Rights – added to protect people’s individual liberties.
•Judiciary Act of 1789 – established federal courts in each state. It also defined the courts’
powers.
•Cabinet – Washington chose advisors to assist him –
Thomas Jefferson
Secretary of State
Alexander Hamilton
Secretary of the
Treasury
Henry Knox
Secretary of War
Edmund Randolph
Attorney General
Our Nation’s Economy
Financial Problems –
1) U.S. was in serious debt.
2) No money to pay back the debt
I have an idea!
It’s a 4 part plan!
REPAY THE DEBT
Repay the debt of
the states and
national
government. This
would establish
good credit.
CREATE A
NATIONAL BANK
PROTECTIVE
TARIFF
Would provide a
safe place to
deposit money,
could issue a
national currency,
and issue loans.
Urged Congress to
pass a protective
tariff to help
American
industries.
WHISKEY TAX
Proposed a tax on
whiskey to help
raise money for the
national
government.
What is a tariff? Tax on imported goods.
Hamilton versus Jefferson – Round 2
Alexander
Hamilton
Thomas
Jefferson
Federalist
AntiFederalist
•Believed in a strong central government
•Believed more power should be given to
the states.
•Supported by merchants, lawyers doctors
•Supported by farmers, plantation owners
•Supported ratification of the Constitution
•Refused to ratify Constitution until of Bill
of Rights was added.
•Believed the Constitution could be loosely
interpreted (loose construction).
•Believed the Constitution should be adhered
to word-for-word. No interpretation (strict
construction).
THOMAS JEFFERSON HATED HAMILTON’S FINANCIAL PLAN!
Hamilton versus Jefferson – Round 2
The differences between Alexander
Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson lead to
the creation of the first political parties.
The
Federalists
The DemocraticRepublicans
Task: Did the Constitution call for the
creation of political parties? Explain.
Political Parties considered part of our
“unwritten constitution”
They are groups of people that share
similar beliefs.
 They help elect members to office that
represent their views.
 They raise money to get members of
their party elected.
The French Revolution
1789 – The French Revolution – “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”
•Commoners in France rebel against King Louis XVI and his
oppressive taxation.
•They try to write a new Constitution
“ All the old spirit of 1776 is rekindling.”
- Thomas Jefferson
Task: How do Americans view the Revolution in France at first?
Americans are happy others are following in their footsteps.
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Reign of Terror –
•Revolutionaries execute thousands, including Louis and his wife.
•Britain declares war on France. Yes, again!
Task: Do you think the American’s view of the French Revolution
changed as a result of the Reign of Terror? Explain.
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Americans questioned the French idea of liberty. Beheading did
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not represent Enlightened ideals of “life, liberty, and the pursuit
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of happiness.”
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Washington’s Foreign Policy
Alexander Hamilton
Thomas Jefferson
Support BRITAIN!
Democracy and freedom
does not give the French
the right to murder!
Support FRANCE!
They are revolting
against an oppressor
just like we did 14 years
ago! They favor
democracy!
Proclamation of Neutrality – 1793
“Whereas it appears that a state of war exists between…Great Britain, on the one part, and
France on the other; and the duty and interest of the United States require, that they should
with sincerity and good faith adopt and pursue a conduct friendly and impartial [to not take
sides] towards the [warring] powers;
I…therefore…warn the citizens of the United States to avoid all acts and proceedings
whatsoever….
And I do hereby make known, that any citizen of the United States shall be…liable to
punishment…by committing, aiding, or abetting hostilities against any Powers, or by
carrying to any of them those articles which are deemed [prohibited] by the nations….
Task: What is Washington’s position?
Washington wanted to stay neutral. We should not choose any side. If anyone is caught
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helping out either side, they will be punished.
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The Whiskey Rebellion
• In 1791, an excise tax was levied on whiskey.
Scotch-Irish settlers in western Pennsylvania
were angered because whiskey was an
important economic commodity for them. They
resented the tax as discriminatory and bad for
their liberty and economic welfare. There were
many public protests, and rioting broke out in
1794 against the central government's efforts to
enforce the law.
– What are President Washington’s options under the
US Constitution?
– What decision do you think the president made?
– What would have happened if this event had occurred
under the Articles of Confederation
Washington’s Farewell Address
“The great rule of conduct is for us in regard to foreign nations is
in extending our [trade] relations, to have with them as little
political connection as possible. So far we have already formed
alliances, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us
stop…
Our detached and distant situation invites and enables us to
pursue a different course…
Why [give up] the advantages of so peculiar a situation?...Why be
interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle
our peace and prosperity with the toils of European ambition,
[competition], interest or [behavior without reason]?
It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any
portion of the foreign world; so far, I mean, as we are not at liberty
to do it…”
Task: What was the main message of Washington’s Farewell Address?
AVOID PERMANENT ALLIANCES – STAY NEUTRAL!!!!!
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Task: What should we do to the alliances we already have?
We should honor them.
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Task: What enables us to follow the policy suggested by Washington?
We are isolated from other countries. We have oceans to the left and right and no
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neighbors to start trouble with. Therefore, we can afford to be neutral.
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President John Adams
President Washington refused to run for a third term.
He set a precedent.
It wasn’t broken until Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1940.
President John Adams – 1796 – 1800 (Federalist)
•
Fear of the French caused America to take precautions at
home.
Alien & Sedition Acts –
Alien: Foreign
Sedition: Actions or words that promote rebellion.
1) ALIEN ENEMIES ACT
•
Authorized the president to imprison or expel any
foreigners he deemed dangerous to the safety of the U.S.
2) SEDITION ACT
•
Anyone who wrote, said, or printed anything bad about the
government could be fined and jailed.
•
That included members of the Republican party.
The John Marshall Court & Election of Thomas Jefferson
Chief Justice John Marshall –
•Marbury vs. Madison
•Established the power of judicial review
•Gave the Supreme Court the power to declare a law
unconstitutional
•McCulloch vs. Maryland
•If a federal and a state law conflict, the federal law is
supreme.
HIS COURT DECISIONS STRENGTHENED
THE POWER OF THE SUPREME COURT!
President Thomas Jefferson – 1801 – 1805 (Republican)
•Party power shifts to the Republicans.
•Believed in more power to the states.
•Believed constitution should be read STRICTLY (word-for-word)
Task: If it wasn’t written in the Constitution, could it be done?
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No, not according to Jefferson’s strict construction
•Continued Washington’s policy of neutrality.
Louisiana Purchase
•French leader Napoleon presented President
Jefferson with the opportunity to buy Louisiana
Territory for $15 million (4 cents an acre)
Bonjour!
Remember Me?
•The Constitution never said anything about a president being
able to buy land.
Task: In Jefferson’s mind, could he do it? Explain
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No, he believed in strict construction of the Constitution.
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•
If Jefferson bought the
territory, he could
1) DOUBLE THE SIZE
OF THE UNITED
STATES.
2) gain control over the
Mississippi River
- trade route
- transportation
- food
- power
Louisiana Purchase
PROBLEM: Jefferson believes in strict construction.
Jefferson can’t buy it according to the Constitution!
Or Can He???
According to the Constitution, a president can make a treaty.
Jefferson negotiates a treaty with Napoleon and purchases the land.
SUCCESS!
The size of the United States DOUBLES!
The U.S. now controls the Mississippi River!
Lewis & Clark Expeditions –
•Lewis and Clark were sent by Jefferson to map the
territory and determine its resources.
•Took detailed notes on:
•temperature
•terrain
William
Clark
•animals & plants
•natural resources
•Natives
Meriwether
Lewis
War of 1812
Task: Guess who’s still at war?
If you said Britain and France, you’re right!
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•The British were seizing American ships that were
headed to France.
•American sailors were captured and forced to fight for the
British.
•U.S. believed in FREEDOM OF THE SEAS.
Embargo Act –
•Passed
by Congress
to punish
U.S. Exports
– 1800
– 1820Britain.
Task: How did the Embargo Act affect U.S.
trade?
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War of 1812
NEWSFLASH - U.S. Declares War on Britain
War ends in a draw.
White House burned
by the British
America wanted
continue its policy of
neutrality
OUTCOMES OF
THE WAR OF
1812
Rebuilding the White House,
1814
Native Americans lose
British as an ally in the
West
War hero emerges –
Andrew Jackson
“Star Spangled Banner”
written by
Francis Scott Key
The Star Spangled Banner
The Star Spangled Banner
Francis Scott Key
O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
O thus be it ever when free-men shall stand
Between their lov'd home and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust!”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Monroe Doctrine
Monroe Doctrine –
•Europe cannot colonize anymore in the Western Hemisphere
•U.S. will not get involved in European affairs.
•U.S. didn’t have the power to enforce it, so Britain did.
Western Hemisphere
Task: Draw a line
explaining how the Monroe
Doctrine affected U.S.
foreign policy.
Task: How does the
Monroe Doctrine fit with
Washington’s Farewell
Address?
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Eastern Hemisphere