Transcript Launching the new nation

Ch 6
 With the ratification of the
constitution it was
understood that George
Washington would be the
nation’s first executive.
 In April of 1789, Washington
was elected unanimously
(John Adams was VP).
 He was reluctant about
taking the job, but
nevertheless set out for New
York (first capital).
 Thomas Jefferson – Secretary of State
 Alexander Hamilton – Secretary of Treasury
 Henry Knox – Secretary of War
Hamilton’s views
Jefferson’s views
 Strong central govt.
 State and local govt. share
 Educated upper class
would lead
 Fear of mob rule
 Loose interpretation of
constitution
 Economy based on Trade
and industry
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power with fed. Govt.
Democracy of ordinary
people
Fear of absolute power
Strict interpretation of
constitution
Economy based on farming
 The biggest challenge
that the new nation and
administration faced was
financial ones.
 Hamilton proposed the
following financial plan
Pay off foreign debt
2. Assume the debt of the
states
3. Creation of a federal
bank (Bank of the U.S.)
1.
 Some thought creating a bank would start a trend
of govt. favoritism of wealthy business interests
 Southerners especially disliked the plan because
1. most southern states had paid off most of their
debt
2. It seemed to favor the north and rich merchants
 In order to gain southern
support Hamilton
proposed moving the
capital from New York to
Virginia
 In 1790 the Debt bill
passed and the capital
was moved to the
District of Columbia
 A French Engineer Pierre
L’Enfant designed the
new capital city
 Because of the sharp differences of T. Jefferson and A.
Hamilton and Hamilton’s Financial Plan the first two
political parties developed
 Supporters of Hamilton called themselves Federalists
 Supporters of Jefferson called themselves DemocratRepublicans
 In 1789 Congress passed a protective tariff designed to raise
revenue.
 With the tariff a excise tax was also placed on Whiskey
 (a tax on a products manufacture, sale, or distribution)
 This made back country famers extremely mad b/c that was
there main source of revenue
 Some refused to pay the tax, some beat up federal marshals,
threatened to leave the union and burned collectors barns.
 George Washington personally led thousands of militia to put
down the rebellion
 *** Importance – Federal government showed its strength and
willingness to act on domestic issues.
 Another major issue facing the young country was the
violent natives west of the Appalachian Mountains
 Encouraged by the British and feeling hostile because
the U.S. wouldn’t negotiate with them to keep tribal
lands Natives attacked Settlers in the Ohio valley
Hostile Native actions
 Little Turtle- a chief of the Miami tribe defeated federal armies
led by numerous generals
 Battle of Fallen Timbers – appointed by Washington to lead
troops against the Miami tribe, General Anthony Wayne
defeated the Miami Confederacy in 1794.
 1795 Spain gave up all claims east of
the Mississippi to the U.S. (except
Florida)
 Spain also agreed to open up travel
on the Mississippi River to U.S.
Citizens.
 Jay’s Treaty – 1794 John Jay chief
justice of the Supreme Court signed
a treaty with Great Britain
 Britain agreed to evacuate posts
in the Northwest territories, if
the British were allowed to
continue trading fur south of the
U.S. Canada border
 Since Washington was the first President, he
established a lot of the precedents for how a President
exercises the powers stated and not stated in the
Constitution
 Established The Cabinet or advisors (presidential
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helpers, which was not listed in the Constitution)
Established the policy of neutrality in foreign wars
(followed by the U.S. until WW I)
Serve only 2 terms or eight years as president
Established the tradition of a Presidential Farewell
address.
Introduced ideas of a national bank.
 In 1797, Washington retired and
gave up the presidency.
 In His Farewell address he
warned Americans of entangling
alliance with European nations
and the danger of political
parties dividing the country.
 Certain kings and other rulers
around the world commented
that Washington must be a great
man to willingly give up that
much power.
 He finally was able to remove
himself from public affairs and
live a quiet life back at Mt.
Vernon.
Washington’s death
 December 14, 1799 Washington died after catching a
cold, while riding throughout his property.
 The U.S.’s Founding Father death was felt throughout
the nation and the world as Napoleon ordered ten days
of mourning in France.
 In 1796 John Adams narrowly
defeated the Democratic –
Republican candidate
Thomas Jefferson.
 Following the directives
written in the constitution
Jefferson became the VP.
 Adam’s first major crisis as President came in the form of conflict with
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France.
Relations with France had gotten bad after Jay’s treaty, when French
officials started seizing U.S. ships and refusing American diplomats.
President Adams sent a 3 man team to discuss these issues with French
foreign minister Talleyrand.
Three low level officials ,whom Adams referred to as officials as X,Y,
and Z, tried to demand payment of 250,000 to see Talleyrand.
Americans and President Adams were furious and anti-French feelings
were High.
Although official war between France and the U.S. was never declared
the two countries fought naval battles on the seas
• Alien Acts
 Raised residence requirements for becoming a citizen
from 5 to 14 years
 Allowed the President to put any alien (foreigner) out
of the country or in jail if they wanted
 Sedition Act – set fines and jail terms for anyone
making negative statements towards the government
 *** These acts were passed by Federalists because of
the Anti- French feelings and many immigrants were
active in the Democratic – Republican party.
 In opposition to the Alien and Sedition Acts James
Madison wrote up a set of proposals which became the
Virginia Proposal
 T. Jefferson wrote resolutions that were passed in
Kentucky
 The Kentucky resolution also asserted the principle of
nullification, which said that states had the right to
nullify or void any act of Congress that it considered
unconstitutional.
 Once again Thomas Jefferson (Dem
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- Rep) and John Adams (Fed) were
competing for the Presidency
The Democrat –Republicans
Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr
defeated Adams, but wound up with
the same number of electoral
college votes.
The House of Rep. then had to
decide which would be president.
Alex Hamilton was influential in
Jefferson gaining the Presidency.
The election showed a flaw in the
electing process and led to the 12th
Amendment
Hard feelings between Burr and
Hamilton led to dual in which
Hamilton was killed.
Characteristics of Jefferson and His Presidency
 He believed in simple government
 He tried to reduce the royalty of the office of
President, (He walked to his inauguration as a
symbolic gesture)
 He believed that the people were the source of a govt.’s
power, so he paid closer attention to the common man
 He proposed a laissez faire policy by the govt.
 Jefferson was extremely well educated and his
collection of books became the library of Congress
 In 1803 the U.S. purchased
the Louisiana Territory from
France for 15 million dollars
 Why did Napoleon sell that
much territory?
 He had abandoned hopes of
an American empire b/c of
problems controlling Saint
Dominique
 Wanted to focus on Europe
 He thought a stronger U.S.A.
would rival Britain’s power
Exploring the new territory
 Jefferson was eager to learn about the newly acquired
territory Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William
Clark to explore the new territory
 He set the following objectives for them;
 find sources of Mississippi,
 find route across Rocky Mountains to Pacific Ocean
 Observe customs of the natives they met
 Note the features of the land, weather, plants and
animals.
 Sacajawea – A native lady who served as an interpreter
and guide for Lewis and Clark
Lewis, Clark, and Sacajawea
 John Adams wanted to fill
federal judge positions with
Federalists who held
positions for life and
therefore could shape
national policy for a long
time.
 So just before he left office he
had the Judiciary act of 1801
passed, which increase the
number of federal judges by
16.
 These judges were called
Midnight Judges.
 Marbury vs. Madison-
Monumental supreme court
case that established the
principle of judicial review
 *Judicial Review- The power
by the Judicial Branch or
Supreme Court to decide
whether laws passed by
Congress were Constitutional
 James Madison was president of
the U.S. during the War of 1812.
 He listed these 3 causes for the
war
 Impressments – British officials
were seizing Americans and
forcing them to serve in the
British Navy.
 Chesapeake incident – British
warship tried to stop the
American ship, (Chesapeake)
when the ship refused the
British fired on the ship killing
3 and wounding 18 Americans.
 British officials were
encouraging natives to attack
settlers and U.S. Army posts.
The Course of the War
 After President Madison declared war, the British
captured Detroit and defeated an American army
invading Canada.
 In 1813 the Americans started winning some victories
and retook Detroit.
 There were three significant battles in the war.
 Battle of Washington B/c of the British dominance at
sea (Navy) they raided towns
and cities along the ATL. Coast
 In 1814 British entered the
capital and burned the White
House, capital and other govt.
buildings
 Baltimore
 A few weeks after the battle of
Washington, the British failed to
take the city of Baltimore.
 Francis Scott Key wrote the Star
Spangled Banner during this
battle
 New Orleans
 After the war was over Jan. 1815
Andy Jackson won a great
victory over British forces
 He also defeated the Creek
in the famous battle of
Horseshoe Bend (AL)
 December 24, 1814 Great
Britain and the U.S. signed an
armistice – agreement to stop
fighting.
 No territory changed hand
nor were any of the issues
that caused the war
addressed or solved
 Both sides were eager for
peace.
 Opener – Quote
 "There are two levers for moving men, interest and
fear"
 Napoleon Bonaparte
 In class Schedule
 Homework
 What southern state is the only state with laws not
based on British Law?
 In class Schedule
 Homework
 Opener:
 If you could change any law in the U.S. which law would
you change? Why?
 In class Schedule
 Homework
 Opener – quote
 "All it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to do
nothing"
 Bruce Edwards
 In class Schedule
 Homework
 Opener-Trivia
 What president’s portrait is on a two dollar bill?
 In class Schedule
 Homework