Transcript The New Republic

Government and
Party Politics
Chapter 2, Section 1
Building the Federal Gov.
• The one benefit that the new government had was extraordinary
leaders.
• George Washington was chosen to be the first president, and John
Adams would become his first vice president.
• As the first president, Washington established several
precedents, or actions that would be followed by later leaders.
These included:
•
•
•
•
Established the first Cabinet
Served two terms
Used the phrase ‘so help me God’ in his Inaugural Address
Appointed the first Supreme Court justices
Building the Federal Gov.
• As Speaker of the House, James Madison would pass through
Congress the Judiciary Act of 1789, which established a federal
system of courts and created the position of Attorney General.
• Illustrate the system below:
1 Supreme Court
3 circuit courts to hear
appeals
13 federal district
courts– one for each
state
Building the Federal Gov.
• Washington’s establishment of a Cabinet, or group of federal
leaders who headed major executive branch departments and
advised the president.
• Who were the members of the first Cabinet?
• Secretary of State= Thomas Jefferson
• Secretary of the Treasury= Alexander Hamilton
• Secretary of War= Henry Knox
• Attorney General= Edmund Randolph
Hamilton’s Plan Stirs Debate
• After the American Revolution, the United States was left with a
debt of $52 million to pay off.
• As Secretary of the Treasury, this job was tasked to pay off this
debt.
• Hamilton created a debt plan based around his Federalist ideals.
What were the four components of his plan?
• Pay off foreign debt and interest in full
• Federal government would assume state debts
• Impose whiskey tax and tariffs
• Create national bank and national currency
Hamilton’s Plan Stirs Debate
• While his plan would ultimately increase the nation’s debt,
Hamilton saw potential long-term benefits.
• It would establish financial credibility—other countries view the U.S.
favorably.
• Gain political support from wealthy Americans.
• Investors would benefit, which would then grow industries and
commerce in the United States.
Opposing Hamilton
• Southerners, who had paid off a large portion of their share of
the debt, did not support Hamilton’s Plan.
• Ultimately, Congress approved the first three parts of Hamilton’s
Plan. However, in order to have the state’s approval of the last
part, Hamilton had to come up with a compromise. What was it?
• In ten years’ time, the national capital would be moved to
between Maryland and Virginia.
• Rural Pennsylvania farmers were unhappy with the excise whiskey
tax, a main revenue source. They attacked those sent to collect
the taxes.
• This event became known as the Whiskey Rebellion. Washington
and Hamilton saw this as an opportunity to demonstrate the
enforcement power of the federal government.
• Hamilton and 12,000 militiamen were sent to suppress the rebellion—
which had since dissipated.
A Two-Party System Emerges
• The American public was divided over the Whiskey Rebellion. Two
groups emerged on opposite sides of the political spectrum—the
Federalists and the Democratic Republicans. Though the writers of
the Constitution had warned against the formation of political
parties, differences could soon not be ignored.
A Two-Party System Emerges
Federalists
1) Key Leaders:
-
Alexander Hamilton
- John Adams
(pro-British)
2) Type of Gov:
- Strong, central
Democratic-Republicans
- Thomas Jefferson
- James Madison
(pro-French)
- States’ rights
government
3) Economy:
- Based on industry and
- Based on farming
trade
4) Interpretation
of Constitution:
- Loose interpretation=
broad interpretation of
the Constitution.
- Strict interpretation=
Constitution should be read
as is, no interpretation.