Transcript Document
Chapter 9 LAUNCHING A NEW REPUBLIC 1789-1800 Washington’s New Government Under the new Constitution, the first presidential election was held in 1789. George Washington won the election, and traveled to New York City, the nation’s capital, to be inaugurated, or formally sworn in, as president. April 30,1789 at the Federal Hall John Adams of Massachusetts, became Washington’s vicepresident. Congressional Decisions Cabinet Member Responsibilities Alexander Hamilton Managed the nation’s money Thomas Jefferson Oversaw foreign relations Henry Knox Secretary of war Edmund Randolph Attorney General • Federal Judiciary Act of 1789- gave the Supreme Court six members: a chief justice, or judge and five associate justices. Overtime that number has grown to nine. • John Jay- First chief Justice • No one knew if a government based on the will of the people could really work. • The writers of the constitution had left many matters to be decided by Congress. For example, the Constitution created a Supreme Court but left it to Congress to decide on details. The Nation’s Finances War Debts During the Revolution, the United States had borrowed millions of dollars from France, Spain, and the Netherlands. By 1789 the national debt-foreign and domestic-totaled more than $52 million. Hamilton’s Proposal 1. Paying off all war debts 2. Raising government revenues 3. Create a national bank Hamilton vs. Jefferson Tariffs- which are taxes on imported goods. Tariffs serve two purposes: raising money for the government and encouraging the growth of national business. Alexander Hamilton Called for a national bank “loose interpretation” & “Elastic Clause” Good relations with Britain and against the French Revolution Strong Central Government Thomas Jefferson Against National bank Strict construction of the constitution. Favored the French Revolution States Rights Political Parties Federalists Democratic- Republicans Leaders: Hamilton, Adams Leaders: Jefferson, Madison Supporters: Lawyers, merchants, manufactures, clergy Supporters: Farmers, Urban workers Beliefs: • Strong national government • Loose construction of the Constitution • Favored national bank • Economy based on trade Beliefs: • Limited national government • Strict construction of the Constitution • Opposed national bank • Agricultural Economy Federalist can be considered more supportive of business than the DemocraticRepublicans because they supported manufactures as apposed to DemocraticRepublicans who pictured America to be a rural nation of farmers. Federalist supported a National Bank. National Banks= Loans= Creates Business Manufactures = NEW PRODUCTS = $$$ Challenges to the New Government Northwest Territory In 1783 the Treaty of Paris had tried to resolve the claims to this area. However, Spain, Britain, the United States and Native Americans all had claimed parts of this area. Strong Resistance was from Native Americans Washington sent troops to the Northwest territory to defend American interest In 1790 and 1791 United States armies were defeated by Native Americans Battle of Fallen Timbers • On August 20, 1794 Anthony (“Mad Anthony”) Wayne and his men defeated the Native Americans in what is now Toledo, Ohio. • Treaty of Greenville in 1795 Challenges of the First U.S Government Trouble in the Backcountry In spite of the Battle of Fallen Timbers, Washington felt he had to put another army into the field. Hamilton pushed through Congress a taxed to be levied specially on the manufacture of whiskey Whiskey Rebellion In the summer of 1794, a group of farmers in western Pennsylvania staged the Whiskey Rebellion against the tax. One armed group attacked and burned the home of regional tax collector. Washington kept order by sending any army of 13,000 soldiers into western Pennsylvania to put down the uprising. Federal troops rounded up a group of about 20 accused leaders. Problems Abroad In 1789 a financial crisis led the French people to rebel against their government. Americans at first supported the French Revolution. In 1792 it became extremely violent and the King and Queen were executed by 1793. France and Britain at War Jefferson felt that a move to crush the French Revolution was an attack on liberty everywhere. But Hamilton argued that Britain was the United States’ primary trading partner, and British trade was too vital to risk war. April 1793 Washington declared that the United States would remain neutral. Britain made it hard by seizing ships Jays Treaty – Britain would pay damages of for U.S vessels. Pinckney’s Treaty- favorable terms with Spain John Adams Administration Problems with France When Washington left office in 1797, relations between French and the United States were tense. With Britain and France still at war, the French began seizing and harassing U.S. ships. Within in the year France had looted more than 300 U.S. Ships. XYZ Affair John Adams blamed many problems on new immigrants whom were sympathetic to the Democratic- Republicans. Alien and Sedition Acts Problems and Solutions Problems Solutions Need for executive aid and advice Cabinet appointments Government source of income Taxation, National Bank Disputes with foreign nations Remain Neutral Jay’s Treaty Pinckney’s Treaty