Transcript Launching the New Government

Launching the New
Government
Chapter 9
US Capitol Building
circa 1800
New Republic
Washington’s Presidency
US Capitol Building
circa 1800
Election of 1788
Washington was unanimously elected
Washington was inaugurated in New
York City on April 30, 1789.
He left his home, Mount Vernon, and
traveled to New York. There were
many parades and cannon salutes.
Soon after taking office
Washington fell very ill. A
tumor was discovered in his
leg. The surgery to remove it
threatened his life.
Jefferson feared that his death
would sink the government.
But Washington recovered
and within a month he was
back on the job.
While serving as vice president I
described my job as: “The most
insignificant office that ever the
invention of man contrived.”
Washington was known for wearing dentures, but it is a myth that
they were made out of wood. They were actually made of animal
teeth, human teeth and vegetable ivory.
John Adams was the Vice President.
Washington and Adams did not really get along.
Washington rarely consulted with Adams. For the most
part they ignored one another.
Washington as President
As the first President, Washington
was setting an example for future
generations. He would set
precedents
1. Calling the President Mr. President
Congress debated many possible titles for the President:
- His Highness, the President of the United States and the Protector of the
Rights and Liberties of the Same
- His Highness, President of the United States and Protector of their
Liberties
- His Highness
- His High Mightiness
Just call me Mr.
President.
2. Washington set up a Presidential Cabinet
There is nothing in the Constitution about setting up a
Cabinet. However, it was clear that the President needed
people to help him carry out his duties.
Washington’s Cabinet
Department of State
Secretary of State –
deals with foreign affairs
Thomas Jefferson
Hillary Clinton
Department of the Treasury
Secretary of the Treasury –
deals with finance issues
Alexander Hamilton
Timothy
Geithner
Department of War
(Department of Defense)
Secretary of War –
(Secretary of Defense)
In charge of military affairs
Leon Panetta
Henry Knox
Department of Justice
Attorney General handles legal affairs
Edmund Randolph
Eric Holder
3. Inaugural address
Washington’s second inaugural address was the shortest ever
(135 words)
Barack Obama
George W. Bush
Warren G.
Harding
William Henry
Harrison gave the
longest inaugural
address
4. Serving two terms
Washington decided not to run for a third term. He was fatigued
and believed in rotation of the office.
Every President thereafter stepped down after two terms until
1940.
22nd Amendment – sets the term
limit to two years.
Judiciary Act
1789
The Constitution called for a Supreme Court. All other federal courts
were to be set up by Congress.
Judiciary Act 1789
1. one Chief Justice and five Associate Justices
Today there is one Chief Justice
and eight Associate Justices
John Jay
John Roberts
2. Set up a system of district courts and appellate (circuit) courts
across the nation.
Supreme
Court
Appellate
Courts
District Courts
National Debt
Alexander Hamilton as the Secretary of the Treasury
had to deal with the problem of the large national debt.
Why was the United States in debt?
- American Revolution –
the U.S. had borrowed money
from foreign countries and
ordinary citizens (bonds)
Bond
a certificate that promises to repay the
money loaned, plus interest, on a certain
date.
U.S. Debt 1789
81,497,000
** repaying debts was
essential to building the
trust of investors in the
future
U.S. Debt 2012
Hamilton’s Plan
1.
Repay both federal and state debts
- buy up all the bonds
(issued by both the national and
state governments before 1789)
- issue new bonds to pay off the old
debts
James Madison led the
opposition to Hamilton’s plan.
He felt it rewarded speculators.
Hamilton’s Compromise
Madison would support Hamilton’s plan if
Hamilton would support the building of the
nation’s capital in the south.
Washington D.C. (District of Columbia)
- It is not part of any state, it is a district
-
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River between Virginia and Maryland.
Washington D.C. has one non-voting representative in the House
of Representatives but no representation in the Senate. They pay
both federal and state taxes
The 23rd Amendment was passed in 1961 giving the residents of
Washington D.C. the ability to vote for the President. They have 3
electoral votes.
Hamilton’s plan cont.
2. Hamilton also wanted to issue a
high tariff on foreign goods
brought into the country.
A tariff is meant
to protect local
industry from
foreign
competition
Reactions to the Tariff
Viewpoints
North
-There were more factories
-People supported a high
tariff
South
-Most people were
farmers and there were
few factories so many
items were imported
-People did not support a
tariff
Bank of the United States
- Created by Congress in 1791
(Hamilton’s idea)
- Money from taxes were deposited there
- Issued paper money to pay the government’s bills and
to make loans to farmers and businesses
- Congress used the Necessary and Proper Clause
in the Constitution to justify issuing a National
Bank
Whiskey Rebellion
• 1791 Congress passed a tax on whiskey made and sold
in the United States
• Farmers in the backcountry resented the tax
• In 1794 in Pennsylvania when tax collectors tried to
collect the tax the farmers revolted. They tarred and
feathered the tax collectors while singing Revolutionary
songs.
Washington responded by calling up the militia and
dispatched them to Pennsylvania. He led them
himself.
When the rebels heard that the troops were
marching against them they fled back to their farms.
Washington
pardoned most
of the rebels.
Significance of Whiskey Rebellion:
- the New Republic could promote the general
welfare
- the new government was fair
- the Constitution was working
French Revolution
1789 - 1799
Why were the French rebelling against their king, Louis
XVI?
Marie Antoinette
The storming of the
Bastille,
King Louis
XVIJuly 14, 1789
French Revolution
1789 - 1799
Why were the French rebelling against their king, Louis
XVI?
• Peasants and middle class paid heavy taxes, while nobles paid none.
• They wanted a constitution to limit the king’s power and protect basic
rights
Americans’ Reactions to the French Revolution
- At first most supported the French
1. They viewed it as the same struggle that they
had gone through with the British
2. Marquis
de Lafayette
was one of
leaders
Reign of Terror
(Sep. 1793 – July 1794)
The French killed close to 40,000 nobles
during this time including the king and queen
At this time many Americans no
longer supported the French
Revolution
For the French Revolution
- Thomas Jefferson
He felt the French had the right to
use violence to win freedom
Against the French Revolution
“[one could no
- Alexander Hamilton, John
more create
democracy through
Adams
widespread
violence] than a
They felt that you could
not
snowball can exist
in the streets of
create a democracyPhiladelphia
through
under
a burning sun.”
widespread violence
The French Revolution led to widespread war
in Europe that lasted more than 20 years.
European rulers wanted to prevent
revolutionary ideas from spreading to their
lands.
This meant that
Americans had to
decide on what their
foreign policy would be
with Europe during this
time.
During the American
Revolution America and
France signed the Treaty
of Alliance
Now France wanted to use American ports
to supply its ships and launch attacks on
British ships.
Battle of Saratoga
Washington and his cabinet agreed that the United
States should stay neutral
1. the U.S. was too young
2. the U.S. military was too weak
3. the U.S. was in debt
Neutrality Proclamation
April 1793
• the United States would not support
either side in the war
• it forbade Americans from aiding
either Britain or France
Struggling to Remain Neutral
American merchants wanted to take
advantage of the war in Europe by trading with
both Britain and France.
The British captured more than 250
American ships that were trading
with French merchants.
Americans wanted to go to war with
Britain.
Washington knew that the United
States was too weak to go to war
with Britain.
Chief Justice John Jay was sent to Britain to
negotiate a treaty.
Jay’s Treaty
1. Britain would pay damages for the
seized American ships.
2. Americans had to pay debts owed to
British merchants from the American
Revolution
3. Britain agreed to give up forts they still
held in the West (Ohio River Valley)
The treaty was approved by the Senate in
1795.
The treaty did nothing to protect the rights of
neutral American ships in the future. Britain
continued to capture American ships.
Washington's Farewell Address
In Washington’s Farewell Address he gave advice to the
nation for the future.
• Warned against
permanent foreign
alliance
• Warned against
forming political
parties
• Stressed the
importance of religion
and morality
• Warned against an
over-powerful military
Political Parties Form
Jefferson
Hamilton
• Born in the West Indies in poverty but he worked his
• Tall (6 ft. 2 in) and lanky
way up in society
• Grew up on a wealthy Virginia plantation but spoke
• Dressed in fine clothes and spoke forcefully
and dressed informally
• Energetic, brilliant
• Quiet and humble
• Enjoyed political debate
Democratic/Republicans
• Believed people (common / farmers) should have
political power
• Favored strong state governments – and more
liberties for the people
• Emphasized agriculture
• Favored strict interpretation of Constitution
• Were pro-French
Opposed national bank
• Opposed protective tariff
Federalists
• Believed wealthy and well educated should lead
nation
• Favored strong central government – at the expense
of the liberty of the people
• emphasized manufacturing, shipping and trade
• Favored loose interpretation of Constitution
• Were pro-British
• Favored national bank
• Favored protective tariff
Winner! Federalist
President
John Adams
Election of 1796
DemocraticRepublican
Vice President
Thomas
Pinckney
According to the Constitution (Article II
section 1 clause 3) the person with the
most electoral votes became President
and the candidate with the second
highest total was made Vice President.
John Adams won the office as President
and Thomas Jefferson came in second
and became Vice President.
They were from different political
parties.
Thomas Jefferson
Aaron Burr
John Adams
• First President to live in the White House – they
moved into the house in 1800. At that time it was
called the Executive Mansion.
• named his horse after the Egyptian queen,
Cleopatra.
• His nickname was “His Rotundity” because of
his weight.
• He was one of two Presidents to sign the
Declaration of Independence.
• Adams died on July 4, 1826, the 50th
anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of
Independence.
• His last words were “Jefferson lives!”
Conflict with
France
France objected to Jay’s Treaty
because it favored Britain.
In 1797, French ships began to seize
American ships in the West Indies.
Americans now called for war against
France.
President Adams knew that the United States was too weak
to go to war with France.
Adams sent diplomats to Paris in 1798 to discuss
the rights of neutral nations.
The XYZ Affair
The French foreign minister, Charles
Maurice de Talleyrand, sent three agents to
offer the Americans a deal.
Charles Maurice
de Talleyrand
Talleyrand demanded $250,000 for himself
and a $10 million loan to France before he
would begin talks.
The Americans refused to pay. “Not a sixpence!”.
Adams sent the documents to
Congress but changed the
names of the French agents to
X,Y and Z.
Americans were outraged when they heard about the XYZ
Affair.
“Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!”
Adams refused to ask Congress to
declare war on France, but he could
not ignore French attacks on
American ships.
He decided to strengthened the navy
by building frigates.
Quasi-War – relations between
France and America remained
strained from 1789 – 1800.
Federalist Party Splits
Federalists
want war
with
France!!
President Adams
Alexander Hamilton
Federalists favored war with France.
1. They hoped it would
weaken the
DemocraticRepublicans who
supported France
Federalist Party Splits
President Adams
Alexander Hamilton
2. They hoped war
would force the nation to
build its military forces. This
would lead to a stronger
federal government.
President Adams disagreed with the
Federalists
Federalists
want war
with
France!!
I am a Federalist
but I know what is
best for the
country. We can’t
go to war we are
too weak!!
President Adams
Alexander Hamilton
When Adams refused to declare
war on France the Federalists
party split.
Those who favored
Hamilton and war with
France
Those who favored
Adams and peace
Talks with France Resume
In 1800 President Adams sent
more diplomats to France to once
again discuss the relationship
between the countries.
This time Napoleon Bonaparte was in
charge of France.
Napoleon had no time to fight a war with
the United states. He signed an agreement
to stop seizing American ships.
Alien and Sedition Acts
Passed by Federalists in Congress
Alien Act
1. the President could expel any
alien thought to be dangerous to
the country
2. An immigrant had to wait 14
years until they could apply to be
a citizen (used to be 5 years)
Why?
• many immigrants supported
Jefferson and the Republicans
and the act would keep these
immigrants from voting for years
Sedition Act
1. citizens could be fined or
jailed if they criticized the
government or its officials.
Republicans Objected
They said that it violated the
First Amendment of the
Constitution which said citizens
had freedom of speech.
Vice President Jefferson was a Republican
and therefore opposed the Federalist
Congress passing the Alien and Sedition
Acts.
Thomas Jefferson
The Congress and the courts were controlled
by Federalists. Therefore, Jefferson urged
states to take action.
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
Kentucky Resolution
Virginia Resolution
•November 1798
•December 1798
•Written by Thomas Jefferson
•Written by James Madison
•Stated that a state “has an equal
right to judge for itself” whether a
law is constitutional.
•Stated that a state had the
right to nullify a law passed by
the federal government within
their state if they thought it
was unconstitutional.
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
The resolutions raised the issue of states’ rights.
Article VI – National Supremacy
- Everyone agreed National law was supreme but
did the federal government have the right to pass
these laws?
10th Amendment – Powers Reserved to the States
- Did states possess the power to declare a federal
law unconstitutional?
Election of 1800
Federalist
Democratic-Republicans
John
Adams
Thomas
Pinckney
Republicans won the popular
vote.
Jefferson and Burr both received
73 electoral votes. Each elector
had cast one vote for Jefferson
and one for Burr.
Thomas
Jefferson
Aaron Burr
Election of 1800
Article II section 1 clause 3 - if no candidate wins the
electoral vote then the House of Representatives
decides the election.
The House of Representatives were mostly Federalists.
Over 4 days the House voted 35 times and
had no winner.
Alexander Hamilton turned his support to
Jefferson because he thought he was
better than Burr.
On the 36th ballot the tie was finally broken and Jefferson was named
President and Burr Vice President.
12th Amendment
•Proposed by Congress on December 9, 1803
•Ratified by state legislatures on June 15, 1804
•Replaced Article II, Section 1, Clause 3 of the Constitution – stating that each
member of the electoral college would cast two votes for the President, with the
person receiving a majority of the electoral votes becoming President and the
runner up becoming Vice President.
The Twelfth Amendment stated
that electors would vote
separately for President and
Vice President.
Thomas Jefferson
• One of two Presidents who
signed the Declaration of
Independence.
• Jefferson died on July 4, 1826,
the 50th anniversary of the signing
of the Declaration of Independence
• Inventor of the dumbwaiter and
the swivel chair.
• sold almost 6,500 books of his to
the Library of Congress (to replace
books that were burned by the
British)
• Believed to have fathered
children with one of his slaves –
Sally Hemings
Burr-Hamilton
Duel
Alexander Hamilton printed an article that criticized
Vice President Aaron Burr’s character.
Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel on July 11, 1804.
Duels were sometimes legal in the 1800s
Burr shot Hamilton and hit him in
the abdomen above his right hip.
Hamilton died the following day.
With the death of the Federalist’s
Party leader, Hamilton, the
Federalist Party slowly declined.