Transcript Continuing conflict in the New

Continuing conflict in the New
Nation
The Gentry’s struggle to define the
Republic and contain democracy
In 1789 George Washington became
the first president of the United States.
• Electors from the 11 states
that had passed the
Constitution met in January
1789 to vote.
– They formed a group called
the electoral college– a
body of electors appointed
by State leaders to select
the president (check on
“democracy”).
• Washington unanimous
choice.
Congress and the president
organized the executive and
judicial branches of government.
•
The new government would set
precedents, or examples, for
future action.
•
Congress created executive
departments. Cabinet
•
Congress passed the Judiciary
Act of 1789 to set up the
federal court system.
•
The act created three levels of
federal courts and defined
powers
Hamilton’s economic plan, p 239
Thomas Jefferson opposed Hamilton’s views on government
and the economy.
Hamilton’s Views
• Believed in a strong central
government, rule by an elite
and limitations on
“democracy”
• Wanted to promote
manufacturing and business
and higher tariffs on foreign
goods to protect American
manufacturers
• loose construction of the
Constitution—the government
can take actions the
Constitution does not forbid.
• The Bank of the United
States— the country’s first
national bank—was chartered
in 1791.
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Jefferson’s Views
Wanted to protect the states
power; supported right of “the
people” to rule the country
Supported agriculture and
farmers and lower tariffs to
keep costs low for goods
farmers bought
Constitution did not give
Congress the power to create
the bank
strict construction view of the
Constitution— the
government should do only
what the Constitution says it
can do
The United States tried to remain
neutral regarding events in Europe.
• The French Revolution against
the French king broke out in
1789.
• France and Great Britain later
went to war.
• Some Americans supported
the French.
• President Washington and
others wanted to remain
neutral.
• United States issued
Neutrality Proclamation, in
1793, saying it would not take
sides.
Jay’s Treaty, 1794
• The British were seizing
American ships in the French
West Indies.
• settled disputes between the
two countries in the 1790s,
but unpopular due to
Concessions.
Pinckney’s Treaty, 1795.
• Resolved dispute w/ Spain,
southern U.S. border was set
at 31° N latitude.
• The port of New Orleans
reopened.
In his Farewell Address,
Washington advised the nation.
• Warned the nation to work out its political differences, remain
one strong Union
• Suggested promotion of education to create informed citizens
• Warned against too much public debt
• Warned against dangers of foreign ties
John Adams’s Presidency
The Big Idea
The development of political parties in the United States
contributed to differing ideas about the role
of the federal government.
Main Ideas
• The rise of political parties created competition in the
election of 1796.
• The XYZ affair caused problems for President John Adams.
• Controversy broke out over the Alien and Sedition Acts.
Controversy broke out over
the Alien and Sedition Acts.
Alien and Sedition Acts
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
• Four laws were passed by the
Federalist-controlled Congress to
crush the Democratic-Republican
opposition to war in 1798.
• Jefferson and Madison wrote
resolutions passed by the
Kentucky and Virginia legislatures.
• The Sedition Act forbade anyone
from publishing or voicing
criticism of the federal
government.
• Interposition and nullification
• Jefferson and Madison viewed
the acts as a misuse of
government power.
• The documents argued that the
Alien and Sedition Acts were
unconstitutional.
• They supported the idea that
states could challenge the federal
government.
Jefferson Becomes President
The Big Idea
Thomas Jefferson’s election began a new
era in American government.
Main Ideas
• The election of 1800 marked the first peaceful transition in
power from one political party to another.
• President Jefferson’s beliefs about the federal government
were reflected in his policies.
• Marbury v. Madison increased the power of the judicial
branch of government. Other rulings expanded power of
federal government.
Parties and Beliefs
Adams and the Federalists
• Rule by the wealthy class
• Strong federal government
• Emphasis on manufacturing
• Loose interpretation of the
Constitution
• British alliance
Jefferson and the
Democratic-Republicans
• Rule by the people
• Strong state governments
• Emphasis on agriculture
• Strict interpretation of the
Constitution
• French alliance
Importance of Judicial Review
• Chief Justice John Marshall wrote Court’s opinion in
Marbury v. Madison.
• Ruling established judicial review—Court’s power
to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional.
• This ruling made judicial branch equal to other two
branches of government.
• McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) asserted implied
powers of Congress in allowing for creation of
national bank.
Violations of U.S. neutrality led Congress
to enact a ban on trade.
• Overseas trade was profitable but risky.
• British and French tried to stop the United States
from aiding the other while they were at war in
1803.
• British stopped American merchant ships to search
for British sailors who had run away from British
navy. (Impressment = force captured sailors to
serve in B. Navy)
United States’ Response to Impressment
Embargo Act
Non-Intercourse Act
• Embargo Act passed in
1807, banning trade with
all foreign countries to
punish Britain and France
• Congress replaced
unpopular Embargo Act with
Non-Intercourse Act in
1809.
• Devastated American
merchants, who lost much
money without trade
• Banned trade only with
Britain, France, and their
colonies
• Damaged Jefferson and
strengthened Federalists
• U.S. trade would resume
with first side to stop
violating American neutrality
• Had little effect on Britain
and France
• Law was no more successful
than Embargo Act
1811-1812, War Hawks led a growing call for
war with Great Britain.
War Hawks
• Evidence of British support for Tecumseh inflamed Americans.
• Some young members of Congress from the South and West,
called War Hawks, demanded war against Britain.
• They were angered by British trade restrictions and wanted to
invade Canada for more land to settle.
The Opposition
• New England Federalists opposed war.
• British trade restrictions hurt New England’s economy.
• Others argued that the United States was not ready to fight.
The effects of the war included
prosperity and national pride.
Hartford
Convention
Treaty of Ghent
Consequences
• Group of New England Federalists agreed at the
Hartford Convention to oppose war, but the war
ended before the delegates met with Congress.
• War’s end made party lose power.
• Treaty of Ghent ended the War of 1812.
• Each nation returned conquered territory.
• Feelings of patriotism among Americans
• Power of many Native American groups broken
• Lack of goods during blockade boosted
American manufacturing.
Growing nationalism led to improvements in the
nation’s transportation systems, 1815-1825
• Nationalism: Devotion to and development of one’s nation. Nation: a
historically developed community of people with a territory, economic life,
distinctive culture, and language in common.
• Henry Clay proposed the American System: a series of measures to make
America economically self-sufficient.
– National bank to provide a single currency, and improved roads and
canals funded by a protective tariff
– Some in Congress felt such improvements were not permitted by the
Constitution.
– Clay argued that possible gains for the country justified federal action.
– Congress agreed with Clay.
The Era of Good Feelings, 1815-1825
• National unity strengthened by two Supreme Court
decisions that reinforced federal power.
• Supreme Court used its implied power of Judicial Review
to strengthen the Federal Government’s power.
• McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) asserted implied powers of
Congress in allowing for creation of national bank.
• Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) said states could not interfere
with power of Congress to regulate interstate trade.