U.S. History
Ch. 10

“The Federalist Era”

Shaping the New Government

n    After ratification, members of government were chosen

n    The electoral college unanimously selected George Washington to serve as the first President & John Adams became the Vice President

¨  Washington was reluctant to become the leader.  He did not feel adequate.  However, he proved to be a great leader and he established the model that the President still follows today

n    U.S. faced many problems.  It was weak, had a small army, no navy, & millions of dollars in debt

Branches of Government

n     Constitution created a framework of government, now the members had to create a working government

n     Legislative Branch – first met in New York City in March 1789.

¨   First thing that they did was created the Bill of Rights (first 10 amendments to the Const.)

n     Executive Branch – 1789 Congress created the executive departments of State, War, Treasury, and Attorney General.  This was called the Presidential Cabinet.

¨   Sec. of State – Thomas Jefferson

¨   Sec. of War – Henry Knox

¨   Sec. of Treasury – Alexander Hamilton

¨   Attorney General – Edmund Randolph

n     Judicial Branch – Const. only created the Supreme Court.  Congress created other courts with the Judiciary Act of 1789.  Supreme Court would have 1 Chief Justice and 5 Associate Justices

¨   John Jay was appointed as the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

National Debt

n     In 1790’s U.S. had a huge national debt from the Revolution

n     Sec. Hamilton had a plan where the national government would pay off national and state debts

n     Southerners (Madison & Jefferson) didn’t like this b/c it made the states dependent on the national government

n     Hamilton made a compromise with them.  They agreed to his economic plan, but it was agreed that the new national capital city would be located in the South.

¨   It would be located along the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia

¨   It would be its own area known as the District of Columbia.  This way no one state claimed it inside its borders.

Bank of the U.S. & Rebellion

n    Hamilton’s plan also called for a national bank.

¨  Some didn’t like this b/c the Constitution didn’t create a bank.

n    The bank and economic plan were approved by Congress in 1791

n    Plan created an excise tax (taxed goods made in the U.S.) and tariff (taxed imported goods) to make money

n    Excise tax on Whiskey led to a rebellion in Pennsylvania in 1794 b/c they felt this was an unfair tax.

¨  Known as the Whiskey Rebellion.  It tested the young U.S. Govn’t.

¨  Pres. Washington responded angrily and put down the rebellion with force by sending in the militia.

Challenges from other Nations

n     British

¨   The Northwest Territory still had British troops in the area          

¨   Native American leaders attacked American settlers moving into the area

n   American troops were sent in, but were easily defeated

n   In Aug. 1794 another American army defeated the Native Americans at the Battle of Fallen Timbers

n     Spanish

¨   Spanish controlled Louisiana (land west of the MS River) and the port of New Orleans.  Many times they refused to cooperate with America over boundaries and use of the river.

n     Pirates

¨   Most pirates came from the Barbary Coast of North Africa

¨   They attacked American ships b/c America had no navy

¨   America had to pay a Tribute, or protection money to local rulers.

French Revolution & Neutrality

n    French Revolution began in 1789.  Monarchy was overthrown and a Republic was established

n    European nations like Great Britain went to war with the new French Govn’t b/c they feared that the idea of Revolution would spread

n    France asked for U.S. help b/c of the Treaty of Alliance of 1778.

n    Pres. Washington wanted the U.S. to stay neutral, b/c they weren’t strong enough for a war

n    April 1793, Pres. Washington issued a Proclamation of Neutrality.

¨  U.S. recognized the new French Govn’t, but would not help either side.

Challenges to Neutrality

n     British & French navy began stopping and seizing U.S. merchant (trading) ships.

n     The British also impressed, or kidnapped, American sailors and put them in the British Navy

n     A peace commission was sent to London, led by John Jay

n     The Jay Treaty was signed in 1794

¨   The treaty basically didn’t fix anything

¨   Americans didn’t like the treaty b/c it didn’t say anything about the seizing of American ships

n     The treaty did show the Spanish that the U.S. & Great Britain would work together.

¨   This led to Pinckney’s Treaty signed between U.S. & Spain.  It said:

n   U.S. southern border would be 31 degrees.

n   Spain granted use by the U.S. of the port of New Orleans

Washington’s Farewell

n   After two terms, Pres. Washington decided to step down as U.S. President

n   He created an Executive Branch that was much stronger than anyone ever dreamed

n   He set a precedent by stepping down after two terms.

n   In his farewell speech he warned against the creation of political parties and the division between the northern and southern states.

Political Parties Form

n    Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson disagreed so often and had such different political views, that Political Parties formed around these two men.

n    Hamilton led the Federalists

n    Jefferson & James Madison led the Democratic-Republicans

n    These were the first two political parties in the U.S.

n    A Political Party is a group of people with similar ideas and beliefs about government

n    Constitution doesn’t mention political parties

Different Viewpoints

n     Hamilton wanted a strong central govn’t

n     Jefferson wanted a weak one

n     Pres. Washington refused to pick a side, but his beliefs were Federalist

n     Federalist Views

¨   Represented mainly the wealthy & received support from the big cities of the northeast

¨   Supported strong national govn’t

¨   Wanted a loose construction of the Constitution, meaning that they could interpret the Constitution to allow them to do more.

n     Democratic-Republican Views

¨   Favored the lower classes (small farmers)  Believed people should govern themselves.

¨   Saw cities as an evil, but believed the small farmers were our strength

¨   Wanted to limit national govn’t and strengthen state govn’t

¨   Believed in a strict interpretation of the Constitution

Election of 1796

n     Political Parties dominated the election

n     First time that parties nominated candidates for President & Vice President

n     Federalists nominated John Adams for President and Thomas Pinckney for Vice President

n     Democratic-Republicans nominated Thomas Jefferson for President and Aaron Burr for Vice President

n     Candidates were chosen by their party at a Caucus, or private meeting

n     When the Electoral Votes were counted, John Adams had 71 votes and Thomas Jefferson had 68.

n     Adams became President and Jefferson became Vice President

¨   The two were from different political parties and did not agree on anything.

Adams’ Presidency

n    Adams had a tough presidency b/c of the division between the two parties

n    His largest problem was keeping neutrality with France

n    French ships continually attacked American ships and the French tried to influence the American Presidential election in 1796 to give Jefferson the victory

n    Adams wanted to avoid war and sent three men to negotiate peace

n    French Foreign Minister, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, sent three delegates to meet them.

XYZ Affair and War with France

n     The French delegates offered a peace treaty only if the U.S. paid Talleyrand a bribe of $250,000 and a loan of $10 million

n     This became known as the XYZ Affair (the French delegates were known as X, Y, & Z).

n     U.S. Congress strengthened the U.S. army and navy and the U.S. waged an undeclared naval war with France

n     Adams debated asking for a declaration of war to defend U.S. honor.  He decided to wait

n     Talleyrand called for another meeting with the U.S.  New French leader Napoleon Bonaparte was at war with Great Britain and wanted the U.S. as an ally

n     At the Convention of 1800, France and the U.S. agreed to peace

Alien & Sedition Acts

n     When Adams made peace w/ France, many Federalists were angry.  They wanted war.

n     Adams lost the support of his party.

n     In 1798 Federalists passed four laws to stop the growth of the Democratic-Republicans

¨   Naturalization Act – increased time required to become a citizen from 5 to 14 years (new citizens were Democratic-Republicans)

¨   Alien Act – gave the President right to imprison or deport dangerous foreigners (silenced French refugees that supported the Federalists)

¨   Alien Enemies Act – allowed U.S. to deport any alien that was a citizen of a nation at war with the U.S.

¨   Sedition Act – made it a crime to speak or write critically about the President or U.S. government

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

n    Madison & Jefferson saw the Alien & Sedition Acts as a direct attack on the Bill of Rights

n    They wrote two statements that were approved by Kentucky and Virginia.

n    These Resolutions said that each state could choose if laws were unconstitutional and choose to obey them or not.

n    This was called states’ rights

n    Federalists believed that the Supreme Court decided whether a law was constitutional or not

Federalists Lose Power

n   The Alien & Sedition Acts made the Federalists look tyrannical to the people

n   Hamilton and others wouldn’t support Adams for reelection in 1800

n   Thomas Jefferson ran for Pres. for the Democratic-Republicans.  Aaron Burr ran for Vice President.

Election of 1800

n    Federalists John Adams & Charles Pinckney received 65 & 64 votes

n    Jefferson and Burr received 73 votes each

n    Burr wouldn’t back down.  Vote went to the House of Reps.

n    Alexander Hamilton realized that Burr would be worse for the U.S. than Jefferson, so he used his influence to win Jefferson the election

n    Jefferson became Pres. & Burr Vice Pres.

n    The tie led to the 12^th amendment were electors would specify on the ballot who they wanted for Pres. & Vice Pres.

Federalist Legacy

n    Federalist lost power after election of 1800

n    They had successfully created a working government and put the U.S. in good financial shape

n    On Adams last night in office he appointed many federal judges (hold lifetime terms) to office.  These were called Midnight Judges.  The most important was Chief Justice John Marshall

n    Also, they created the new capital named after Pres. Washington who died in 1799.

¨  It was designed by Pierre Charles L’Enfant

¨  Congress first met here in 1800 & John and Abigail Adams were the first family to live in the White House