Chapter 10: Launching the New Ship of State

Why Bill of Rights?

All thirteen states had to ratify the Constitution

Nine states needed to “reset” the country, canceling out the Articles of Confederation

Conservative document that prevented the “mob” from controlling government

Was a surprise to the public

Anti-Federalists vs. Federalists

Anti-Federalists

States’ rights Backcountry

dwellers Small farmers Debtors S. Adams, P.

Henry, Richard Henry Lee

Federalists Strong federal

gov. Seaboard

dwellers Wealthy and

better educated Controlled the

press (The Federalist Papers)

G. Washington, B. Franklin, Madison, Hamilton, Jay

Election of 1789 Electors cast two

votes for President Each elector

selected Washington w/ at least one

NC and RI hadn’t ratified the Constitution

NY had problems deciding how electors would be chosen

Executive Branch (1789-1796)

Jo h n A da m sV ice -P res ide n t

T h om as Je ffe rsonS e cre ta ry o f S ta te

A lexan de r H am iltonS e cre ta ry o f th e T re a su ry

H e nry K n oxS e cre ta ry o f W ar

G e org e W a sh ing tonP res ide n t

• Cabinet not outlined in the Constitution – a “Washington Invention”

• John Jay named 1st Chief Justice of the five member Supreme Court

Congress at work…

James Madison sought to protect the Constitution and win over “the anti-Feds”

What he develops becomes known as the Bill of Rights (he is the “father of”)

One of the first acts done by the new Federal Government

Judiciary Act (1789) organizes the Supreme Court

Alexander Hamilton

Not a “natural” citizen (born in the Caribbean)

Federalist / aide to Wash in AR

Arch rival: Jefferson “Father of the National

Debt” Assumption fight and

compromise Debt was a “national

blessing” Bank of the United States

National Debt structure

Debt owed to Foreigners$11,710,000Federal Debt$42,414,000State Debt

$21,500,000

Miscellaneous Revenue

Customs Duties (tariffs)

Excise Revenue (Whiskey, etc.)

Whiskey Rebellion (1794)

PA farmers not happy with tariff Launch an “insurrection” Washington personally leads militia

into PA to restore order (direct opposite of Shay’s Rebellion)

Represents peaceful dialogue over violence in order to change policy

What caused parties to form?

Arguments over the French Revolution and American Foreign Policy

Political Rivalries

Democrat-Republicans

States rights (local)

Strict construction view

Agriculture based Rule of the people Backed France Support in S and

W Jefferson and

Madison key supporters

Federalists Federal rights Loose construction

view Industrial based Avoid “mob” rule /

elites Backed England Support in NE J. Adams and

Hamilton key supporters

Washington’s Farewell Address

Beware of entangling alliances…

…because they will get us involved in other

people’s wars.

Rating the Presidents

More notable American rather than President

Extremely popular at the time

Sets the bar for what a Pres. does

Foreign policy of neutrality

Prevents a “backslide” of revolutionary ideals

Election of 1796

President and V.P. come from different parties for 1st time

MD split the vote between the two

Other candidates vote count not depicted

President John Adams

Jay’s Treaty with England angers D-R and France.

Adams not well liked and comes to power in a very close, bitter election

Stuck between neo-Federalists led by Hamilton (not pro-British enough) and Jefferson’s D-R (anti-British)

France reacts by seizing American vessels at sea (300 by 1797)

Quasi-War w/ France (1798-1800)

John Marshall is sent to France to negotiate w/ Talleyrand

X Y Z

Quasi-War brought to you by the letters X, Y, and Z

They ask for a $250,000 bribe just to talk to Talleyrand

Marshall refuses and returns to America

“Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute”

Adams avoids war by appealing to new French ruler Napoleon

Convention of 1800 = “divorce” w/ Fr.

Alien and Sedition Acts

Federalists during war fervor pass laws to silence the opposition (D-R)

Alien Act Naturalization from 5 to 14 yrs President can jail or deport in time of

war Sedition Act

Impeding policies of the government = jail

Attacking officials in press = jail and fine

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

Reaction to the Alien and Sedition Acts

Jefferson writes for Kentucky Madison writes for Virginia Develops the idea of “nullification”

The States have the right to ignore laws that the Federal Government “oversteps it’s authority on”

Constitutional issues were later a right the Supreme Court “adopts” in 1803.

John Adams

Extremely disliked at the time / abrasive personality

Doesn’t get caught up in war fever and does what was best for the country

Splits his party and loses in close election to Jefferson

Election of 1800 first peaceful transfer of power