chapter 10 launching the new ship of...

Chapter 10

Launching the New Ship of State, 1789–1800

Intro-Existing Issues Upon Ratification

• Central authority not to be trusted, but necessary. No practice at making government.

• Public debt-worthless paper money circulating

• Precarious national security

• Erecting a republic on an immense scale

• What was to be the nature of government?

I. Growing Pains• Rapid population growth-1790 census=4 million

• Urban growth-Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Charleston, and Baltimore ranged from 13,000 to 42,000.

• All but 5% lived east of Appalachians.

• West not very stable. Spain controlled mouth of the Mississippi. Spanish and British agents encouraged Western independence.

II. Washington for President• Washington elected unanimously-the only one

in history.

• Had not pursued the office.

• Balanced rather than brilliant

• New York City the temporary capital>first inauguration on April 30, 1789.

• Established a cabinet-Secretary of State-Thomas Jefferson; Treasury- Alexander Hamilton; War-Henry Knox

III. The Bill of Rights• The promise to add after ratification

• What is the amendment process?

• 12 amendments drafted by James Madison and guided through Congress.

• Adopted by necessary states in 1791-Bill of Rights.

• Safeguards of basic freedoms

• 9th Amendment to NOT limit rights to just those expressed

• 10th Amendment to reserve power to the states

• Judiciary Act of 1789-organized Supreme Court with a chief justice and five associates. Created office of Attorney General. Created federal district courts and circuit courts. John Jay first Chief Justice.

Table 10-1 p182

IV. Hamilton Revives the Corpse of Public Credit

• Hamilton-Secretary of the Treasury; brilliant but meddling-feud with Jefferson. Advocated strong central government. Cater to wealthy for political and monetary support-prosperity would ”trickle down” to the masses.

• Urged Congress to fund the national debt at “par” (face value) with interest and assume all debt incurred by the states (assumption). This would chain the states to the federal government. Bonds sold to fund the debt which led to speculation.

continued

• States with large debt (like Mass.) favored the policy; states with small amount (like Virginia) did not-led to horse trading. Virginia wanted District of Columbia on the Potomac River in return for support-carried through in 1790

V. Customs Duties and Excise Taxes

• Hamilton believed the national debt was positive-it created national unity.

• Where was the revenue to come from to pay for it? Tariffs- 8% initially raised revenue and created a protective wall around infant industries.

• Excise tax-for example, whiskey. Why whiskey? Where? Who did that affect?

Figure 10-1 p184

VI. Hamilton Battles Jefferson for a Bank

• Hamilton proposes a bank of the United States-a private institution in which the U.S. would be the major stockholder. Why a U.S. bank?

• Jefferson’s opposition? No specific authorization in the Constitution.

• Literal v. strict interpretation

• The argument?

• Hamilton prevails but with regional division.

• Bank chartered (1791) for 20 years.

VII. Mutinous Moonshiners in Pennsylvania

• Whiskey Rebellion-Where? Why? How? Washington’s response? Outcome?

• Washington called state militias>raised an army of 13,000>rebels dispersed>two convicted were pardoned>3 rebels killed>government strengthened

VIII. The Emergence of Political Parties

• Some felt the actions of Hamilton and the Whiskey Rebellion had encroached on state’s rights>led to an organized opposition.

• Faction v. party

• Constitution and political parties?

• Opposition organized by Jefferson and Madison. Initially confined to Congress>opposition evolved into political parties.

• What is a political party?

• Table 10.2 p. 186

Table 10-2 p186

IX. The Impact of the French Revolution

• Foreign policy issues bring differences between the two political camps to a fever pitch.

• Nature of the French Revolution-Was it an extension of the American Revolution? Global consequences? Mobocracy or democracy? Jefferson was jubilant-conservative Federalists were wary. (p188-189 article).

• Reign of Terror increased the political division in America.

• Britain drawn in>duel for control of the Atlantic would impact America. (Table 6.2 p. 103)

X. Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation

• The Franco-American alliance was still in place. Would America honor the alliance? Jeffersonian Republicans said yes-Hamilton believed war should be avoided. What about Washington?

• Neutrality Proclamation in 1793-Jefferson’s camp enraged-especially that Congress was not consulted. The Federalists supported it.

• Debate intensified; role of Citizen Edmond Genet seeks privateers and recruitment of armies>expelled by Washington.

• Self-interest is the basis of alliance?

Map 10-1 p191

XI. Embroilments with Britain• British posts on Northern frontier of U.S. soil. British

selling firearms and whiskey to natives of Miami Confederation.

• Chief Little Turtle says Ohio River Northwest boundary of U.S.

• Little Turtle and Miami Confederation defeat American army, killing hundreds (1790-1791)

• 1794, General Mad Anthony Wayne routes Miamis at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. Miamis abandoned by British. Results in Treaty of Greenville 1795. Miamis gave up much in Old Northwest-most of Indiana and Ohio. Miamis paid lump sum of $20,000 and $9,000 annually. U.S. acknowledged sovereignty and ceded hunting on the lands they ceded.

continued• British attempt to starve out the West Indies.

Anticipated U.S. would aid France per treaty>seized 300 U.S. merchant ships and impressed American sailors into service>hundreds thrown into dungeons.

• Americans incensed. Jeffersonians called for action. Federalists resisted>further division between the two camps.

XII. Jay’s Treaty and Washington’s Farewell

• To avert war, Washington sent John Jay to Britain in 1794. Jeffersonians not happy about the choice. Further alarmed when Jay kissed the hand of the Queen.

• Jay negotiated- Hamilton sabotaged by giving the British information about U.S. bargaining strategy.

• Jay won few concessions. What were they?

• Consequences of Jay’s treaty

• Pinckney’s Treaty (with Spain) Why was Spain eager to make a deal? What was the deal?

Washington’s Farewell• Washington’s retirement. Why retire?

• Content of the Farewell Address?

• Washington’s contributions as president?

XIII. John Adams Becomes President

• Vote in the Electoral College

• Personal traits of Adams

XIV. Unofficial Fighting with France

• France’s response to Jay’s Treaty?

• U.S. envoy to Paris-the XYZ Affair

• American’s response to the XYZ Affair?

• Creation of the Navy Department; U.S. Marine Corps

• Conflict with France

XV. Adams Puts Patriotism Above Party

• France in no position to fight a war with U.S.-Talleyrand response.

• Adams gains popular support but does not use it politically-submitted a new name for minister of France which enraged Hamilton and the hawks.

• Convention of 1800-provisions of the agreement reached with Napoleon?

• Does Adams deserve credit for his handling of the France crisis?

XVI. The Federalist Witch Hunt

• Adams and the Federalists use public fervor to promote laws to “muffle” their foes.

• Alien Laws-

• Sedition Act-

• What did they result in?

• Were the laws constitutional?

XVII. The Virginia (Madison) and Kentucky (Jefferson) Resolutions

• The Jeffersonian response

• Jefferson-Kentucky Resolution

• Madison-Virginia Resolution

• Compact theory

• Nullification

• Later application of the resolutions

XVIII. Federalists Versus Democratic-Republicans

• The two factions become more organized in preparation for the election of 1800>political parties.

• The Federalists

• The Democratic-Republicans

• Table 10.3 p. 198

• Where were the parties on the issues?

Table 10-3 p198

chapter 10 launching the new ship of...

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