launching the new ship of state 1789 - 1800. america population – doubling every 25 years 90%...
TRANSCRIPT
Launching the New Ship of State
1789 - 1800
AmericaPopulation – doubling every 25 years 90% rural 5% of people lived west of the Appalachian
Mountains
1791 – Vermont became 14th state
President Washington1789 - Unanimously drafted as president by the Electoral College
April 30, 1789 – took oath of office in New York City (the temporary capital) Established cabinet Sec. of State – T. Jefferson Sec. Of Treasury – A. Hamilton Sec. Of War – Henry Knox
The Bill of RightsAmendments – proposed in 2 ways New constitutional convention requested by
2/3 of the states 2/3 vote of both houses of Congress
James Madison – drafted the bill of rights Guided them through Congress
1791 – adopted
Freedoms ReligionSpeechPressBear armsTrial by juryAssembly
Petition of the gov’t for redress of grievancesProhibits cruel & unusual punishmentArbitrary gov’t seizure of private property
9th & 10th Amendment9th Amendment Specifying certain rights “shall not be constructed
to deny or disparage others retained by the people”
10th Amendment Reserved all rights not explicitly delegated or
prohibited by the federal Constitution “to the States respectively, or to the people.”
Preserved strong central gov’t while specifying protections for minority & individual liberties
Hamilton’s Economic Plan Pay off national debt - $54 million War bonds had depreciated & speculators had
bought most of the bonds
Assumption of state’s debts - $21.5 million Some states with smaller debts did not approve
Compromise Virginia would have the federal district
on the Potomac – Washington, D.C.
Bargain carried out in 1790
Hamilton's Plan conti.
Debt to be paid by custom duties (tariffs) which made trade with England important Increased duties opposed by agriculture &
the commercial classes Excise tax passed on whiskey
Bank of the United States Constitutional? Strict construction v.
loose construction
Hamilton Battles JeffersonSupported bank Constitution did not forbid it permittedCongress may pass any laws “necessary & proper” to carry out the powers vested in the various gov’t agencies (Implied powers)
Opposed bankWhat constitution did not permit it forbadeAll powers not specifically granted to the central gov’t were reserved for the states (Reserved powers)
Interpretation of Constitution
Loose construction Hamilton Elastic clause- “all
powers necessary & proper”
Strict construction Jefferson Literal
interpretation
National Bank1791 – established in Philadelphia Chartered for 20 years
Capital - $10 million1/5 owned by federal gov’t Stock sold to public
The Whiskey RebellionPennsylvania – 1794 “Whiskey Boys” regarded it not as a tax on a frivolous luxury but as a burden on an economic necessity & a medium of exchangeTarred & feathered tax collectorsWashington summoned the militia of several statesRebellion was put down Proved gov’t could put down
rebellions
The Emergence of Political Parties
1792 – 1st political parties Federalists – Hamiltonians Democratic-Republicans –
Jeffersonians
Proved to be among the indispensable ingredients of a sound democracy “loyal opposition”
Democratic- Federalists v. Republicans
Led by A. HamiltonRule by the “best people”Strong central gov’tGov’t support for businessPro-BritishLaw & order
Led by T. JeffersonSympathy for common peopleWeak central gov’tGov’t support for agricultureUniversal educationPro-French
The Impact of the French Revolution
1789 - Originally supported by Americans French were fighting for liberty/ a republic
By 1792 – Americans viewed war as a bloodbathProblem: Franco-American Alliance – 1778 Bound US to help French
defend their West Indies against future foes
British were beginning to attack islands
Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation
Neutrality Proclamation of 1793 Warned American citizens to be
impartial towards both sidesCitizen Genet controversy
Came to Charleston & tried to convince citizens to support the French
Eventually deported
In 1778 both France & America stood to gain, in 1793 only France
SupportHamilton supported England 75% of all custom
duties came from British imports
Jefferson supported the French British occupation
of forts in the west & their impressment of US seamen
Embroilments with Britain British ignored Peace Treaty of 1783 Reluctant to abandon fur trade Also hoped to build up an Indian buffer state
to contain American expansion Battle of Fallen Timbers 1794 Treaty of Greenville 1795 – Indians ceded their
claims to Ohio country
Jay’s Treaty1794 - President Washington sent John Jay to London to avert war
Hamilton supplied British with the details of America’s bargaining strategy
Agreement British agree to evacuate (AGAIN) forts in the Northwest British consented to pay damages for the recent
seizures of American ships Did not agree to cease further acts of impressment or
seizure of American ships
US agreed to pay debts still owed to British merchants
Pinckney’s Treaty &Washington’s Farewell
1795 – Spain granted free navigation of the Mississippi River & yielded large area north of Florida that had been disputed Map p. 175
1796 – Washington’s Farewell Address Warned against dangers of
permanent foreign alliances Isolationist
John Adams Becomes President
1796 – Presidential election focused on the terms of the Jay Treaty & the Whiskey RebellionJohn Adams – President Federalists
Thomas Jefferson – Vice President As runner-up, he became Vice President
Hamilton – resigns his position Even plots with cabinet
against Pres. Adams
Unofficial Fighting with France
1797 – Angered by Jay’s Treaty, France began seizing American merchant shipsAdams sent envoy to Paris to meet with Talleyrand (French foreign minister) XYZ Affair - French demanded loan & bribe in
order to speak with Talleyrand
Adams sought to avoid war but was preparing Department of Navy & US Marine Corps established
(1789–1800) Undeclared hostilities At sea and in the West Indies
Adams Puts Patriotism Above Party
Talleyrand decided he would receive envoys with proper respect1800 - Adams sent envoys to Paris Napoleon Bonaparte had recently seized
power & wanted to “free his hands of America”
Convention of 1800 ended alliance between France & America United States agreed to pay the damage claims of American shippers
Alien & Sedition Acts1798 –passed by the Federalists
Jeffersonians had support of European Immigrants
Alien Act Residency requirements for citizenship raised
from 5 years to 14 years President could deport dangerous aliens
Sedition Act Newspapers who “falsely” defamed the gov’t
would be fined & their editors imprisoned (violation of the 1st Amendment!)
Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions 1798
Virginia (Madison) / Kentucky (Jefferson)Stressed the compact theory of gov’t 13 sovereign states had entered into a
“compact” or contract regarding jurisdiction. Therefore, the states were the final judges of
whether the gov’t had overstepped their authority
Stressed doctrine of nullification States decide when to nullify unconstitutional
legislation