The Early Nation1789-1801

Washington through Adams

George Washington’s Presidency1789-1797

A REAL American Hero…..

Events at Home Creation of Three

executive departments:

–State: foreign affairs; headed by Thomas Jefferson–Treasury: money; headed by Alexander

Hamilton–War: defense;

-headed by Henry Knox

More Events at Home Judiciary Act of

1789 created the Supreme Court & other Federal Courts

Yes, Even More Events at Home

Alexander Hamilton’s Financial Plan

–created protective tariffs to promote industry–established the National Bank to

provide the nation with stable currency–created an excise tax on whiskey to

raise revenue

No More Events at Home, After This One

Whiskey Rebellion

–Farmers in western Pennsylvania refused to pay the federal excise tax on whiskey and attacked tax collectors. Washington made 15,000 militia men into federal troops and put down the rebellion. As a result, the Federal government showed its new power.

Foreign Affairs…. Neutrality Act of

1793–The United States would not get

involved in a war between the French and the British

Ok, I lied, but this is really the last event at home

Washington’s Farewell Address (1797)

–George Washington’s final advice to the United States was that the US should• (a) be neutral• (b) remain united• (c) avoid permanent alliances• (d) not have political parties

Political PartiesFirst Political Parties

Federalists Democratic-Republicans

Leaders John Adams and Alexander Hamilton

Thomas Jefferson

National Govt

Believed in a strong national government

Believed in a weak national government

Economy Industrial economy

Agricultural economy

Supporters

Bankers and business interests in the Northeast.

Farmers, artisans, and frontier settlers in the South

John Adams’s Presidency (1797 --1801)

In the election of 1796, John Adams defeated Thomas Jefferson for the presidency, and Jefferson became the vice-president.

Adams had IssuesAlien and Sedition Acts

(1798)

–The President could imprison or deport aliens (citizens of other countries). People who wrote anything of “a scandalous and malicious nature” against the government could be imprisoned.

*Used to silence critics of the

Federalist party (i.e. the

Democratic-Republicans) *

Adams has Issues The Virginia and

Kentucky Resolves• Virginia and Kentucky

declare the Alien and Sedition Acts “null” because they violated the Bill of Rights

• XYZ Affair• XYZ Affair: Part 2

You’re gone before we knew you….

Election of 1800John Adams (Federalist) -v- Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republicans)

The election of 1800, won by Jefferson, was the first presidential election in which power was peacefully transferred from one party to another.