the federalist era€¦ · federalists vs. anti-federalists • beliefs? • federalists papers...
TRANSCRIPT
The Federalist Era
The Growing Pains of a New
Government, 1789-1801
Background:
Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists
• Beliefs?
• Federalists Papers
– #10 Madison
– “extend the sphere and you take in a greater
variety of parties and interests; you make it less
probable that a majority of the whole will have
a common motive to invade the rights of other
citizens”
Who won???
• Compromise by adding the …. ???
George Washington
– 1st President
1789 – 1797
Cabinet (not in the Constitution)
a. Alexander Hamilton = Sec. of
Treasury
b. Thomas Jefferson = Sec. of state
a. First Chief Justice of
the Supreme Court
= John Jay
Hamilton’s Economic Plan:
- Tariff of 1789 = nat’l income
-Second Report on Public Credit
-Excise tax on whiskey
-National debt
-National Bank
“if it is not excessive, will be to us a
national blessing; it will be a powerful
cement of our union. It will also create a
necessity for keeping up taxation to a
degree which without being oppressive,
will be spur to industry.” - Robert
Morris on national debt (p.287)
Whiskey Rebellion
Western Pennsylvania
farmers protest the excise tax on the whiskey
Washington uses the Pa. militia and the U.S. Army to put down the rebellion.
The Constitution is the supreme Law of the land!!
Only time a sitting US President
leads an army into battle!!
National Bank Plan:
-Bank notes (uniform currency)
-Chartered by Congress (with private
investors providing % of capital)
-Housekeeping:
-Safe place for funds
-Sudden emergencies
-Transfer funds in bookkeeping
instead of transport of metals
-Report on Manufacturing:
-More Protective duties (tariffs)
-Hamilton’s Achievements:
-US current economic system:
-People were naturally selfish and greedy.
The role of gov’t, therefore, was to channel
the public’s “ambition and avarice” into
activities that would strengthen the nation.
Like Adam Smith, [Wealth of Nations]
Hamilton believed that private vices could be
turned into public virtues through the natural
operations of the capitalist marketplace.”
Consequences of Hamilton’s Plan 1. Political Schism —origins of First Party System
Federalist v. Democrat-Republicans
Federalists
• Hamilton & Adams
• Loose construction of the
Constitution
• Strong national government
• Fear of mob rule
• Industrial economy -- support
manufactures
• Supported in the North & by
merchants
• National Bank constitutional
Democratic Republicans
• Jefferson & Madison
• Strict Construction of the
Constitution
• Limited power of nat’l gov.
• Fear of over-powerful gov.
• Agricultural economy - Paying
off national debt only
• Supported in the South & by
farmers
• National bank unconstitutional
Foreign Crisis: French Revolution:
-1778 Treaty of Alliance with France
-Want no part in Euro war
-Want to keep lucrative trade with both sides Washington–
neutrality
proclamation
“friendly and
impartial toward the
belligerent powers”
Foreign Crisis: Jay’s Treaty:
-Chief Justice John Jay envoy to
Britain
-Accept British definition of
neutral rights (products for
naval ships were contraband)
-Britain gained most-favored-
nation treatment/status
-Jay won:
-British evacuation of the
NW terr. Forts
-Reparations for the seizures
of Am. ships & cargo
Expansion: Northwest
Ordinance (1787)
• It established the precedent by which the U.S. would expand westward across North America by the admission of new states, rather than by the expansion of existing states.
A map of the Northwest
Territory
George Washington’s Farewell
Address has a lasting impact
• Cautioned against the dangers of
sectional jealousy and excess party
spirit
• Stressed the importance of a strong
central government and maintaining
a firm union
• Steer clear of permanent alliances
• America should avoid involvement
in European affairs
“our true policy to
steer clear of
permanent alliances
with any portion of
foreign world”
“we may safely trust
to temporary alliances
for extraordinary
emergencies”