Washington and Adams:Washington and Adams:Our First Two PresidentsOur First Two Presidents

1788-18001788-1800

Washington: The Obvious Washington: The Obvious ChoiceChoice

Acc. To Constitution, president Acc. To Constitution, president was to be chosen by “electors” was to be chosen by “electors” named by state legislaturesnamed by state legislatures

Each elector had two ballotsEach elector had two ballots

Washington was unanimous 1Washington was unanimous 1stst choice (69 electoral votes)choice (69 electoral votes)

Under this system, the winner Under this system, the winner was president & person with was president & person with second-greatest number of votes second-greatest number of votes became VP (it was Adams with became VP (it was Adams with 34 electoral votes)34 electoral votes)

Washington takes the Oath of Office

Washington’s challengesWashington’s challenges

Everything Washington did was a Everything Washington did was a precedentprecedent

““We are in a wilderness without a single We are in a wilderness without a single footstep to guide us.” -- Washingtonfootstep to guide us.” -- Washington

US at the time easy prey US at the time easy prey

US army < 700 officers and soldiers; no navyUS army < 700 officers and soldiers; no navy

Inaugural AddressInaugural Address

The First “Cabinet”The First “Cabinet”

Secretary of State: Thomas JeffersonSecretary of State: Thomas Jefferson Secretary of the Treasury: Alexander HamiltonSecretary of the Treasury: Alexander Hamilton Secretary of War: Henry KnoxSecretary of War: Henry Knox Attorney General: Edmund RandolphAttorney General: Edmund Randolph

Judiciary Act of 1789Judiciary Act of 1789

Provided more details about Judicial BranchProvided more details about Judicial Branch 6 Supreme Court justices (John Jay is first 6 Supreme Court justices (John Jay is first

Chief Justice) (#s went up over time)Chief Justice) (#s went up over time) Other lower federal courtsOther lower federal courts Affirmed “supremacy clause” of Affirmed “supremacy clause” of

Constitution (Article 6, Section 2): states Constitution (Article 6, Section 2): states could appeal to a federal court if could appeal to a federal court if constitutional issues were raised (e.g./ constitutional issues were raised (e.g./ election results in Florida in 2000)election results in Florida in 2000)

Hamilton v. JeffersonHamilton v. Jefferson Deep philosophical differencesDeep philosophical differences Both men greatly respected by Both men greatly respected by

WashingtonWashington Become leaders of first political parties in Become leaders of first political parties in

US: Jefferson of Democratic-Republicans, US: Jefferson of Democratic-Republicans, Hamilton of Federalists; the two-party Hamilton of Federalists; the two-party system becomes well-entrenched after system becomes well-entrenched after just a few yearsjust a few years

This despite Washington’s pleas to avoid This despite Washington’s pleas to avoid partisanship in private and public partisanship in private and public comments (such as his Farewell Address)comments (such as his Farewell Address)

Bank of the United StatesBank of the United States

Hamilton wanted a Hamilton wanted a national national Bank of the Bank of the United StatesUnited States to issue to issue paper money and handle paper money and handle tax receipts and other tax receipts and other government fundsgovernment funds

A problem: not called for A problem: not called for directly in Constitutiondirectly in Constitution

A debate: strict vs. loose A debate: strict vs. loose interpretation (see Article interpretation (see Article I, Section 8 – “elastic I, Section 8 – “elastic clause”clause”

Hamilton gets his Bank, Hamilton gets his Bank, by…by…

Our Nation’s CapitalOur Nation’s Capital Had been PhiladelphiaHad been Philadelphia In 1789, it’s New York City (then In 1789, it’s New York City (then

back to Philly)back to Philly) Plans are made to create a new Plans are made to create a new

city centrally located to appeal to city centrally located to appeal to Northerners and Southerners: the Northerners and Southerners: the District of ColumbiaDistrict of Columbia

Built on a swamp along Potomac Built on a swamp along Potomac River between Maryland and River between Maryland and VirginiaVirginia

Pierre L’Enfant and Benjamin Pierre L’Enfant and Benjamin Banneker (African American) are Banneker (African American) are among the engineers whose grand among the engineers whose grand vision is realizedvision is realized

Becomes nation’s capital in 1800 Becomes nation’s capital in 1800 (Adams the first president to live in (Adams the first president to live in White House – the “President’s White House – the “President’s House”)House”)

To this day, unique relationship to To this day, unique relationship to US; not a stateUS; not a state

The Whiskey RebellionThe Whiskey Rebellion

• The federal government The federal government needed moneyneeded money

• The first federal tax on The first federal tax on Americans was an excise tax on Americans was an excise tax on distilleries (alcohol producers)distilleries (alcohol producers)

• Farmers in Western Farmers in Western Pennsylvania distilled corn into Pennsylvania distilled corn into whiskey; more profitable & whiskey; more profitable & practicalpractical

• Some attacked tax collectors Some attacked tax collectors and many refused to pay the and many refused to pay the taxtax

• In 1794. Washington called up In 1794. Washington called up 15,000 militiamen and 15,000 militiamen and personally led them over personally led them over Allegheny Mountains in show of Allegheny Mountains in show of force; rebellion ended with no force; rebellion ended with no loss of lifeloss of life

Meanwhile, in Europe…Meanwhile, in Europe…

In summer of 1789, as new US In summer of 1789, as new US government is forming, government is forming, French French RevolutionRevolution begins begins

French citizens demand “liberte, French citizens demand “liberte, egalite, fraternite”egalite, fraternite”

During During Reign of TerrorReign of Terror, the , the guillotine guillotine becomesbecomes a symbol of the a symbol of the mob out of control; in fight against mob out of control; in fight against tyranny, the mob becomes tyrannicaltyranny, the mob becomes tyrannical

The rest of Europe (Old Order) is The rest of Europe (Old Order) is scared revolutionary ideas will spread scared revolutionary ideas will spread and fight Franceand fight France

Most radical leaders in France are Most radical leaders in France are JacobinsJacobins; their supporters in US are ; their supporters in US are labeled Jacobins, toolabeled Jacobins, too

Jefferson (& Democratic-Republicans) Jefferson (& Democratic-Republicans) a strong supporter of France; Hamilton a strong supporter of France; Hamilton (& Federalists) of Great Britain(& Federalists) of Great Britain

Washington decides in 1793 to remain Washington decides in 1793 to remain neutralneutral

Jefferson soon resigns from Cabinet Jefferson soon resigns from Cabinet

War with Native Americans, War with Native Americans, Britain?Britain? American settlers continue to move west of the American settlers continue to move west of the

Appalachian Mountains into lands US “won” in Appalachian Mountains into lands US “won” in American Revolution in Northwest TerritoryAmerican Revolution in Northwest Territory

Native Americans disagree that their lands were Native Americans disagree that their lands were won by anyone and resistwon by anyone and resist

Native Americans successful at first but eventually Native Americans successful at first but eventually suffer great losses at suffer great losses at Battle of Fallen TimbersBattle of Fallen Timbers in in 17941794

Jay’s TreatyJay’s Treaty

The Jay TreatyThe Jay Treaty signed between US signed between US and Great Britain in 1794 after Battle and Great Britain in 1794 after Battle of Fallen Timbers; many Americans of Fallen Timbers; many Americans angry with details: no assurance that angry with details: no assurance that Americans could not be “pressed” Americans could not be “pressed” into service in British navy, British into service in British navy, British allowed to continue fur trade along allowed to continue fur trade along Canadian border; but Britain did Canadian border; but Britain did agree to leave Northwest territory agree to leave Northwest territory and and war had been avertedwar had been averted

Pinckney’s TreatyPinckney’s Treaty

Adams’ turnAdams’ turn

Adams as VP: active as President of Adams as VP: active as President of the Senate (more tiebreaking votes – the Senate (more tiebreaking votes – 31 -- than any other VP & spent more 31 -- than any other VP & spent more time in Senate presiding than any time in Senate presiding than any other VP)other VP)

But greatly frustrated by the job: But greatly frustrated by the job: “Gentlemen, I feel a great difficulty “Gentlemen, I feel a great difficulty how to act. I am Vice President. In how to act. I am Vice President. In this I am nothing, but I may be this I am nothing, but I may be everything.”everything.”

Washington decides not to seek a Washington decides not to seek a third term, retires to Mount Vernon third term, retires to Mount Vernon (where he dies three years later)(where he dies three years later)

In In Washington’s Farewell AddressWashington’s Farewell Address, , he warns against he warns against entangling entangling alliancesalliances with European countries with European countries

Election of 1796Election of 1796 Parties…Parties… Negative campaign ads (Adams is called “His Negative campaign ads (Adams is called “His

Rotundity”, Jefferson labeled a coward and Rotundity”, Jefferson labeled a coward and atheist)atheist)

Adams (a Federalist) receives 71 electoral Adams (a Federalist) receives 71 electoral votes, Jefferson (a Democratic-Republican) votes, Jefferson (a Democratic-Republican) receives 68receives 68

A problem: Pres and VP from different partiesA problem: Pres and VP from different parties sectionalismsectionalism 16 states (incl. Vermont, Kentucky, and 16 states (incl. Vermont, Kentucky, and

Tennessee) Tennessee)

War with France?War with France?

French upset about the Jay Treaty French navy begins seizing American

ships bound for Britain

XYZ Affair and undeclared XYZ Affair and undeclared warwar

Pinckney, Marshall and Elbridge Gerry to Pinckney, Marshall and Elbridge Gerry to France on secret peace missionFrance on secret peace mission

““X, Y, and Z”; they demand payment (bribe) X, Y, and Z”; they demand payment (bribe) of $250,000 to let the Americans meet with of $250,000 to let the Americans meet with top French foreign ministertop French foreign minister

War seems imminent; in fact, it’s an War seems imminent; in fact, it’s an undeclared war for 2 years as Congress undeclared war for 2 years as Congress creates navy and authorizes American ships creates navy and authorizes American ships to seize French vessels; Washington called to seize French vessels; Washington called out of retirement to lead army out of retirement to lead army

Official war is averted – Adams considers it Official war is averted – Adams considers it one of greatest accomplishments, in part one of greatest accomplishments, in part because he denies Hamilton power to become because he denies Hamilton power to become an American “Bonaparte” (army is disbanded an American “Bonaparte” (army is disbanded since there’s no one to fight)since there’s no one to fight)

Alien and Sedition ActsAlien and Sedition Acts Idea emerged out of anti-French sentiment Idea emerged out of anti-French sentiment In 1798, Federalists pushed through Congress four In 1798, Federalists pushed through Congress four

measures that became known as the Alien and Sedition measures that became known as the Alien and Sedition Acts (& Adams signed into law)Acts (& Adams signed into law)

Alien acts gave president power to deport or jail any alien Alien acts gave president power to deport or jail any alien considered undesirableconsidered undesirable

Sedition Act prohibited any expression of “false, Sedition Act prohibited any expression of “false, scandalous, and malicious statements” against the scandalous, and malicious statements” against the governmentgovernment

Still law when Adams ran for re-election in 1800 Still law when Adams ran for re-election in 1800 12 had been charged and convicted under the law (incl. 12 had been charged and convicted under the law (incl.

NJ man who made fun of Adams posterior – arrested and NJ man who made fun of Adams posterior – arrested and fined $150)fined $150)

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions: states’ rights??? Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions: states’ rights??? Madison and Jefferson (leading Democratic-Republicans) Madison and Jefferson (leading Democratic-Republicans) secretly wrote these resolutions proposing secretly wrote these resolutions proposing nullificationnullification

Sedition Act terminated in 1801Sedition Act terminated in 1801