Chapter10;Launching a New Ship of State (1789-1800)
IGrowing Pains
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1) 2Xs the population every 25 yrs (4m by 1790)
2) Mostly rural population 90%; w/ 95% East of Appalachian Mts.
(But growing cities: Phil. 42K, NY 33K, Boston 18K)
3) VT becomes the 14th State (1791)
II. Washington for President
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1) 1789 GW unanimously elected president; J. Adams VP
2) GW 6’2” – 175lbs. (Not too tall by today’s standards, but then he was)
3) Capitol is in NY, later moved to Phil. Prior to DC
Unwritten Constitution Things established by precedent. (Not written)
(See More on the Constitution)
Examples:1) A 2 term presidency (later broken by FDR & made part of the written
Constitutionby 22nd Amendment)
2) Political Parties & Conventions
3) Lobbyists
4) Cabinet:a) Sec. of State -TJ
b) Sec. of Treasury - Hamilton
c) Sec.of War - Henry Knox
III. Bill of Rights (1st 10 Amendments)
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Amendments — (Changes to the Constitution) –(See More on the Constitution)
a)They don’t give you rights, but place limits on the government
b)Written by James Madison
c)Proposed (12 only 10 passed) to please anti-federalists such as TJ
How to?2 Steps w/2 Methods per step -- See Hand Out
Step #1 Propose Amendment
Step #2 Ratify (Approve) Amendment
Note: Only 27 Amendments have passed both steps
1789-97Washington Administration – Judiciary Act of 1789
a)Created Supreme Court (1 Chief Justice & 5 Associates)
b)Created District Courts & Circuit Courts
c)1st Chief Justice was John Jay
IV & V. & VIHamilton Revives Corpse of Public Credit/Custom Duties Excise Taxes/ AH Battles TJ for a Bank
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Hamilton’s Financial Plan – Generally favored wealthy. (4 Steps)
Hamilton - “Father of National Debt” – Debt created national loyalty/unity.
1)Fund National Debt at Par$54m (Often not held by original holders) Hamilton believed it would unite the country.
2)Federal Government would Assume Debts of States$21.5m
a)South had paid most of their war debt already so as a compromise DC was located in the South. (The Dinner).
3) How to fund debt?
a)Import Tariff (8% Tax)
b)Excise on Whiskey Tax
4)Create a National Bank (Bank of the United States – B.U.S.)
Hamilton’s Plan by Section
North -Supported Assumption of debts
Supported import taxes to protect manufacturing
Supported funding debt at par — many New Yorkers
purchased war bonds at a discounted value & would now be
paid off at full value
South-Against tariff; feared Europeans would retaliate against assumption of debt (See Above)
West - Against Excise Tax on Whiskey (Hurt western farmers).
Why? – MS River closed off to Amer. & farmers forced to ship products through Appalachian Mts. Whiskey easiest to transport.
Note: Most farmers DR
National Bank Arguments: First, how do you read the Constitution?
Hamilton - Federalist / Jefferson-Dem Rep.Loose Construction (Interpretation)of
Constitution. The Constitution is fluid
one can expand meaning. / Strict Construction (Interpretation) of
Constitution. It says exactly what it says
and no more
The Elastic Clause (necessary & proper
Clause) gives the Federal Government the
authority to have a BUS b/c of the delegated powers to coin $ & borrow $ etc. / A BUS is neither necessary nor proper.
Therefore, it is a state function & we should have state banks instead.
Note: Andrew Jackson will do this.
Note: Madison agrees w/ Jefferson
Hamilton - Federalist / Jefferson-Dem Rep.
A BUS would increase confidence &
stabilize the economy. The rich would be
Stockholders in the BUS & therefore have
A financial interest in the economic
success of the US. / It would increase the power of the Federal
Government too much & greatly benefit the rich to the expense of the poor. This ultimately would harm democracy.
Washington agrees w/ Hamilton & a National Bank is created.
VII Mutinous Moonshiners in PA (1794)
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A.WhiskeyRebellion— W. farmers used Whiskey as money. It was easier to transport over the Mts. than their crops. They despised the new excise tax on whiskey and rebelled.
1)Hamilton leads an army to oppose them & the farmers run away.
2)It demonstrated the strength of the new Federal Government. Compare this to Shay’s Rebellion.
VIII.Emergence of Political Parties
P.205 - Political Parties are part of the Unwritten Constitution.
Federalists / Democrat-Republicans(a/k/a Republicans)
1. Hamilton, John Marshall, J. Adams / 1. TJ, Madison, Monroe
2. Wants a strong central government / 2. For States Rights
3. Pro-English / 3. Pro-French
4. Pro-Tariff / 4. Anti-Tariff
5. Pro-National Bank / 5. Anti-National Bank
6. Loose Construction of Constitution / 6. Strict Construction of Constitution
7. Favored Rich. Limiting franchise to
wealthy. Favor manufacturing. / 7. Farmers are the backbone of the nation.
Increase franchise to the poor.
IX. Impact of the French Revolution
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--1789French Revolution; 1792 try to export it to Austria
--1793Louis XVI loses his head (along w/ many others). Reign of Terror begins.
--1793France declares war on England. Wants US to abide by Franco-American Alliance of 1778 (Rev. War Treaty) which allies us with France.
--Divides American political parties. TJ & DR favor the French Revolution & expansion of liberty. Hamilton & Federalists saw the Jacobin French Revolution as a new bloody tyranny bring chaos.
X. Washington’s Proclamation of Neutrality
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--TJ says we should honor our treaty; GW disagrees
--GW gives the Proclamation of Neutrality 1793(See Document Packet).
--Citizen GenetIncident — French diplomat in US trying to fire upAmericans to go to war w/ England. Sought “American Privateers” to attack Spanish FL & LA; & Canada. Openly opposed GW & therefore lost credibility.
XI. Embroilments with Britain
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1) England providing OH Indians (8 Nation Miami Confederacy – Little Turtle)
Battle of Falling Timbers – Miamis defeated when abandoned by British
Treaty of Greenville 1795Miamis defeated & give up NW Territory (IN & OH)
2)English continue to fur trade on American soil
3) English forts remain on US soil
4)English seizing US ships & impressing US sailors (especially in French West Indies).
England sought to starve out French in West Indies, ignored American neutrality.
XII. Jay’s Treaty & Washington’s Farewell Address
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Jay’s Treaty:
1)England promises to removes forts...sometime… later
2)England may continue to seize ships transporting goods to France & seize American sailors outside of US waters
3)US agrees to pay pre-Rev. War debt
-- Senate ratifies the treaty only after GW makes a request
Pickney’s Treaty:
--Separate Spanish treaty allows US to navigate the Mississippi River
Washington’s Farewell Address:(See Documents)
1)Set precedent for a 2 term presidency (Unwritten Constitution)
2)Avoid “foreign entanglements” & “permanent alliances”
3)Avoid political parties. They’ll divide the country.
4)Avoid sectional strife. It’ll lead to a Civil War.
XIII.John Adams becomes President
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--Hamilton was the most likely choice but his economic plan was so unpopular in South & West, he could not win.
J.Adams (Fed) vs.T.J. (D-R)
Winner:Adams w/ TJ as his VP.
Note:The runner-up becomes the VP. This will change w/ the 12th Amendment
where the EC votes twice & which will result in the Pres. & VP being of the same party.
--Adams will be opposed by both his VP (opposition party) and the leader of his own party (Hamilton).
XIV.Unofficial Fighting w/ France (Undeclared War at Sea)
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--In response to Jay’s Treaty, France begins seizing US ships bound for England
XYZ Affair:3 unnamed French Official (X,Y,Z)demand $250K just to talk to US diplomats about preventing a war. John Marshall (US) refuses to pay Talleyrand (Fr).
American Public Reaction:Outrage!!!
Slogan:“Millions for defense but not a one cent for tribute”
1798-1800Undeclared War at Sea against France;
Increased defense spending; 10K man army authorized.
Re-build navy & hire privateers – 80 French ships captured & 100+ American
XV. Adams puts Patriotism above Party
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High Federalists * Pro-War wing of the Federalist Party. Led by Hamilton.
1)Brought closer to England b/c they were supplying us w/weapons, gunpowder, etc.
2)Visions of conquering FL & LA
1800 Napolean seizes power. Convention 1800 (Treaty) signed.
1)Annuls Rev. War Treaty
2)Fr. Pays US damages for ships.
3)War averted
4)Adams goes from hero to goat.
XVI.Federalist Witch Hunt (Alien & Sedition Acts)
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Alien Acts
1)Residency requirement increases from 5yr. To l4yr.
2)President may deport aliens @ peace time; imprison in war w/o trial or cause.
Sedition Acts
1)Those impeding gov’t policies (inc. citizens) may be jailed
2)BF grandson was jailed for printing “seditious” pamphlets
against the Prez.
Argument against: Violates ~ Amendment.
Note:This is pre-Marburyv. Madison
During Wartime: These acts very popular. Much anti-French hysteria.
Later:Very unpopular. Adams is blamed for them.
Theme:During wartime the power of the Fed government & president increases.
XVII.Virginia (Madison) & KY (TJ) Resolutions
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Theme:States Rights * A state certain powers that supersede theFederal Government. In this case TJ argued that a state may declare a Fed Law unconstitutional & therefore null & void.
Note:This is NOT the law. This is NOT true.
Note:If this was put in practice some laws would be followed in some states but not others
Note:The South will use this argument again in 1850s-60s on the slavery issue.
Note:Marbury v. Madisonwill take precedent declaring that the COURTS may declare a Federal Law (or state law) unconstitutional, not the states.
XVIIIFederalists (F) vs. Democrat-Republicans(DR)
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Federalist Philosophy: “Rule by Best” “Intellectual Aristocracy”
DR Philosophy: The farmer is the backbone of the nation. Rule by common man. More in line w/ Paine’s philosophy. DRs take over from anti-federalistswho feared a strong government.
Irony:Federalists argued “Rule by Aristocracy” yet opposed slavery. DR argued for the poor & wanted to increase democracy yet was pro-slavery.
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