Unit 3: Launching the Republic Chapter 5: the Federalist Era Section 1: the First President

UNIT 3: LAUNCHING THE REPUBLIC CHAPTER 5: THE FEDERALIST ERA
SECTION 1: THE FIRST PRESIDENT

I.  GEORGE WASHINGTON—1789
A. Set Precedents that others will follow
B. Vice President—John Adams

II.  First Congress
A. Started Executive Departments
Department of Stateà Foreign Affairs
Department of Treasuryà Nation’s Finance
Department of Warà Manage Military
Attorney Generalà Gov’t Legal Affairs
Postmaster Generalà Postal Service

III.  PRESIDENTIAL CABINET
A. THOMAS JEFFERSON SECRETARY OF STATE
B. Alexander Hamilton—Secretary of Treasury
C. Henry Knox—Secretary of War
D. Edmund Randolph—Attorney General

IV.  JUDICIARY ACT of 1789
A. Established Supreme Court; Lower Federal Courts, District Courts & Court of Appeals
B. First Supreme Court Chief Justice--JOHN JAY

V.  BILL OF RIGHTS
A. 1791—12 Amendments proposed by Madison
B. Congress added 10 Amendments to the Constitution—Bill of Rights
C. Protect Individual Liberties

VI.  NATIONAL DEBT
A. US owed Millions to France & Netherlands for Revolutionary War Debt
B. Owed Millions to US Citizens

VII.  HAMILTON’S PLAN

1. Full funding of debt—Pay off Foreign Nations
2. Assumption of state debt—Debate on Bonds—Less Debt in South
Compromise—Move permanent capital to Washington D.C.
3. Bank of U.S.—Opposition by Jefferson/Madison
1) Too much power over money to wealthy
2) Unconstitutional
Bank is chartered for 20 years—deposit taxes/provide loans
4) PROTECTIVE TARIFF—tax on imports/protect US industry
Opposed by South—No Industry to protect
Low tariff passedà majority of gov’t revenue
5) National Taxes—help pay off debt

SECTION 2: EARLY CHALLENGES

VIII. WHISKEY REBELLION--1794
A. Whiskey used as valuable Barter piece
B. Farmers resist tax—violence against tax collectors
C. 15,000 Troops sent to Western PA
D. EffectàGovernment will use force to protect laws

IX.  BATTLE OF FALLEN TIMBERS--1794
A. Natives defend their lands in Northwest Territory
B. Natives defeated by US Army

X.  Treaty of Greenville--1795
A. Natives will acknowledge the authority & protection of the US government
B. Future land sales must be made to US

XI.  EUROPEAN TROUBLES
A. French Revolution—Violence split US Public Opinion
B. France & Britain War (1793)---USAà NEUTRAL

XII.  PROCLAMATION OF NEUTRALITY
A. American citizens cannot fight in war
C. No French or British ships in US ports
D. French had Americans serving on ships--Attacked British ships
E. British impressed Americans---Captured US Merchant ships

XIII. Jay’s Treaty
A. Chief Justice John Jay to Britain
B. British leave forts in US & pay damages for seized ships
C. Americans did not like Treaty—didn’t stop impressments or trade interference

XIV. Pinckney’s Treaty
A. Thomas Pinckney to Spain
B. Gave Americans free navigation of MS River & right to trade at New Orleans

XV.  Washington’s Farewell
A. Precedent of Two-Term Presidency
B. WARNINGS:
1) Danger of Political Parties
2) Danger of Permanent Foreign Alliances

SECTION 3: THE FIRST POLITICAL PARTIES

HAMILTON-implied Powers—powers not specifically mentioned in the Constitution

I.  ELECTION of 1796
A. John Adams Federalist 71 VOTESà PRESIDENT
B. Thomas Jefferson—Democratic Republican 68 Votesà Vice President

II.  XYZ AFFAIR
A. French denied American delegates
B. France demanded a loan & bribe from Americans
C. America responds by strengthening Navy & Army

III.  ALIEN & SEDITION ACTS--1798
A. Reasons: Americans suspicious of French aliens, strengthen federal government, & silence Republican opposition
B. Alien Acts--President can imprison or deport aliens he considered dangerous
C. Sedition Acts--Crime to speak, write, or publish “false, scandalous, or malicious” criticism of the government

IV.  ALIEN & SEDITION ACTS EFFECTS
A. Hurt Federalist Party
B. Increased belief in state’s rights
C. Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions

–  Written by Madison & Jefferson

–  States can NULLIFY(cancel/void) federal laws considered unconstitutional