Launching a New Ship of State1789-1800

American Pageant Chapter 10

Growing pains

• Population doubling every 25 years

• 90% rural• 95% east of Appalachian

Mountains• Kentucky, Tennessee, &

Ohio– States w/in 14 years– Restless group; conflict

with Spanish

Washington for President

• Why George?– Unanimously drafted by

electoral college– Imposing presence, war

hero, did not lobby for office

– “Balanced rather than brilliant”

– Took office April 30, 1789

Washington for President

• Washington’s Cabinet– Set precedent of cabinet

meetings– Secretary of State: Thomas

Jefferson– Secretary of the Treasury:

Alexander Hamilton– Secretary of War: Henry

Knox

The Bill of Rights

• Constitution ratified w/no Bill of Rights– Anti-federalist criticism– States ratified w/promise

bill of rights coming• Bill of Rights:

– James Madison wrote 1st

then presented to congress

– First 10 Amendments ratified 1791

The Bill of Rights

• Includes:– Freedom of: speech,

religion, press, bear arms, tried by a jury

– Freedom from: unusual punishments, seizure of property

– 9th Amendment: Other rights guaranteed not listed

– 10th Amendment: Powers not explicitly written—went to the States

The Bill of Rights

• Made Constitution more Anti-federalist

• 1st Congress—Judiciary Act of 1789– Organized Supreme

Court w/6 judges– John Jay first Chief

Justice

Hamilton & Public Credit

• Alexander Hamilton– Financial wizard– Shaped country’s fiscal plan– Favored the wealthy (trickle

down to lower classes)– 1st objective—strengthen

national credit

Hamilton & Public Credit

• “Funding at par”– Government bonds

depreciated to $.15/$1– Pay off debts at face value

• “Assumption”– Congress take state debts

for war– Strengthen the federal

government

• Conflict (Jefferson)– Big debtor states liked

(MA)– smaller debtor states

disliked (VA)

• Compromise—move capital to South– District of Columbia

(Washington, DC)

Hamilton & Public Credit

Custom Duties & Excise Taxes

• National debt: $75 million– Hamilton “Father of

National Debt”– National blessing, not

curse• More creditors—more

people want to prevent. Government failure

– Pay off with customs & tariffs

Custom Duties & Excise Taxes

• First Tariff Law 1789– Protective for

“infant” industries– Foresaw spread of

Industrial Revolution

• Excise Tax 1791—few domestic items, i.e. whiskey

Hamilton v. Jefferson—The BANK

• Bank of the United States– Hamilton’s idea– Modeled after England– Private bank

w/government as major stockholder

– Federal Treasury deposit surplus $

– Paper $--sound & stable national currency

Hamilton v. Jefferson—The BANK

But was it Constitutional?• Jefferson: “No.”

– No specific authorization– Amendment 10—all other

powers to states– “Strict Construction”

• Hamilton: “Yes.”– “necessary & proper”– Power to collect taxes &

regulate commerce– “Implied powers”– “Broad construction”—

”elastic clause”

Hamilton v. Jefferson—The BANK

• G.W.—unenthusiastic• North for it

(manufacturing centers)• South against it

(agricultural)• Bank of United States

created 1791– Chartered 25 years– Capital of $10 million– Philadelphia– 1/5 owned by government– Public quickly bought up

stock

Hamilton V. Jefferson Debate

Mutinous Moonshiners of Pennsylvania

Mutinous Moonshiners of Pennsylvania

The Emergence of Political Parties

• At the start--Political parties not in existence or planned for

• Organized resistance: Anti-federalists– Alexander Hamilton’s fiscal

policies– State right(ers)

• Two party system since then– Party out of power—balances

government

Impact of French Revolution

• French Revolution 1789 (A few weeks after Washington was inaugurated)

– Impact on U.S.– Early stages—removed

Louis XVI– Declared war on Austria

then other countries• Control of the Atlantic

– Reign of Terror—executed all nobles

Impact of French Revolution

• American Reaction:– Jeffersonian

Republicans:• Regret bloodshed,

but…• Supported the

French Revolution

– Hamiltonian Federalists:

• Feared change & mobocracy

• Worried about economic impact

Do You Hear the People Sing?

https://www.youtub

e.com/watch?v=g

MYNfQlf1H8

Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation

Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation

Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation

Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation

• U.S. neutrality benefitted France– U.S. too weak

to help– F.W.I.—supplies– British would

have blockaded U.S. coast

Embroilments with Britain

Embroilments with Britain

Embroilments with Britain

Jay’s Treaty & Washington’s Farewell

Jay’s Treaty & Washington’s Farewell

Jay’s Treaty & Washington’s Farewell

Jay’s Treaty & Washington’s Farewell

John Adams becomes President

Unofficial Fighting with France

Adams Puts Patriotism Above Party

Adams Puts Patriotism Above Party

The Federalist Witch Hunt

• Alien & Sedition Laws 1798– Anti-French frenzy– Extended residency requirement from

5 to 14 years– President empowered to deport in

peace or imprison in war (never enforced)

– Imprisonment and/or fine for those who impede the government

• Matthew Lyon—4 mo. Jail for criticizing John Adams

– Purpose: Oppress pro-Jeffersonians

The Virginia & Kentucky Resolution

Federalists v. Democratic Republicans

Federalists• Those who owned

government should run it

• Government should support private enterprise

• Support—Atlantic seaboard

• Internationally strong– Trade

Democratic Republicans• Thomas Jefferson• Agrarians• Strict

Constructionists• Middle class &

underprivileged• Focus on frontier &

strengthen democracy at home

John Adams: An Overview