CHAPTER 8
I. President Washington
A.
Although Washington thought he was going to retire after the war, he
was elected the first president of the United States under the Constitution
(there had been several presidents under the Articles of Confederation). On April
30, 1789, he took the oath of office. John Adams became his vice president.
B.
Washington was aware of the difficulties and decisions he had to face.
He would establish precedents that would shape the future of the United States.
He would make many decisions especially about the structure of the government.
C. Congress set up a cabinet
with three departments:
1.
The State Department to handle relations with other nations, headed by
Thomas Jefferson.
2.
The Treasury Department to deal with financial matters, headed by
Alexander Hamilton.
3.
The War Department to provide for national defense, headed by Henry
Knox.
D. Congress created the office
of attorney general to handle
the government’s legal affairs. Edmund Randolph was
the first attorney general. Congress also established the office of postmaster
general to direct the postal service.
E.
Washington met regularly with the three department heads, or
secretaries, and the attorney general, which together became known as the
cabinet.
F.
Congress was divided as to how much power the president should hold
over the executive departments. The president appointed the department heads
with the Senate’s approval. Congress gave the president authority over hiring
and firing cabinet officers so that he did not need the Senate’s approval to
dismiss someone. This strengthened the president’s position and created a major
separation between the legislative branch and the executive branches
G. The judiciary act of 1789 was actually a compromise act. One group of congress favored a national legal system, and a second favored state courts. The act established a federal court system with 13 district courts and 3 circuit courts. State laws would remain, but federal courts would have the power to reverse sate decision.
B. There was opposition to Hamilton’s plan. Congress
agreed to pay other nations. But they could not agree to pay off the debt to
American citizens.
C. When the government borrowed money during the
war, it issued bonds, or paper notes, promising to repay the money in given
period of time. Speculators bought many of the original bonds for less then
their value. Hamilton’s plan promised paying off these bonds at their original
value, and opponents said this would make the speculators rich.
D. The original bond owners were also opposed because
they had lost money on there bonds, and new bond owners had made money, only to
make more if Hamilton’s plan was enacted.
E. The southern states also presented opposition
because their states debt was less then the northern states, and they would
have to pay more then their share under Hamilton’s plan.
F. Hamilton proposed a compromise plan. He agreed to
a proposal by the southern leaders to move the nations capital form New York
City to a special district in the south between Virginia and Maryland. This
became Washington D.C. the southern then agreed to support his plan to pay off
the state debts.
A.
Hamilton also proposed the creation of a national bank, the bank of the
United States; a tariff, or tax, on imports; and national taxes to help the
nations economy.
B. Before the bill to create a national bank was proposed, only state banks existed. Madison and Jefferson opposed the idea of a national bank, saying that it would benefit the wealthy and was unconstitutional. Hamilton said that the congress had the power to create a bank even though the constitution had no provision. The president signed the bill, creating the bank of the United States.
C. Hamilton proposed a protective tariff on imports. He hoped this would protect American industry from foreign competition and encourage people to buy American goods.
1. The south opposed this tax because they had little industry to protect.
2. Hamilton did win support in congress for some low tariffs to raise money.
D.
Hamilton’s economic program also called for creating national taxes.
The government could have additional funds to operate and use to make interest
payments on the national debt. Congress approved of a variety of taxes,
including one on American whiskey.
E.
Hamilton’s economic program gave the country new financial powers, but
it split congress and the nation. His opponents, including Madison and
Jefferson, feared a national government with strong economic powers to protect
the wealthy.
Section 2
I.
The Whiskey Rebellion
A. Farmers resisted paying tax on the whiskey they made. They usually exchanged whiskey and other items for goods they needed rather then buy goods with cash. They did not have money to pay tax.
B.
In July 1794, federal officers came into western Pennsylvania to
collect a tax. The resistance turned into an armed protest that was called the
Whiskey Rebellion. A large mob of people attacked tax collectors and burned
buildings.
C.
President Washington sent an army to quiet the rebellion. His actions
showed people that the government would use force to maintain social order.
II.
Struggle over the West
A.
The Americans who lived between the Appalachian
Mountains and the Mississippi River had troubles
with the new government over this land. They felt the land belonged to them and
the new settlers were taking away their land. They looked to Britain and Spain
for help to prevent American settlers from moving onto these lands. Washington
hoped the treaties signed with the Native American tribes would keep the
British and Spanish out.
B.
American settlers ignored the treaties and moved onto the lands that
were promised to the Native Americans. When fighting broke out, Washington sent
an army led by General Arthur St. Clair to restore order. His troops were
beaten badly in November 1791. The Miami, Shawnee, and Delaware tribes allied
and continued to resist American settlers moving onto their lands.
C. The Native Americans
demanded that all settlers north of the Ohio River leave. Washington sent in
another army lead by Anthony Wayne. At the Battle of Fallen Timbers in August
1794, Wayne’s army defeated over 1,000 Native Americans.
D. The Treaty of Greenville was
signed in 1795 to settle the issue. Natives Americans agreed to surrender most
of the land in present-day Ohio.
III.
Problems with Europe
A. The French Revolution began in 1789, just after
Washington took office, and in 1793, Britain and
France went to war.
Washington hoped that America could remain neutral, but as time went on, this
became difficult.
D.
The British began capturing
American ships that traded with the French. They also stopped American merchant
ships, took their crews, and forced them into British navy, or impressed them.
E.
Washington, so as to avoid war with Britain, sent John Jay to negotiate
a peaceful solution. The British listened to Jay’s proposal. They knew that the
war with the United States would make things more difficult, as they were
already at war with France. Besides, the United States bought their products.
F.
Jay’s Treaty said that Britain shall
1.
Withdraw from American soil
2.
Pay damages they seized
3.
Allow some American ships to trade with British colonies in the
Caribbean
Jay’s treaty also provided for settlements of debts
from before 1776.
E.
Jay’s Treaty was controversial. Many Americans disapproved of it
because it did not deal with British impressments or the British interference
with American trade. Washington sent it to the senate even thought he, too, did
not favor it. He saw it as an end to a
crisis. It was narrowly approved.
F.
To settle their differences
with the United States, Spain also signed a treaty. Thomas Pinckney went to
Spain 1795. The Pinckney Treaty gave Americans the right to freely navigate the
Mississippi River, and also the right to trade at the port of New Orleans.
IV.
Washington’s Farewell
A.
Washington had served two terms as president and chose not to seek a
third term. This set a precedent for later presidents to follow. He looked
forward to retiring at Mount Vernon. He was greatly troubled by the divisions
in American politics and political parties.
B.
In his Farewell address, he spoke about the evils of political parties
and the problems of foreign affairs. His parting words influenced the nation’s
foreign policy for more than a hundred years.
C. Washington’s speech is read
aloud in the Senate each year on his birthday.
Section 3
I.
Opposing views
A.
Most Americans in the late 1700’s considered political parties harmful
and to be avoided. Political parties were not mentioned in the Constitution.
Washington also denounced them.
B.
By late 1796 Americans were beginning to divide into opposing groups
and form political parties. It was natural for people to disagree about issues
and also for people who held similar views to group together. In Washington’s
cabinet, Hamilton and Jefferson often took opposing sides. Washington was
partisan also, favoring one side of an issue.
C.
Two distinct political parties emerged- the Federalist and the
Republicans, also called the Democratic-Republicans.
D.
The Federalist generally supported politics of Alexander Hamilton. Its
politics favored.
1.
A strong federal government
2.
Banking and shipping interest
3.
Rule by the wealthy
4.
A national bank
5.
Representative government in which elected officials ruled in the
peoples name
6.
A loose interpretation of the Constitution or implied powers
7.
A British alliance
8.
Protective tariffs
E.
The Republicans, or Democratic- Republicans, led by Thomas Jefferson
and James Madison, favored
1.
Strong state governments and limited federal government powers
2.
Emphasis on agricultural products
3.
Rule by people
4.
State banks
5.
Government in which people participate
6.
A strict interpretation of the Constitution
7.
A French alliance
8.
Free trade
F.
By 1793 presidential election candidates were members of a political
party. At caucuses, or political parties meetings, members of Congress and
other leaders chose their parties candidates.
1.
The Federalist nominated John Adams for President and Charles Pinckney for vice president
2.
The Republicans nominated Thomas Jefferson for president and Aaron Burr
for vice president
3.
Adams won the election with 71 electoral votes. Jefferson received 68
votes. Jefferson became the vice president, because at the time, the person
with the second-highest number of electoral votes became vice president.
Jefferson and Adams were of two different political parties.
II.
President John Adams
A.
John Adams served as vice president under Washington for two terms
before becoming the second president of the United States. He spent most of his
life in public service.
B.
A dispute with France over the terms of Jay’s Treaty ended in an
incident known as the XYZ affair.
1.
The French saw the Treaty as the United States helping the British in
the war with France, so the seized American ships carrying cargo to Britain.
2.
To avoid war with France, Adams sent a delegation to Paris to resolve
the issue
3.
Charles de Talleyrand, the French foreign minister, refused to meet
with the Americans and sent three agents who demanded a bribe and a United
States loan for France.
4.
The Americans refused the terms, and when Adams heard about the
incident he referred to the three agents as X, Y, and Z.
C.
Adams urged Congress to prepare for war. Congress strengthens the arm
forces, established the navy Department in April 1798, and allotted money to
build warships. George Washington was appointed Commanding General.
D.
This undeclared sea war between American and French naval forces
between 1798 and 1800 saw more than 90 French armed ships seized. France now
became the enemy for many Americans.
E.
In 1798 congress passed a group of measures called the Alien and
Sedation Acts. These laws were passed to protect the nation’s security.
1.
Americans became more suspicious of aliens, or people living in the
United States who weren’t citizens, especially Europeans who came in the 1790’s
and who supported the ideals of the French revolution.
2.
Sedition refers to activities aimed weakening established government.
Americans were suspicious of the aliens and concerned that they might engage in
unlawful activities, such as, speaking out against the United States
government.
F. The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions of 1798 and 1799 were resolutions written by Madison and Jefferson on states’ rights. The resolution said that the Alien and Sedation Acts of could not become effective because they violated the constitution.
1. They also said that the people of each state had the right to nullify, or cancel a federal law within the state
2. They showed that many American feared a strong central government that could interfere with their rights. The issue of states’ rights would continue, and in time lead to civil war.
G. The undeclared war with France needed resolution. Federalist urged Adams to step up the war with France. They hoped to benefit politically from a war. Adams refused to rush a war and appointed a commission to see peace with France. In 1800 the French agreed to a treaty and stopped attacks on American ships.
H. This agreement hurt Adam’s chance for reelection. Hamilton and his supporters now opposed their own president. Because of this rift in the Federalist Party, the Republicans now had a good chance to win the 1800 presidential election.