Washington Heads the New Government. The Americans, Chapter 6.1, Pages

Transcription

1 Washington Heads the New Government The Americans, Chapter 6.1, Pages

2 The New Government Takes Shape Washington took charge of a political system that was a bold experiment. Never before had a nation tried to base a government on the Enlightenment ideals of republican rule and individual rights. No one knew if a government based on the will of the people could really work. Although the Constitution provided a strong foundation, it was not a detailed blueprint for governing. To create a working government, Washington and Congress had to make many practical decisions such as how to raise revenue and provide for defense with no precedent, or prior example, for American leaders to follow. Perhaps James Madison put it best: We are in a Wilderness without a single footstep to guide us. ~The Americans, Pages

3 Judiciary Act of 1789 Constitution Authorized federal court system But provided no specifics Judiciary Act of 1789 Provided for a Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices 13 Federal District Courts Now 94 3 Federal Circuit Courts Now 13 Hear Appeals Stat court decisions may be appealed to federal courts IFF Constitutional issues raised Federal laws are supreme law of the land

4 Executive Departments Created by Congress Washington Shapes the Executive Branch Assist the President & VP Heads of Departments form the Presidential Cabinet Department of State Foreign affairs Thomas Jefferson Department of War Military matters Henry Knox Department of the Treasury Manages finance Alexander Hamilton

5 Executive Departments Today Department of State (1789) Department of Treasury (1789) Department of Defense (1789 name changed in 1947) Attorney General/Department of Justice (1789/1870) Department of Interior (1849) Department of Agriculture (1862) Department of Commerce (1913 Commerce & Labor were single Dept. in 1903) Department of Labor (1913) Department of Health and Human Services (1953-name changed in 1980) Department of Housing and Urban Development (1965) Department of Transportation (1966) Department of Energy (1977) Department of Education (1979-had been part of Dept. of Health,Education & Welfare) Department of Veterans Affairs (1989) Department of Homeland Security (2002)

6 Hamilton and Jefferson Debate Hamilton and Jefferson were brilliant thinkers, but they had very different political ideas. The differences between the two also caused bitter disagreements, many of which centered on Hamilton s plan for the economy. ~The Americans, Page 184.

7 Hamilton and Jefferson in Conflict Hamilton s Ideology Strong Central Govern Prosperous, educated, elite upper-class leaders Commerce & industry Popular in New England Jefferson s Ideology Distrusted strong central government Strong state & local governments Popular participation in government Small farmers Popular in South & West

8 Hamilton s Economic Plan Report On Public Credit 1790 Millions of dollars in debt (75-80) 2/3 national,1/3 state debts Some owed to foreign countries Some owed to U.S. bond-holders Hamilton s Proposal Federal government assumes all state debts Issue new bonds to cover old ones Southern States Many had paid state debt Believed they would be taxed to cover debts of other states Furious about proposal

9 Plan for a National Bank Bank of the United States Funded by Federal Government and wealthy private investors Ties investors to country s economic welfare Would issue paper money, handle government funds Opposition (James Madison) Wealthy businesses would run the country No provision in Constitution Strict interpretation of Constitution (Federal Government s powers very limited)

10 District of Columbia Political Compromise (1790) Southerners agree to Back the Bank of the United States Capital is moved from New York to a new city in the South Madison & Jefferson believe this make the government more sensitive to Southern Interests

11 The First Political Parties and Rebellion President Washington tried to remain above arguments between Hamilton and Jefferson and to encourage them to work together despite their basic differences. These differences were so great, however, that the two men continued to clash over government policy. Their conflict divided the cabinet and fueled a growing division in national policies. ~The Americans. Page 186.

12 Federalists and Democrat-Republicans First Political Parties Caused concern for national unity Two-party system Federalists Support Hamilton s views Want a strong central government Democrat-Republicans Support Jefferson s views Want strong state autonomy Ancestors of today s democratic party

13 The Whiskey Rebellion 1794 Protective Tariff Tax on imports Passed in 1789 Meant to encourage American production Excise Tax Tax on manufacture or sale of a product Small Appalachian Farmers Distilled corn into whiskey because corn was too bulky to transport Refuse to pay tax Tar & feather tax officials Put down by 13-15,000 militia under Washington s command

14 The Whiskey Rebellion