The New Nation Takes Form 1789-1800
Why Washington? You must be this tall to ride.
Aside from being a slam up decorator.?
Was he the hottest founding father?
Chick Magnet?
Hero
John Adams Vice-President April 30, 1789 George Washington becomes President.
President Washington Wash inaugural Washington works out of New York City and Philadelphia New Constitution and Government take effect on April 30, 1789
Cabinet advises the President and heads up cabinet an agency of the government Department of State-----Foreign affairs Thomas Jefferson---- Secretary of State Department of Treasury----- Finances Alexander Hamilton- Secretary of Treasury Department of War-- Military affairs Henry Knox----Secretary of War Attorney General----Legal affairs Edmund Randolph---Dept. of Justice Postmaster General---Postal system Samuel Osgood
The Public Debt and Taxes Many citizens thought the gov t would never be able to pay back their debt. Therefore, they sold their bonds to speculators at a loss. Rich get richer Madison against the plan Jefferson also feared the plan He favors Creditors over Debtors Sees importance to keep money moving Provide for the War Bonds and loans so as not to lose respect from other nations Keep country indebt as a way to commit rich people to US success
Luxury Tax Excise tax: 25% tax on distilled spirits Whiskey Tax drinking down the national debt
Tariff Benefits : - raise money for government - foreign goods are made more expensive - people buy more U.S. made goods - Americans = jobs
BUS HAMILTON Safe place to deposit and transfer money Provide loans to government and state banks A national currency---$$$$$ An investment by people to buy stock into US bank Constitution did not forbid a national bank. Loose construction of Constitution National debt good for country JEFFERSON Against the Constitution State banks would collapse Only wealthy could invest in bank and would control bank than control the government Pro- common man & State s rights Strict construction If it is not mentioned in the Constitution than there can t be a national bank. Against a national debt
Hamilton s Compromise The South agreed to The North agreed to allow the federal government to take over the debts of the northern states. move the capital of the U.S. to the South. (Washington, D.C.)
was pro-british vs. was pro-french Alexander Hamilton Thomas Jefferson Favored trade, manufacturing and cities Believed that the federal government should have more power than the states Believed in a loose interpretation of the Constitution Favored farmers and rural communities Believed that states should have more power than the federal government (state s rights) Believed in a strict interpretation of the Constitution
Hamilton vs. Jefferson Views on France s Revolution Hamilton Abhorred violence and social disruption of the French Revolution Jefferson Admired France s republican revolution Assisted in writing protest document: Declaration of the Rights of Man Many feel he over-stepped his authority as an ambassador
Edmond Genêt by Ezra Ames, 1809 1810 Citizen Edmond Genêt's visit caused the first major diplomatic crisis. Washington sees Genet officially, but expresses America's intention of remaining neutral Internal divisions between Federalists and Democratic-Republican societies increased.
Proclamation of Neutrality Washington argued that the new nation was not strong enough to get involved in the political conflicts of Europe. He issued a Proclamation of neutrality in 1793. Thomas Jefferson resigned from the Cabinet in disagreement with Washington s order.
Trouble in Paradise: Conflicts West, East, and South West: The Indians British Forts Mississippi River Across Atlantic: France and England South: Haitian Revolution Florida
Treaty of Greenville (1795) Federal government took steps to legitimate incursions into Indian homelands by persuading selected chiefs of northwest to cede all rights to Ohio Valley Treaty ceded almost two-thirds of present day Ohio and Indiana. Many tribes protested such treaties on grounds that signers were not legitimate spokesmen
Across the Atlantic: France 1789 England and France at it again Louis XVI executed lost We are facing pressure to choose a side French Revolution out of hand Reign of Terror France expects support: Franco-American Treaty What were we worried about? Excessive democracy 1778 we promised aid to France but which one? Technically the government we promised to help was dead 1793 Washington issues Neutrality Proclamation We can preserve trade relations with both We are safe from burden of financial and manpower loss
Across Atlantic & Back Yard: England British are stopping our ships They take liberty to search and seize men suspected of desertion from British navy Impressment They also have been known to take some of the cargo They capture @ 300 ships British forts in wilderness endangered settlers lives To avoid unnecessary war or embarrassment We sent John Jay to England to work up a treaty
Jay s Treaty Not well accepted by many Americans. Perceived as too favorable to British interests at the expense of American interests. Justice Supreme Court why him? Nothing else to do Seen as Pro-British (as are most Federalists) Main Purpose: Strengthen commercial ties Compensation for Ships Forts? Fur Trade on our land
The Jay Treaty John Jay s effigy is burnt in several states in protest to treaty. Many Americans, especially Democratic-Republicans, believed he sold out. British remove forts from US soil when possible for them Allowed British to continue fur trade on American soil British agreed but required US to pay old pre- Revolution debts British agreed to pay some damages for ships Allowed US to negotiate separate treaties with Indian tribes without their interference Did not address impressment
Spain cut off our farmers right to use the Mississippi River and deposit their crops in New Orleans. Picnkneys Pinckney s Treaty: Spain gave US the free use of the Mississippi River for 5 yrs Boundary set at 31 st parallel between Spanish Florida and US
Pinckney Treaty, 1795 Spain decided to consolidate North American holdings Thomas Pinckney (SC) negotiated for the right of deposit on the Mississippi River and the port of New Orleans without paying duties to Spain. He also accepted border at 31 st parallel for Florida territory. Popular treaty by a Southern Democratic-Republican who was perceived as manhandling the Spanish to gain American demands
Farmers refused to pay Hamilton s excise tax Believed it unfairly targeted their niche of income Attacked tax collectors Referred to as the Whiskey Rebels
Washington July 28, 1795 While I feel the most lively gratitude for the many instances of approbation from my country; I can no otherwise deserve it, than by obeying the dictates of my conscience.
Justification and Whiskey Rebels Westerners saw this as unwarranted over use of force on common people Democratic-Republicans strong in South and grew stronger in West Jefferson, became the government s chief critic He gained political popularity as a champion of the western farmer
Washington Has Had Enough After 2 Terms: Farewell Address published September 17, 1796 Hamilton assisted in its writing Washington explained why he would not seek a third term as president He gave advice for the future Urged nation s political leaders to avoid political and regional factions Sectionalism Warned of danger of development of political parties Remove America from foreign entanglements
1 st Political Parties Impact of Farewell Address Washington s administration was non-partisan. Jefferson s resignation from cabinet signaled advent of political parties.