LAUNCHING A NEW NATION

LAUNCHING A NEW NATION 1789-1815

REMEMBER The U.S. had gained its independence but it had to prove to the world that it was a STRONG country Step 1: Organize the government so the country is internally strong Step 2: Work on Foreign Relations and trade (make friends) Step 3: Expand to get land and become a physically strong nation

STEP ONE: Organize the government so the country is internally strong

NEW GOVERNMENT TAKES SHAPE New government = bold experiment first government in the world based on republican ideas and individual rights We are in a wilderness without a single footstep to guide us -- James Madison

NEW GOVERNMENT TAKES SHAPE Washington unanimously elected first president inaugurated in New York City on April 6, 1789 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm5upqucnhk&list=plqunminw vnsvistcxdrzeutj9wgoybn7t

JUDICIAL SYSTEM Constitution advocated for a judicial system No information about it s organization First task of Washington and Congress was to create a judicial system Judiciary Act of 1789 created a judicial structure for a federal court system headed by the Supreme Court set up a Supreme Court with 1 Chief Justice and 5 associate justices (6 total -- Today we have 9 total) Section 25 of the Judiciary Act allowed state court decisions to be appealed to a federal court when Constitutional Issues were raised

EXECUTIVE BRANCH Washington took office in 1789 Executive Branch consists of President & Vice President Congress created three executive departments to help govern Department of State: Deal with foreign affairs Department of War: Handle military matters Department of Treasury: Manage finances

EXECUTIVE BRANCH Washington s cabinet Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury Henry Knox as Secretary of War O r i g inally, Wa s h i n gton d i d n ot p l a n on h aving a c a b i n et b u t s oon h e b e g a n m e eting w i t h t h e m of ten to g et a d v ice a n d t h e i d e a of a c a b i n et s t u c k! I t i s c a l l ed a c a b i n et a f te r a term u s e d i n B r i t a in to d e s c ribe a d v isors to t h e K i n g. Today t h e c a b i n et h a s 15 executi ve d e p ar t m e nts. T h e c a b i n et m e ets a t t h e r e q u e s t of t h e p r e s ident a n d f r e q u en c y of t h e m e etings v a ries f r om p r e s i den t to p r e s i dent

HAMILTON S ECONOMIC PLANS Alexander Hamilton (AH) Secretary of Treasury http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnff7nmigne Problems: USA was in debt USA needed a way to collect money Public debt in 1790 = millions of dollars owed to Foreign Governments Private Citizens (mostly soldiers) National govt responsible for 2/3rds of debt Individual states responsible for rest Hamilton is worried that if the countr y did not pay of f the debt ASAP then it would never be able to get a loan again!

HAMILTON S ECONOMIC PLANS Three Step Plan 1: Pay off all foreign debts ASAP 2: Issue new bonds to soldiers 3: Have the federal govt take over the debts of the states AH s Reasoning Taking over the state debts would give creditors (the people who loaned the money) reason to support the new govt If govt failed, creditors would never get their money back Opposition (Who didn t like this plan?) Southern States already paid off most debts & didn t want to help Northern states pay off their debts

HAMILTON S ECONOMIC PLANS Plan for a National Bank Bank of the United States funded by wealthy private investors and the federal government Arguments against the bank It would create an alliance between the government and the wealthy (which would hurt the poor) Unconstitutional? Constitution never said anything about having a federal bank

HAMILTON S ECONOMIC PLANS AH s arguments FOR the national bank Wealthy investors would have a reason to help the govt and make sure govt succeeded Bank would print its own money stable currency that everyone could use Bank of the United States established in 1797 Only lasted 20 years Today we have the Federal Reserve which is kind of like a BUS. It issues the national currency and regulates banking. However, it is not jointly owned by just the wealthy and the federal gov t. It is a public company that has to follow rules like everyone else

DEBT PLAN LEADS TO D.C. AH wants support from Southern States on debt plan Suggests moving national capital from NYC to a city in the South 1790: Debt bill passed Congress authorization for construction of new national capital in the District of Columbia located between MD & VA

INTERPRETING THE CONSTITUTION The debate over a national bank brought up an even bigger debate: How do we use the Constitution?? There were two dif ferent views on this debate as well: Strict Interpretation of the Constitution: Govt should be EXACTLY how it is laid out in the Constitution: no more, no less Gives federal govt very limited power What Jefferson and Democratic-Republicans believed Loose Interpretation of the Constitution: Govt can do MORE than just what is said in the Constitution Gives federal govt much more power What Hamilton and the Federalists believed

REVIEW Issue Hamilton Jefferson Personal Background Nature of Human Beings Best Form of Govt Ideal Economy Relations with Britain & France View on Constitution

TENSION IN CABINET B oth H a milton a n d Jef f er son were b r i l l iant b u t t h ey h a d VERY d i f ferent v i ews on g overnmen t a n d of ten e n d e d u p i n h e a ted d e b ates d u r i ng Wa s h i n gton s c a b i n et m e etings Hamilton vs. Jefferson Born in poverty in the British West Indies Orphaned at 13 Came to America and went to college Joined the Continental Army and became an aide to General Washington Had little faith in the common citizen Usually sided with the rich What issues do you foresee being points of disagreement for these two? Born into a wealthy Virginia family Was part of the VA legislature, governor of VA, minister to France Owned a plantation (Monticello) in VA with slaves Invented many things Founded the University of Virginia Strong ally of the small farmer

TENSION IN THE CABINET Hamilton Believed in a strong, central govt led by a wealthy elite group of citizens Believed that commerce and industry were the keys to a strong nation Gained support in the North, particularly New England Jefferson Distrusted strong, central govt and rich people Liked strong state govt & govts rooted in popular participation (everyone voting) Favored a society of farmers Gained support in the South & West Who do you agree with more? Hamilton or Jefferson?

FEDERALISTS & DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICANS This split helped give rise to the country s first political parties Conflicts between Hamilton & Jefferson divided the cabinet and fueled a division in national politics Political parties formed around the key issue of the power and size of the federal government Federalists Shared Hamilton s views of a strong, central (or FEDERAL) govt Democratic-Republicans Supported Jefferson s views of strong, state governments

Year Hamiltonians Jeffersonians c.1792 Federalists Democratic Republicans c. 1816 Death of Federalists c. 1820 Republicans One Party: Era of Good Feelings c. 1825 National Republicans Democratic-Republicans (Jacksonian Democrats) 1834 Whigs Democrats 1854 Republicans To Present To Present

WHISKEY REBELLION Tension between federal (national) and regional interests 1789, Congress had passed a protective tariff on goods produced in Europe. Protective tariff: puts tax on all goods being shipped into the country Encouraged American production Brought in a lot of money Hamilton wanted more Pushed through an excise tax to be put on the manufacture of whiskey Excise tax: A tax on a product s manufacture, sale, or distribution

WHISKEY REBELLION Whiskey producers = small frontier farmers Whiskey was main source of income Furious when Hamilton s excise tax was approved 1794: Farmers from western PA refused to pay the tax Beat up federal marshals and even threatened to secede from USA Response of the federal government: President Washington sent 15,000 militiamen to PA (led by AH) Scattered rebels and ended rebellion without any casualties Showed strength & power of the new federal government

Remember The U.S. had gained its independence but it had to prove to the world that it was a STRONG countr y Step 1: Organize the government so the country is internally strong STEP TWO: Work on foreign relations and trade (make friends)

REVIEW During American Revolution, the Treaty of 1778 had created an alliance between USA & France After the American Revolution came the French Revolution! In 1793, a radical group called the Jacobins seized power in France and beheaded the French King Also declared war on other monarchies, including Great Britain

FRENCH REVOLUTION French expected American help in war against Britain French had helped the Americans during the Revolution Both sides viewed America as a potential military threat largest neutral supplier = could supply either side with goods (weapons, food, ammunition, etc) USA reaction is split Federalists (Hamilton) support Great Britain Democratic-Republicans (Jefferson) support French President Washington issued a Declaration of Neutrality America would not support either side in the war Federalists call TJ radical for supporting France TJ resigned from the cabinet in 1793

TREATY WITH SPAIN US wanted to: secure the land west of the Appalachian Mountains gain access to the Mississippi River US tried to make a treaty with Spain, (held FL and Louisiana Territory) October 1795: Thomas Pinckney (American minister to Britain) met with Spain and signed Pinckney s Treaty of 1795 Spain gave up all land east of Mississippi River except FL Spain agreed to open Mississippi River to all Spanish people and US citizens

NATIVE AMERICAN RESISTANCE Pioneers began moving into the lands west of the Appalachians Two problems: British soldiers 1783 Treaty of Paris (ended the Revolutionary War) stated British had to leave USA British maintained forts in the Northwest Territory for trading with the Indians Natives did not want to give up land

NATIVE AMERICAN RESISTANCE Natives refused to follow the Treaty of Paris (US owned the NW Territory) Natives not invited to attend treaty negotiations even though they lived in NW territory Natives fought pioneers moving in on NW land British often helped natives in fights by giving them guns 1790 Federal Govt wants to claim Ohio Territory Sent army who clashed with confederacy of Native groups Miami Confederacy, led by Little Turtle Native Americans win battle

BATTLE OF FALLEN TIMBERS 1792, President Washington appointed General Wayne to lead federal troops against Natives August 20, 1794, Wayne defeated Miami Confederacy at Battle of Fallen Timbers Victory ends Native resistance in OH 1795 Miami Confederacy signed Treaty of Greenville Miami Conf. gives up most of Ohio = $20,000 worth of goods & annual payment of $9,000 from federal govt Significance: U.S. government began paying natives much less for their land than what it was worth Peace on the Homefront?

JAY S TREATY John Jay in London to negotiate a treaty with Britain get British soldiers out of USA News of victory at Fallen Timbers = British agree to evacuate posts in NW territory Allowed British to continue fur trade on US side of the US-Canadian border Made many Americans angry

WASHINGTON S FAREWELL ADDRESS Main Ideas: 1. America is awesome The name of American, which I that belongs will the only free to say you Constitution, that in your I have, national with which good is intentions, the capacity, work of contributed must your always hands, towards exalt may the be the organization just sacredly pride of and maintained; patriotism administration more that its than of the administration any government appellation the in derived best every exertions department from local of which may be a stamped very discriminations fallible with judgment wisdom was and capable virtue

WASHINGTON S FAREWELL ADDRESS Main Ideas: 2. Political Parties are bad It serves always to distract the public councils warn you and in enfeeble the most the solemn public administration. manner against It agitates the the baneful community with ill-founded effects of jealousies the spirit and of party false alarms, kindles the animosity generally of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption

WASHINGTON S FAREWELL ADDRESS Main Ideas: 3. Foreign Alliances are no good The great rule of conduct for us passionate Observe a passionate good attachments faith attachment and for justice others, of towards should one in regard nation to be all excluded; nations; for foreign another nations cultivate and that, produces is in peace in place a extending our commercial and of relations, them, harmony just variety to and of have with amicable evils with all them feelings as towards little political all should connection be cultivated as possible

ADAMS PROVOKES CRITICISM Election of 1796 First election with opposing parties Federalists = John Adams (Pres), Thomas Pickney (VP) Dem-Reps = Thomas Jefferson (Pres), Aaron Burr (VP) Results: Adams (Pres) Jefferson (VP) Significance: Danger of sectionalism Placing interests of one region over those of the nation

ADAMS TRIES TO AVOID WAR President Adams s first crisis = upcoming war with France Why? Jay s Treaty with Britain is violation of French-American alliance France began to seize US ships headed towards Britain Solve crisis by sending 3 diplomats (Charles Pinckney, John Marshall, and Elbridge Gerry) to France to negotiate Plan to meet with the French Foreign minister (Talleyrand) met with three low-level officials known as X, Y, & Z 3 officials demand $250,000 bribe from Americans to SEE foreign minister

The Paris Monster On the right: 5 members of the French Directory. On the left: 3 American Representatives Cease Bawling, Monster! We will not give you six-pence!

ADAMS TRIES TO AVOID WAR XYZ Affair huge insult to America Americans hate / want to go to war with France 1798, Congress created a navy and authorized American ships to seize French ships War never officially declared 2 years of undeclared naval war between France and the US

ALIEN & SEDITION ACTS Federalists fear French agents in USA trying to overthrow govt Americans hate France and loved conspiracy theories they believed what the Federalists were saying Federalists convinced many Americans that ALL immigrants = potential enemies of USA Most immigrants were members of the Dem-Rep party (very convenient for Federalists) 1798: Alien and Sedition Acts Immigrants must live in US for 14 years (instead of 5) to become a citizen President can deport any alien (immigrant) President can jail any alien People could get jailed or fined for saying bad things about the government