4.1 America’s First Presidents
Washington thru Madison & the War of 1812
SSUSH6 The student will analyze the impact of territorial expansion and population growth and the impact of
this growth in the early decades of the new nation.
Washington Sets Precedents for American Presidents
Washington’s Presidency (1789 – 1797)
● 1789: Washington was sworn in as the 1st president and only unanimous
winner in the Electoral College
● Washington’s Cabinet:
● Cabinet- a group of advisors to the president who are
organized into special departments
● Constitution doesn’t mention a Cabinet—all presidents
follow Washington’s model
o Cabinet Members:
▪ Thomas Jefferson, Sec. of State: diplomatic/foreign affairs
▪ Alexander Hamilton, Sec. of Treasury: national financial
decisions
▪ Henry Knox, Secretary of War: national defense
▪ Edmund Randolph, Attorney General: domestic legal issues
Financing the Country
● Hamilton’s Financial Plan
1. Debt: US Gov’t would take on all previous national debts
o Gov’t bought war bonds at original value
▪ (many had depreciated 90%)
▪ Debt: $40 million to US citizens; $12 million to foreign
nations
o Hamilton believed this would strengthen the federal gov’t
▪ Much opposition from those farmers who sold their bonds
back at a low price
o Compromise: Madison and Jefferson agreed to gain southern
support if the nation’s capitol was moved from NYC to the
District of Columbia
2. Bank of the US
o Hamilton wanted a national bank to handle finances
o Southerners opposed bc they felt that northern merchants
would have larger holdings in the bank
▪ Argue that the Constitution does not state you can have a
bank
o Hamilton’s response: “necessary and proper”
▪ Strict constructionist
▪ Loose constructionist
● 1791, the Bank of the US was established for 20
years
3. Taxes and Tariffs
o Tariffs were needed to protect domestic markets and merchants
▪ Farmers opposed this because it raised the price of goods
and causes crops to receive tariffs from other nations
▪ Direct tax on whiskey to raise money for the gov’t
● In PA hundreds of farmers revolted: Whiskey
Rebellion
● Washington sent over 12,000 troops to crush the
rebellion
● showed the power of the federal government and
made many people nervous of this power
Foreign Affairs during the Washington Presidency
● French Revolution and European wars cause the US to choose sides
o Washington wanted to remain neutral and uninvolved
▪ Proclamation of Neutrality (1793)
● Believed that the US was too young and weak
o We still continued trade with French
▪ Britain seizes US ships—Americans want a war with Britain
● Jay’s Treaty
o Washington sends Chief Justice John Jay to Britain to work a treaty
o Jay brings back a treaty from Britain, Americans don’t like it!
▪ Didn’t gain compensation for American merchants who were
seized by British navy
▪ Recognized British right to patrol French ports
● Pinckney’s Treaty
o Spain, fearing a US-British alliance decided to open Mississippi R.
ports to US trade
o Est. a favorable US boundary in Florida
John Adams’ Presidency (1797 – 1801)
First Political Parties
● Federalists – members of the Federalist group that got the Constitution
ratified
o Led by Hamilton, Adams
▪ Ruled by the wealthy elite
▪ Powerful central (federal) government
▪ Loose constructionists (Elastic Clause)
▪ Protective tariffs; favors the interests of business and
industry
▪ Concentrated on and in the coastal areas (merchants)
● Democratic-Republicans – old Antifederalist party, will be called
“Republicans”
o Led by Thomas Jefferson – Jefferson’s Democratic-Republicans
(Republicans) were not the same party as today’s Republicans
▪ Ruled by informed masses and the common man
▪ Powerful state government
▪ Strict constructionists of the Constitution (believed Fed. Gov’t
only had specifically granted powers)
▪ No special favors for business and industry
▪ Concentrated on and in the south (agrarian)
Quasi War
● France angry over Jay’s Treaty and trade between US/Britain
● France seizes US ships headed for Britain
o XYZ Affair (“Millions for defense, but not 1 cent for tribute!”)
▪ US diplomats (Marshall, Pinckney, Gerry) go to France to
negotiate a peaceful treaty to the Quasi War
● US was “at war” with France politically, not literally “at
war”
▪ French officials wanted $250,000 just to begin negotiations
▪ US is outraged, Congress suspends trade with France
Alien and Sedition Acts
● Made it a crime to spread or print “false and malicious” statements
against the federal gov’t
o Laws passed by Federalists because they were worried they would
lose power with all the negative press they were getting over Jay’s
Treaty and XYZ Affairs
Shift in Power (Federalists to Republicans)
● Alien and Sedition Acts convert many people to Republicans
● Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions were drafted in response to A&S Acts
o These resolutions introduce 2 ideas: interposition and nullification
▪ Interposition: state gov’ts could intervene if federal gov’t did
something unconstitutional
▪ Nullification: states had the right to declare a law invalid
Election of 1800
Federalists: nominated John Adams
Republicans: nominated Thomas Jefferson (President) & Aaron Burr (Vice
President)
● Jefferson and Burr had equal electoral votes (73)
o Tie breaker was decided in the House of Reps.
o Congress was dominated by Federalists, and most Federalists hated
Jefferson….but Hamilton hated Burr
▪ Jefferson eventually wins the election because of Hamilton
th
● 12 Amendment separated the presidential and vice presidential tickets.
● Power was peacefully shifted from one party to the next
●
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfeuU0NB5lg
Jefferson’s Presidency (1801 – 1809)
Jefferson sought to bring a more informal style to the presidency
● He sought to limit the central gov’t power
o cut government spending
o ended the Whiskey Tax
● Jefferson was pro-French, anti-British, and strived for neutrality
Rise of the Supreme Court
Marbury v Madison (1803)
● Defined the Supreme Court’s power
● Chief Justice John Marshall (Federalist) rules against William Marbury
(Federalist) b/c the Judiciary Act of 1789, which Marbury was using for his
suit, was unconstitutional
● Supreme Court gained its power to check the other Federal branches
through judicial review
o judicial review: the courts decide whether a law is constitutional
Louisiana Purchase
● Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million—
828,000 square miles (3 cents per acre)
o Doubled the size of the US
o Is this even constitutional?
Lewis and Clark’s Expedition
● Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were commissioned by Jefferson in
1804 to explore the new territory
● Aided by Sacajawea
o Mapped this area and found that it was great for farming
o Claimed the Oregon Territory along the Pacific coast
Madison’s Presidency (1809 – 1817)
War of 1812: “Mr. Madison’s War”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMXqg2PKJZU&list=PL8dPuuaLjXtMwmepBjTSG593eG7ObzO7s&index=11
James Madison wins the election of 1808
● Madison was a very bright and capable man—but inherited mess to deal
with
Reasons for the War
1. British blockades and seizure of cargo
a. Both Britain and France did this, but most hated the British more
2. British impressment of American citizens
a. Impressment: the capture and forcing into British navy
3. British involvement in Native American conflicts on the western frontier
● Those for the war
o War Hawks: politicians who wanted war
● Those against the war
o Federalists and many Northerners
▪ Do not want to make trade problems worse
The War Begins
● Madison asked Congress for declaration of war against Great Britain
o Canadian Invasion
▪ 3 failed US invasions of Canada was a horrible start
● US didn’t have proper funding bc the US Bank charter
was about to expire
o Chesapeake (VA/MD) Campaign
▪ Britain sends a massive invasion that marches through D.C.
and burns the White House
▪ US troops draw a huge stalemate at Fort McHenry in
Baltimore
● Francis Scott Key writes “Star Spangled Banner”
o Southern Campaign
▪ Rise of Andrew Jackson
● Defeats a major British ally (Creek Nation) in Alabama
● Iconic victory at the Battle of New Orleans in Jan. 1815
o The war was already over though
▪ Why does this battle even take place???
● `Treaty of Ghent (1814)
o British & Americans very weary of war
o Madison realizes a decisive victory is unlikely, the war will result in
nothing but a stalemate, and it is costing a lot of money
o This treaty basically stops the fighting and returns all properties
back to pre-war status
Effects of War of 1812
● US gains respect of other nations
● Established a permanent Canadian boundary (49th parallel)
● Federalist party weakened
● Native Americans removed from NW Territory
● Improved US industry because of blockades
● Andrew Jackson emerges as the national hero
● William Henry Harrison would gain fame as well
● Nationalism rampant throughout the country