Intro to “The Young Republic” Unit, the
Bill of Rights, and Hamilton vs. Jefferson
Please pick up a unit guide and Class Notes #12 from
the cart.
Take out Focus #12 and use the first 10 minutes of
class completing Part II and whatever you haven’t
finished for Part I. Compare notes with your table.
We will:
*preview “The Young Republic” unit
*focus on the Bill of Rights
*evaluate how Hamilton and Jefferson helped to
shape the first two-party system
America’s New Republic is Born
The Constitution was signed September 17, 1787 in Philadelphia and
sent to the states for ratification by the Confederation Congress.
Despite opposition from Anti-Federalists who feared the
Constitution’s broad powers, the Federalists won the ratification
debate in key states like New York and Virginia.
The Federalist Papers, written by Alexander Hamilton, James
Madison, and John Jay in 1788 played a key role in persuading the
states to vote for ratification.
A Boston
newspaper kept
track of which
states has
ratified
throughout
1787-89
The First President
After New Hampshire, Virginia, and New
York ratified the Constitution in the summer
of 1788 (becoming the 9th, 10th, and 11th
states to do so) plans were made to create the
new national government.
The first capital would be in New York,
where Congress met for the first time on
March 4, 1789.
George Washington took the first presidential
oath of office on April 30, 1789 after being
unanimously elected by the electoral college.
He served as president for two terms (17891797).
The First Congress Takes Action
Among its first actions, Congress proposed a Bill of Rights and sent
it to the states for ratification. Anti-Federalists had demanded the
addition of such amendments as a condition of supporting the
Constitution’s ratification.
James Madison drafted the document and drew inspiration from
George Mason’s Virginia Declaration of Rights.
The first ten amendments were ratified on December 15, 1791.
Congress also passed the Judiciary Act of 1789 that set up the
federal courts system, including the Supreme Court.
The Bill of Rights (Amendments I-V)
I
Freedom of Religion,
Speech, Press, Assembly,
and Petition
The essential freedoms
necessary for all citizens to
express their views
II
Right to Bear Arms
Citizens have the right to
defend themselves
III No Quartering of Troops in Standing military forces are a
Private Homes in Peacetime threat to freedom (memory of
British troops?)
IV “Right to Privacy” –’ no
unwarranted searches
V
Needed to protect property
rights (memory of the writs?)
Rights of the Accused
Limits government’s power to
Guaranteed by Due Process take away freedom/property
The Bill of Rights (Amendments VI-X)
VI
Right to a Speedy &
Public Trial by Jury
Aims to guarantee justice
for all citizens
VII
Right to a Trial by Jury in
Civil Cases
Applies fair trial standards
to property cases
VIII
No Cruel or Unusual
Punishment
Fines and punishments
should not violate basic
human decency
IX
“Rights” Not Limited by
Those Spelled Out
Powers Reserved to the
States and People
Avoids limiting rights
X
Designed to limit national
government power and
preserve state’s rights
Washington’s First Cabinet
Washington created the first Cabinet of executive officers to help
him administer the government:
Secretary of State:
Thomas Jefferson
(Virginia) – handled
foreign affairs and
official government
documents
Attorney General:
Edmund Randolph
(Virginia) – chief
lawyer for the
national government
Secretary of the
Treasury: Alexander
Hamilton (New York)
– managed the
government’s
finances
Secretary of War:
Henry Knox
(Massachusetts) – ran
the military and
managed Indian
affairs
Hamilton vs. Jefferson
• Even though Washington sought to maintain unity, a division
emerged within his Cabinet between Hamilton and Jefferson
• These disagreements led to the creation of the nation’s first
two political parties – Federalists and Republicans
At the end of today’s class,
you will be asked to choose
which leader and party
appeals most to you:
Hamilton and the
Federalists
Jefferson and the
Republicans
Personal Differences
• Hamilton was born out of
wedlock in the British
West Indies
• Orphaned at an early age
• Benefactors provided him
with money to study in
New York (King’s College
– aka, Columbia)
• Served as Washington’s
aide de camp during the
Revolutionary War
• Drafted The Federalist
Papers with Madison/Jay
• First Secretary of the
Treasury
• Jefferson was born to
wealthy parents in
Virginia
• Had a relatively sheltered
upbringing
• Studied at William &
Mary College
• Served in the House of
Burgesses and the
Continental Congress
• Drafted the Declaration of
Independence
• Served as Ambassador to
France in the late 1780s
• First Secretary of State
Views on People
Leader/Party Hamilton (Federalists)
Jefferson (Republicans)
View of
People
*people are focused on
their own self-interest
and can’t be trusted
*people are generally good
and can be trusted
*only the wealthy and
well-educated should be
trusted with power
*power in the hands of a
few will lead to corruption
in government
*wealthy urban elites
have the best interests of
the country at heart and
are better educated to
make good decisions
*citizen-farmers are the
“heart” of the nation and
can make the best
decisions if provided with
good information
View of
Leadership
Views on Government
Leader/Party
Hamilton (Federalists)
Jefferson (Republicans)
View of
Government
*strong centralized
government can best
defend natural rights
*strong centralized
governments are
dangerous
*state sovereignty leads
to disunity/weakness
*states are best suited to
protect the people’s rights
*liked the wide-ranging
powers of government
*concerned it granted too
much power
*loose interpretation
(liked the elastic clause)
*strict interpretation
(liked the 10th
Amendment)
View of the
Constitution
Views on Domestic Policy
Leader/Party Hamilton (Federalists)
Debt & Taxes *favored centralized
management of national
and state debts
*favored excise taxes
and tariffs to raise
revenue and protect
American industry
Central Bank
Jefferson (Republicans)
*favored state management
of debts and taxation
*distrusted the national
government acquiring too
much power over the
economy and too much
money
*wanted a powerful bank *distrusted giving too much
to support government
power to potentially corrupt
and business
wealthy elites
Views on Foreign Policy
Leader/Party
French
Revolution
Hamilton (Federalists) Jefferson (Republicans)
*distrusted the radical
*supported the French
French Revolution
Revolution
Britain vs.
France
*pro-British – wanted to
model our system on the
British system of strong
government and banks
*pro-French – wanted to
honor our alliance with
France even if it meant
war with Britain
Jay’s Treaty
(1794)
*believed it was the best
agreement possible and
necessary to keep peace
with Britain
*believed it was a “sellout” to the British
because we didn’t get all
that we wanted
Two Visions for the Country
Hamilton envisioned a future
based on urban elites and the
growth of commerce and
industry
Jefferson saw a future based
on responsible citizenfarmers and an expanding
agrarian republic
Federalists found support in
major port cities and the
North in general
Republicans found support in
rural areas and especially in
the South
Conflict #1: National Debt & National Capital
• In 1790, Congress refused to
pass Hamilton’s debt
assumption plan because of
opposition from James
Madison and other
Southerners who thought it
gave too much power to the
national government
• Once an ally of Hamilton in
the ratification debate,
• Jefferson helped work out the
Madison distrusted
“Compromise of 1790”
Hamilton’s views on
• Madison supported Hamilton’s
executive power
debt plan in exchange for
• Madison and other
Hamilton’s pledge to support
Southerners wanted the
the choice of the Potomac as the
nation’s permanent capital
site of the nation’s new capital
located in the South
Conflict #2: The Whiskey Rebellion
• Washington led 15,000
militia into western
Pennsylvania and put an
end to the rebellion,
asserting the power of the
national government
• Western Pennsylvania
farmers rebelled against
high excise taxes on
whiskey in 1794
• Federalists argued that
national power must be
asserted to demonstrate
the new country’s stability
and to make the point that
challenges to government
policy must be peaceful
• Republicans supported the
farmers, arguing that the
excise taxes were an
unfair burden
Who/what appeals to you more and
why?
Federalists vs. Republicans
Hamilton vs. Jefferson
Security vs. Liberty
Before we leave…
• Turn in Focus 12: The Bill of Rights for the
first formative grade of 2nd quarter.
• Complete Homework 6 for our next class on
Thursday – first quarter grades and tests
will be distributed at the start of that class.