CHAPTER 8
I.
First President under the federal Constitution
A. General Washington was elected at 57 years old.
1. Washington took office on April 30, 1789.
2. Inauguration was in NYC (the capital at the time)
3. Vice President – John Adams
4. Washington established precedents.
“Mr. President"
B. The Cabinet- Made up of the leaders of the three
departments of the Executive Branch.
1. The State Department was led by Thomas
Jefferson (Sec. of State) and handled relations
with other nations.
2. The Treasury Department was led by Alexander
Hamilton (Sec. of Treasury) and handled financial
matters.
3. The War Department was led by Henry Knox
(Sec. of War) and handled the nation’s defense.
4. Attorney General was Edmund Randolph and
handled the government’s legal affairs and the
office of postmaster general.
5. Washington had the power to dismiss members
of his cabinet without the Senate’s approval.
C. First Congress
1. Judiciary Act of 1789 (State Courts VS Federal
Courts) State courts will remain but Federal
Courts had the power to reverse state decisions.
2. Federal court system-13 District courts and 3
Circuit courts
3. John Jay – Chief Justice Supreme Court
4. Bill of Rights – Dec. 15, 1791 (220 years ago!)
a. Congress passed 12 amendments
b. States ratified 10 amendment
D. Financial problems – National debt
1. Hamilton’s plan- Pay off debts
a. The Federal Government will pay off debt to
other countries not the states.
b. Pay off state’s debt so that they would have an
interest in the success of the national
government.
2. Opposition to plan
a. Congress was against pay off to state’s debt
and individuals.
b. Southern state’s felt they may have to give
more money to the Federal government even
though they had less debt than the Northern
states under Hamilton’s Plan.
c. Hamilton and Congress agreed to move the
nation’s capital to the South between Maryland
and Virginia- Washington D.C. in exchange for
Southern support to pay off debt.
E. Building the economy- Hamilton wants to create a
National Bank
1. Fight over National Bank
a. States had already established banks
b. Madison /Jefferson(National Bank is
unconstitutional and would benefit the wealthy
class.)
c. Hamilton & Jefferson write opinions for the
Pres.
d. National Bank – approved by Washington
2. Tariff & Taxes
a. Protective Tariff- Tax on imports- This
would encourage people to buy American products
and protect American industry from foreign
competition.
b. 90% of US Revenue came from Protective
tariffs by the 1790’s.
c. Hamilton also proposes a tax on whiskey
made in the US. The tax passes congress.
Jefferson and Madison did not like Hamilton’s economic
policies. They felt the Federal government had too much
economic power and would be dominated by the wealthy
class.
II.
Early Challenges
A. Whiskey Rebellion
1. Farmers protest the whiskey tax. July 1794 tax
official stepped up efforts to collect the tax.
Armed protesters responded violently, attacking
tax collectors and burning down buildings.
2. Washington + 13000 soldiers went to crush
rebellion.
3. This sent the message that in order to change the
government it must be done peacefully and the
government will use force to maintain the peace.
B. Struggle over West
1. Foreign powers in West
a. American settlers continued to move west.
Many times the American settlers ignored
treaties not to settle in areas that were
promised to Native Americans.
b. The Native Americans turn to the British and
Spanish help against the Americans. Both
groups helped the Native Americans because
they wanted to stop the growth of the U.S.
British/Native Am. Aggressive.
c. British still maintaining forts in the West and
encourage Natives to attack American
settlements.
d. Washington sends troops under General
Author St. Clair. The Americans lose a battle to
Chief Little Turtle of the Miami people.
2. American Victories in West
a. Battle of Fallen Timbers
b. Gen. Wayne defeats Chief Blue Jacket
c. Treaty of Grenville w/12 Indian Nations
d. Opens most of OH to American settlement.
C. French Revolution (1793) - the French people
executed the King, Queen, and a lot of the nobility.
France then goes to war with Britain in late 1793.
1. Washington Proclaims Neutrality
a. Congress is divided. North supports Britain
the South supports French. The French
recruit Am. to attack British
b. Proclamation of Neutrality-prohibit Americans
from fighting for either side.
c. Impressment- British force captured
Americans into Brit. Navy
2. Treaties with Britain and Spain
a. Jay’s Treaty- treaty with Britain. Britain agreed
to leave American soil, settled debts, and
opened trade with the Caribbean.
b. Pinckeny’s Treaty- treaty with Spain opened
the Mississippi River to Americans and
allowed them to trade in New Orleans.
D. Washington’s Farewell
1. 1796- Washington will not seek a 3rd term (sets
precedent) he was 64 years old.
a. In Washington’s “Farewell Address” he
warned about the evils of political parties and
the entanglement in foreign affairs.
b. This address influenced American foreign
policy for over 100 years.
c. The Farewell Address is read each year in
Senate on Washington’s Birthday.
III.
First Political Party
A. Opposing Views- stemmed from regional and
philosophical differences.
1. Distrust of Political Parties- Some Americans
viewed political parties as divisive and not good
for the country (ex. George Washington)
a. Partisan- supporting one side of an issue.
Supporting one group on every issue.
2. Political Parties emerge
a. Federalist- Stood for a strong Federal
Government. Admired Britain or Supported
alliance with Britain. (Alexander Hamilton)
b. Democratic-Republican- Stood for limited
government. Feared a Federal Government
with too much power. Admired France and
IV.
supported an alliance with France. (Thomas
Jefferson)
3. Views of Constitution
a. Implied powers- powers not expressed in the
Constitution. Alexander Hamilton used Implied
Powers as a way to set up the National Bank.
Jefferson agreed that implied power exist but it
should be used when necessary to carry out
the expressed powers.
4. People’s role
a. Federalist support representative government
with limited public involvement
b. Republicans fear strong central government
would limit personal liberties. The people
needed to be involved in order to protect their
freedom.
5. Washington’s dilemma- Washington wanted
Hamilton and Jefferson to work together.
Jefferson cannot work with Hamilton and he
resigns as Secretary of State. Hamilton resigns
too and they begin leading their groups.
(Federalist and Democratic-Republicans)
6. Election of 1796- First election with political
parties.
a. Federalist and Democratic-Republicans hold
meetings called Caucuses to choose their
candidates.
b. Federalist select John Adams to run.
c. Democratic-Republicans select Thomas
Jefferson.
d. Adams wins with 71 electoral votes! During
this time the person with the second most
votes became Vice President. Jefferson
became Vice President to Adams.
President John Adams
A. XYZ Affair- France did not like Jay’s Treaty and
saw it as the Americans supporting Britain. French
navy begin seizing American ships that were
trading with Britain. Adams sends delegates to
France to work smooth things over. France refuses
and sends three agents to offer a bribe to the
Americans. Adams referred to the French Agents as
X, Y, and Z.
B. Undeclared War with France
1. America never officially declares war on
France, but America increases to size of its
army and Navy. The French and Americans
fight from 1798-1800 before negotiating a
treaty. Americans start to view France as an
enemy. This hurts the DemocraticRepublicans.
C. Alien & Sedition Acts
Sedition-activities that aim at weakening
established government. This act was very
controversial and led to a fight on the floor of
congress between Matthew Lyon (RepublicanDemocrat) and Roger Griswold (Federalist)
1. Alien Act- allowed the president to imprison
aliens or people considered dangerous out of
the country.
a. Naturalization Act- required immigrants to live
in the country for 14 years before becoming
eligible to become a citizen.
2. Sedition act- made it a crime to speak write or
publish “false, scandalous, and malicious”
criticism of the government.
D. States’ Rights
1. Nullify- legally overturn
2. Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions 1798 and 1799Said the Alien and Sedition Acts were
unconstitutional. Also suggested that State could
nullify federal laws found unconstitutional.
E. Election of 1800
1. Adam vs. Jefferson
2. Adam was hurt by not wanting to declare
war on France and searching for a peaceful
solution. Members of his own party did not
support him anymore. This allowed
Jefferson to win the election.