The New Republic
“The Federalist Era”
1789-1800
Mr. Owens
Crash Course 9: Where US Politics Came From
Essential Questions:
• What were the key precedents established by Washington
and Adams and which key government institutions were
created?
• What were the causes of the emergence of the first party
system and what were the key positions and leaders of the
Federalists and Democratic-Republicans?
• What were the key treaties signed by representatives of
United States government during the Federalist period?
• Why did the French Revolution and the ensuring war
between Britain and France cause political tension in
America?
Washington Presidency (1789-1797)
• Chosen unanimously as 1st President, J. Adams VP
• Inaugurated in New York 4/30/1789
• Washington’s Cabinet: Sec. of State - Jefferson,
Treasury - Hamilton, War - Henry Knox, Attorney
General - Edmund Randolph
• Judiciary Act of 1789: established Supreme Court
with a Chief Justice (John Jay) and 5 additional
Justices & 13 District Courts & 3 circuit courts of
appeals.
• Hamilton’s Economic Program:
– Supported by Northern Merchants
– Opposed by South, Jefferson & Anti-Federalists
1. Report on Public Credit: Pay off national war
debt in full & Assumption of state debts,
compromise= move capitol to DC
2. Report on Manufactures: Protect infant
industries through tariff & create revenue –
Congress passed moderate tariff but rejected
“protective tariff” so pushed for excise tax on
liquor for revenue.
3. 2nd Report on Public Credit: A privately owned
National Bank for federal deposits & printing
currency, used “Necessary & Proper” Clause
which upset many including Madison
Foreign Affairs
•
•
•
•
•
•
The French Revolution (1789) Jefferson pushed for support for
revolutionaries called for alliance against Britain seizing US ships,
Federalists opposed: horrified by “mob rule” & executions.
Haitian Revolution (1791) US loaned France $ and sold weapons
to French planters to suppress it – why? Rebel victory in 1793
led to harsher slave codes in South
Proclamation of Neutrality (1793) US remain neutral in conflict
between England & France, Jefferson resigned.
“Citizen” Edmond Genet: threatened neutrality by appealing
directly to American people for support for French. Recalled but
became US citizen.
Jay Treaty (1794) Chief Justice John Jay sent to Britain to deal
with impressment, but Britain only agreed to vacate western
frontier forts – angry response & Neutrality unpopular.
Pinckney Treaty (1795) Thomas Pinckney sent to Spain, Spain
feared US-British alliance, agreed to give open New Orleans port
& Mississippi to US trade & accepted Florida border on 31st
parallel.
Domestic Issues
• American Indian conflict:
– Northwest Confederacy under Chief Little Turtle
formed to stop western settlement in Ohio Valley
supported by British
– Defeated at Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794) by US
under Gen. Anthony Wayne
– Treaty of Greenville (1795) tribes cede Ohio Valley
but government promises that future land can
only be taken by treaty
• Whiskey Rebellion (1794) western PA farmers revolted
against tax collectors of excise tax on whiskey.
Washington federalized 15,000 state militia men
under Hamilton’s command – rebellion collapsed with
little bloodshed. Divided reaction.
• Western Lands: Congress encouraged rapid
settlement of territory: Public Land Act (1796) orderly
process of dividing & selling federal land – new states:
Vermont (1791), Kentucky (1792), Tennessee (1796)
First Two Party System
• Caused by Federalist v. Anti-Federalist
debate, Hamilton’s program, & French
Revolution – formed by 1796
• Federalists (Hamilton, John Adams) –
Loose interpretation & strong central
government, Pro-British, strong army &
navy, economy based on manufacturing
and trade, popular in Northeast
• Democratic-Republicans (Jefferson,
Madison) – Strict Interpretation, strong
State government, Pro-French, individual
rights, and rural farming economy,
popular in South and Frontier.
Washington’s Farewell Address
• Aided by Hamilton & printed in newspapers in late 1796
• Warned Americans against:
1.
Getting too involved in European affairs
2.
Forming Political Parties
3.
Permanent Alliances & Foreign Influence
4.
Falling into sectionalism
• Set Two-Term precedent not broken until FDR in 1940
Election of 1796
Election of 1796: Adams wins, but rival
Jefferson comes in 2nd & becomes VP
(12th Amendment in 1804 changes
system)
John Adams Presidency (1797-1801)
• Term dominated by political divide over “Quasi
War” with France
• XYZ Affair (1797) U.S. merchant ships seized by
French, delegation including John Marshall sent,
agents “XYZ” demanded bribe – rejected led to call
for war – but Adams demanded peace
• Created the Department of Navy
• Alien & Sedition Acts (1798) Federalists passed
Naturalization Act increasing 5 to 14 years for
citizenship, Alien Acts allowed president power to
deport dangerous aliens & arrest in time of war,
Sedition Act: newspaper editors could not criticize
the president or Congress (repealed in 1801)
• Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions (1799) (Madison &
Jefferson) Sedition Act violated 1st Amendment &
States had right to “Nullify” laws of the federal
government that exceeds their power. Nullification
issue will continue to be controversial throughout
American history
Election of 1800
• Federalists & Adams unpopular due to
Alien & Sedition Acts, & taxes for Quasi
War defense preparation
• Democratic-Republicans sweep
presidency, & both houses of Congress
• Jefferson-Burr tie Hamilton convinced
Federalist lame duck House to choose
Jefferson
• “Midnight Appointments” Adams
appointed numerous new justices
including John Marshall as Chief Justice
– Federalists remained in control of
Judicial Branch for decades
• “Revolution of 1800”?