George Washington
The First President(1789-1796)
The Unwritten Constitution
and Washington’s involvement
 Governmental practices and
institutions not specifically
set down in the Constitution
but based on custom,
practice, and tradition.
Unwritten Constitution and G.W.
 First Cabinet
 Two Terms
 President Influencing
Foreign and Domestic
Politics
 Farewell Address
The First Cabinet
 Secretary of the Treasury
Alexander Hamilton
 Secretary of State
Thomas Jefferson
 Secretary of War (Later
Sect. of Defense)
Henry Knox
 Attorney General
Edmund Randolph
Foreign Policy
 The nation was too weak to get involved
with other countries so US stayed neutral
 The US did not get involved in the war
between England and France


Pressure from France because they helped us
with the American Revolution
Pressure from England because Britain was an
important country to trade with for America’s
economy
Proclamation of Neutrality (1793)
 Neutrality – a foreign policy of not choosing to
support any nations involved in a war
 France went to war with Britain, Spain, and the
Netherlands in 1793; asked US for military
support
 George Washington responded with his
PROCLAMATION OF NEUTRALITY of 1793
“a conduct friendly and impartial toward the
belligerent powers.”
 Congress passed a law forbidding Americans to
help England or France
Jay Treaty: 1795
 John Jay was sent to Britain by Washington
to make a treaty with Britain mostly about
economic issues
 Accomplishments: Britain agreed to
withdraw troops from western forts and
ease restrictions on American trade to
England and to the West Indies
 This treaty avoided war with England
Washington’s Farewell
Address
 (1) Washington served TWO terms

He stated he would not run again
Washington’s Farewell Address
 (2) Urged Americans to stay away
from political parties

Washington said political parties would
weaken the unity of Americans
Washington’s Farewell Address
 (3) Advised the country to stay neutral


Warned against making long- term
agreements with foreign nations
Lead to isolationism until the end of the
1800s
Farewell Address
George Washington
In 1795, as he neared the end of his second term, President George
Washington wrote his famous Farewell Address. In it, he gave his
views on the best policies for the young republic to follow. The
following excerpt is from Washington’s Farewell Address.
I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State,
with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical
[bases]. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you
in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of
party, generally. . . .
It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the
public administration. It
agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms,
kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments
occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to for-eign
influence and corruption. . . .
The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in
extending our commercial relations to have with them as little
political connection as possible. So far as we have already
formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith.
Here let us stop. . . .
It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any
portion of the foreign world, so far, I mean as we are now at
liberty to do it; for let me not be understood as capable of
[supporting] infidelity to existing engagements. I hold the maxim
no less applicable to pub-lic than to private affairs, that honesty is
always the best policy. I repeat, therefore, let those engagements
be observed in their genuine sense. But in my opinion it is
unnecessary and would be unwise to extend them.
Taking care always to keep ourselves, by suitable
establishments, on a respectable defen-sive posture, we may
safely trust to temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies.
Financial Policy
 The US had huge debt from war (about $40
million)
 This was dealt with by Alexander Hamilton


Alexander Hamilton was the First Secretary of
the Treasury
He introduced a financial plan to Congress with
the purpose of building a strong central
government
Hamilton’s Financial Plan
 (1) Paying off all war debts


Pay off the debt from the Revolutionary
War
Passed with the help of Jefferson
• South agreed to pay off the war debt and the
North agreed to move the nation’s capital
from NYC to an area on the Potomac River
in Washington, D.C.
Hamilton’s Financial Plan
 (2) Raising Revenues

Tariffs (taxes on foreign goods) would become
the main source of government revenue

Highest on foreign goods that could be made in
America (PROTECTIVE TARIFF)
Hamilton’s Financial Plan

EXCISE TAX: tax on domestic goods (lead to
the Whiskey Rebellion)

Tariffs would (1) raise revenue, and (2) help
American manufacturing
Hamilton’s Financial Plan
 (3) National Bank



Would give the government a safe
place to keep its money
Issue paper money and make loans to
government and to the people
First Bank of the United States was
established in 1791
John Adams 1797-1801
John Adams
 Second President 1796-1800
 Federalist
 Aimed to create a stable and secure country,
safe for business and wealthy men of
property
John Adams
 Detested the French Revolution of 1789

because it led to mob rule and confiscation of
property
 Believed in a strict interpretation of the
Constitution
XYZ Affair




France: was upset with the Jay Treaty
Seen as an alliance with England
France seizes American merchant ships
On the verge of war, Adams sent delegates
to France
XYZ Affair, continued
 X,Y,Z want bribes to allow Americans to
talk to French Foreign Minister
 John Marshall leaves France
 Naval war lasts from 1798 – 1800
 Convention of 1800 signed in Paris
The Alien and Sedition Acts
 Sedition Act:

made it illegal for anyone to talk bad about the
gov’t
 Alien Acts:

Naturalization Act, extended the time
immigrants had to live in the United States to
become citizens from five to 14 years
The Alien and Sedition Acts
 Alien Enemies Act provided that once war
had been declared, all male citizens of an
enemy nation could be arrested, detained,
and deported
 Alien Friends Act authorized the president
to deport any non-citizen suspected of
plotting against the government during
either wartime or peacetime.
Thomas Jefferson





John Adam’s VP
Became the 3rd president
Democratic-Republican
Bitterly opposed to the Federalists
Supported the French Revolution for its
democratic ideals
Thomas Jefferson
 Represented poor farmers, craftsmen, and
recent immigrants
 Wanted to unify the Americans, especially
the political parties
 1st president to have an inauguration in the
new capital (Washington, DC)
Thomas Jefferson (1801-1808)
Thomas Jefferson
 Changes:

Asked Congress to repeal the tax on whiskey

Asked Congress to cut wait for immigrants to
become citizens from 14 years to 5 years

Congress repealed the Judiciary Act of 1801
Thomas Jefferson
 Kept some Federalist Programs:


The Bank of The United States
Continued Hamilton’s plan to pay off the war
debt
 Believed in a loose interpretation of the
Constitution
Thomas Jefferson
 Wanted to buy more land
 Led to the Louisiana Purchase
Louisiana Purchase
 Doubled the size of the US by buying the
Louisiana Territory (between Mississippi
River and the Rocky Mountains)
 Bought for $15 million
 Important because of the Port of New
Orleans (good for trading)
Louisiana Purchase
 France sold the land for 2 reasons:

1) France needs to fund wars

2) Slaves in Haiti won their independence
Lewis and Clark
 Financed by Jefferson
 1804-1807
 Explored the West
Lewis and Clark
 Purpose:

Tried to find a water route to the Pacific
Find natural resources
Make contact with Native Americans

Found 300 new species of plants and animals


Jefferson
 Embargo Act of 1807


No trade w/foreign nations (belligerent)
Hurts the US
Madison (1808-1816)
Madison
 Faces the same problem as Jefferson – still
unresolved (freedom of the seas).
 U.S. Declares War on Great Britain in 1812
Madison
 Because Federalists against war and
Jackson’s victory at New Orleans, public
opinion turns against Federalists

Federalists are going to die out> one party
Madison
 National Bank charter expires> Second
National Bank starts
 Protective Tariff of 1816


Increased tariff
$ used to start internal transportation
James Monroe (1816-1824)
James Monroe
 “Era of Good Feeling”
 Only one political party –
• The gov’t was able to get stuff done
Florida
Seminoles invade American settlements
Andrew Jackson led military and won
Spain sells Florida under Adams-Onis Treaty
James Monroe
 Monroe Doctrine
Stated:
US would stay out of European affairs
And
Europe would stay out of Western Hemisphere

John Quincy Adams 1824-1828
John Quincy Adams
 Wins a tight election vs. Jackson in 1824


Chosen by the house
Democratic-Republicans split over election
• Sectional reasons
• John Quincy Adams from the North
(Republicans/Whigs)
• Andrew Jackson from the South (Democrats)
– Gains popularity even though he loses
Andrew Jackson 1828
Andrew Jackson
 Democratic Party
 Wins election in 1828

Sectional victory - won the Western and Southern states as
well as NY and Pa.




Hero from the war of 1812
Common man
From immigrant parents
Middle class could relate to him
Andrew Jackson
• Kitchen cabinet – meets more with his friends than
with his cabinet
• Very wealthy and bright even though dubbed a
common man
Andrew Jackson
 Jacksonian Democracy – new
advancements in democracy

States become more independent
• No qualifications to vote (white males)
• Increased number of elected by people –no mo0re
upper class state gov’t choosing
Andrew Jackson
 Established national conventions to
nominate a presidential candidate
 Jackson believed the president was “a
servant of the people
Andrew Jackson
 South Carolina secession threat


Declared tariff null and void – believed the
gov’t was working for the north
Jackson threatens military force because it is
unconstitutional to secede – didn’t happen
 Whig Party develops and challenges
Jackson
 Spoils System – Jackson replaces 20% of
gov’t officials with a friend or loyal party
members

He kept people who would support him - Legal
 Rotation in Office: believed that gov’t
officials should know all jobs.. Would have
them rotate positions


Wouldn’t get too comfortable with position
Made sure the were doing their jobs
Starting to Grow
 Cheap Land in the West

$1.25 an acre

Minimum 80 acres

Continues settlement of western land
Reform Movements Begin
 Development of trade unions

Weak until after the Civil War
Social reform
•
•
•
•
Women’s rights
Abolition
Sick and mentally ill
Free public education
Territorial Expansion






Convention of 1818
Purchase of Florida
Monroe Doctrine
Manifest Destiny
The Mexican War
Other Areas
Convention Of 1818
 This treaty fixed the northern border at the
49th parallel from Minnesota to the Rocky
Mountains
 Also provided that the U.S. and Britain
occupy the Oregon Territory
Purchase of Florida
 Under the terms of the Adams-Onis Treaty,
Spain agreed to sell Florida for $5 million
 Wow!!!!!
The Monroe Doctrine 1823
Named for James Monroe
The Monroe Doctrine
Early in the 1800’s many Latin American
colonies had revolted against Spain using the
American Revolution for inspiration.
President Monroe, in 1823, was faced with
two threats: 1. An alliance Between France,
Russia, Prussia, and Austria was going to try
to regain Latin America for Spain. 2. Russia was expanding
southward into Oregon and California
The Monroe Doctrine Stated
1. The Western Hemisphere was closed to
further European colonization
2. The U.S. would not interfere in any
existing colonies in the Western
Hemisphere
The Monroe Doctrine Stated continued
3. The U.S. would not interfere in the internal
matters of any European country
4. Any attempt by European powers to
intervene in the Western Hemisphere would
be regarded as “dangerous to our peace and
safety. (This final statement didn’t commit the U.S. to a definite
course of action in case of European intervention. Instead, it left the
response , in terms of American national interest, to the discretion of
the president)
The Monroe Doctrine
 Latin Americans generally welcomed the
Monroe Doctrine as a friendly offer of
assistance.
 The Russians in 1824 agreed to halt their
expansion
 The European Alliance didn’t pursue its
rumored plans – if any – for the re-conquest
of Latin America
Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny
 By the 1840’s Americans became
expansion-minded and believed the country
was intended to spread to the Pacific coast,
perhaps even the entire continent. (this is the
definition of Manifest Destiny)
Manifest Destiny
 Events in Texas



1821 Americans had been invited to settle in
the northern province of Mexico, called Texas
1835 Texas rebelled for independence from
Mexico
1836, was recognized by Mexico as an
independent country
Manifest Destiny
 The Texans asked to be annexed by the U.S.



North was against this because it would expand
slavery.
South was in favor of it because they thought it
would increase representation for the southern
states.
1845 Texas was admitted by a joint resolution
of Congress
Manifest Destiny
 Events in Oregon

Both the U.S. and Great Britain claimed the
Oregon Country and, for many years , they
jointly occupied the territory at first with no
significant problems. Then things changed and
we needed boundaries drawn.
Events in Oregon
Continued
 James Polk was elected President with the
slogan “54 40 or fight” which meant the
U.S. claimed Oregon to the 54 degree 40
minute mark of latitude and would fight the
British if the U.S. did not obtain this.
 The dispute was resolved by a treaty
dividing the territory and extending the 49th
parallel as a boundary
The Mexican War (1846-1848)
The Mexican War
 Mexico disliked the annexation of Texas,
our claim to the Rio Grande River as the
boundary, and the idea of the U.S. acquiring
more Mexican territory.

The U.S. offered to pay $30million for
California and New Mexico Territories but
Mexico refused.
The Mexican War (1846-1848)
 War started in the Northeast opposed while
the South and West were in favor
 Mexico was defeated and signed the
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848).
The Mexican War (1846-1848)
The Treaty stated



1. Mexico accepted the Rio Grande as the
southern border of Texas
2Gave up Mexican Cession – eventually carved
into 5 states
3. The U.S. paid $15 million to Mexico
Other Areas
 The Webster-Ashburton Treaty 1842

This treaty accepted a compromise as a
boundary for Maine and Canada
The Gadsden Purchase 1853
The U.S. purchased a small strip of land in
Arizona and New Mexico for $10 million
The end