The Federalist Era
SWBAT
• Describe the Internal and External troubles of
the Federalist era (both George Washington’s
and John Adams’s administrations).
• Contrast
– Hamilton’s “Federalist” Party with
– Jefferson’s “Democratic-Republican” Party.
• Explain two suggestions GW gave upon his
leaving office. Do we follow them today?
• Explain the “Alien and Sedition Acts”:
– Why they were created
– Who opposed them
GW takes Charge
• April 30,1789 First
Presidential swearing-in
(Inauguration)
• To Do List:
– Create Bureaucracy: a
system to carry out laws
– Create Judicial System
– Raise money (TAXES!) to
run federal gov’t.
– Create Precedents
(routines other presidents
will follow)
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I
will faithfully execute the office of
President of the United States, and
will to the best of my ability,
preserve, protect and defend the
Constitution of the United States.
--Presidential oath of office, Article II, Section 1, United States
Constitution
Judicial System
• After the Constitution was ratified and
Government was established…
• Judiciary Act of 1789
–
–
–
–
Established the Supreme Court
Chief Justice and five associate judges
Sixteen lower federal courts
Also Attorney General, Prosecuting
Attorneys & Federal Marshalls
The very first Supreme Court Justice, John Jay,
Bill of Rights
• By September 1789 twelve amendments to
the Constitution were submitted to the
states.
• It took until 1791 for the ten amendments to
be passed becoming the Bill of Rights.
• Main purpose of the Bill of Rights was to
protect people (individuals) from the
government.
– How does it do that?
Bill of Rights –
The real short version
1. Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.
2. Right to keep and bear arms in order to maintain a well-regulated
militia.
3. No quartering of soldiers.
4. Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.
5. Right to due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination, double
jeopardy.
6. Rights of accused persons, e.g., right to a speedy and public trial.
7. Right of trial by jury in civil cases.
8. Freedom from excessive bail, cruel and unusual punishments.
9. Other rights of the people – Just because it’s not in the constitution
doesn’t mean it’s not a right.
10. Powers reserved to the states – states have powers, but cannot act
like an individual country.
Federal versus States Powers
Executive Branch
• Three most important
Departments, each headed by a
Secretary:
– Department of State – Foreign
Affairs – Thomas Jefferson
– Department of War – Military
matters – Henry Knox
– Depart of the Treasury – Financial
Problems – Alexander Hamilton
• Originally thought to be
individual advisors, came to be
a counsel of advisors, including
the Attorney General (lead
lawyer), called the Cabinet.
Hamilton’s Policies
• Founding Father most credited with establishing
our economic / banking and tax systems
• Pay off foreign debt ($80 million!) from the Revolutionary
War
• “Funding”: Buy up old Rev. bonds & issue new bonds
(bond = money raised to pay for a large purpose – debt,
buildings, roads, etc.)
– Most Bonds were not with the original purchasers –
bonds can be sold bought and traded
– Had been sold at low value to speculators
– Ham’s plan would benefit the speculators
• Assumed all State debts – put them all together
• Establish a National Bank to manage nation’s finances
Whiskey Tax
• Levied specifically against Western PA
– Corn was too bulky to transport, so to
make money and lower transportation costs
it was converted to whiskey
– Western PA Refused to pay taxes on the
whiskey – state of war!
• Washington wanted to assert Federal power, so…
(establish state of political power!)
– Gathered 15,000 militia, George W. & Hamilton
led the troops themselves in full dress
• Rebellion scattered, Federal power was asserted
– you must follow the laws or be punished
Indian Relations
• North West territory claims
were made by colonists
• Indians had not been
represented at Treaty of Paris
1783 (at the ending of the Rev
War)
• Great Britain gave land W of
Apps, E of Mississippi to U.S.,
Indians lived there but were
not recognized as a group
with interests
• Led to a series of violent
conflicts
Indian Relations
• Battles in 1790, 1792 won by Indians
• In 1794 Battle of Fallen Timbers won by
“Mad” Anthony Wayne
Foreign Relations – Great Britain
• Britain maintained forts on the borders
and supplied Native Americans with
weapons
• However, trade relations continued and
Britain eventually invited American
Ambassadors into Great Britain
• Britain and France go to war in 1793
and we sign a treaty with Great Britain to
maintain peaceful relations – Jay’s
Treaty: this angers many Americans
including Thomas Jefferson who felt we
should side with France
Foreign Relations France
• We owe them lots of money
• French Revolution was
happening in France at this time
– Initially it was popular and
supported by the U.S.,
especially by Jefferson
– But, as anarchy reigned,
blood was spilled and heads
rolled, opinion shifted
• French declared war on Great
Britain in 1793, American
opinion was divided between
France and Great Britain
Foreign Relations / Policy
• George Washington’s policy was
to stay Neutral (not help either
side) - Neutrality
• America had problems with both
England and France
• We had a “Quasi War” with
France – France’s naval vessels
would attack our trade ships
• Great Britain refused to accept
American neutrality and
kidnapped sailors from
American vessels to fight in the
war = impressments
Washington’s Proclamation of
Neutrality - 1793
"It appears that a state of war exists between Austria, Prussia,
Sardinia, Great Britain, and the Netherlands on the one part, and
France on the other. The duty and interest of the United States require
that they should adopt a conduct friendly and impartial toward the
[warring] powers. I have thought fit to declare the position of the United
States to observe a conduct towards those powers respectfully; and
warn our citizens to avoid all acts which may in any manner tend to [go
against] this position."
• As Washington’s Secretary of the Treasury, Hamilton argued
strongly for neutrality to protect our fragile economic interests.
• Jefferson convinced Madison to remain outspoken against neutrality
and demand the United States side with the French. Eventually,
Jefferson would resign as Secretary of State over this issue
Summarize the
Difficulties of the
1st Administration
• Pass Bill of Rights to guarantee personal rights
• Establish Federal Court system to run the Judicial
branch of Government
• Select Executive Advisors, the Cabinet
• Fund the new government through taxes and make sure
people paid these taxes
• Foreign relations: problems with…
– Indians (fought over territory)
– France and England (affected trade)
Foreign Affairs
• The French
Revolution caused
what in the US?
• The French & British
reactions to GWs
declaration were:
• Issues w/Indians were
settled by –
Origins of the Two Party System
• Two political parties
developed around the
leadership and opinions
of
– Thomas Jefferson,
Republican-Democrats
– Alexander Hamilton,
Federalists
Origins of the Two Party System
• Divide class in half.
• One half will look at
Hamilton and his policies.
• One half will look at
Jefferson and his policies.
• The two halves of the
class will help each other
learn the about their
person.
?
?
George Washington’s
Farewell Address
• Handout, abridged
address & questions
George Washington’s
Farewell Address
• Do we follow it today?
• Using current events
discussed in class:
Think of an example
in which we either
followed or did not
follow Washington’s
farewell advice.
• Explain in a short
response paragraph
John Adams’
Administration
• Election of 1796 very
close
– Northern Federalist - 70
electors
– Southern Republicans 68 electors
• Outcome: Adams is
President (Federalist)
• Jefferson Vice-President
(Republican – Democrat)
• Do you see a problem here?
Electoral College Worksheet
• The United States Electoral College is the institution that officially
elects the President and Vice President of the United States every
four years.
• The President and Vice President are not elected directly by the
voters. Instead, they are elected by "electors" who are chosen by
popular vote on a state-by-state basis.
• Electors are apportioned to each state and the District of Columbia,
but not to territorial possessions of the United States.
• The number of electors in each state is equal to the number of
members of Congress to which the state is entitled, while the
Twenty-third Amendment grants the District of Columbia the same
number of electors as the least populous state, currently three.
• In total, there are 538 electors, corresponding to the 435 members
of the House of Representatives, 100 senators, and the three
additional electors from the District of Columbia.
Electoral College
• A compromise between northern and southern states over issues of
voting, how to count slaves in representation, and how to manage
“big” versus “small” state imbalance.
• Critics argue that the Electoral College is inherently undemocratic
and gives swing states disproportionate influence in electing the
President and Vice President.
• The Electoral College gives a numeric advantage in the election of
the president to the smaller states, as the minimum number of
electors for the small states is three compared to one for the election
of representatives.
• On the other hand, the winner-take-all method of voting favors the
larger states.
• On four occasions, most recently in 2000, the Electoral College
system has resulted in the election of a candidate who did not
receive the most popular votes in the election.
Presidential Election 2012
Red = Republican Romney
Blue = Democrat Obama
John Adams’ Foreign Affairs
• War? With France?
– France was outraged over Jay Treaty w/Britain
– France began seizing American ships, “Quasi War”
– Federalists wanted War
– Republicans (Jefferson especially) were generally
considered “Francophiles”, they liked the French
• Adams sent negotiators to France
– They informed Adams a bribe was demanded
– Adams kept it secret to NOT enflame war fever
• Reps thinking he wanted war and was keeping the “peace
offer” secret demanded release of letter.
– Letter released Fr listed as X, Y, Z (XYZ Affair)
– “Millions for defense, not one cent for tribute!”
• Much War fever, but no actual outbreak
• Adams followed Washington's precedent of Neutrality
John Adams’ Domestic Affairs
• Loudest Critics of
Adams/Federalists were foreign
born Republicans
• Dissent (speaking out against
authority) was viewed by
Federalists as unpatriotic
• In Congress they created
Alien & Sedition Acts (laws)
• Republican response
– VA & KY Acts
– Which said that states could write
laws within their own borders.
John Adams is
a Jerk!
Alien and Sedition
Acts
•
•
•
The Alien and Sedition Acts were bills passed by
the Federalists in Congress and signed into law by
John Adams in 1798. Authored by the Federalists,
the laws were supposed to strengthen national
security, but critics argued that they were primarily
an attempt to suppress voters who disagreed with
the Federalist party.
The Acts increased the residency requirement for
American citizenship from 5 to 14 years. They also
allowed the president to imprison or deport aliens
considered "dangerous to the peace and safety of
the United States" at any time. They also restricted
speech which was critical of the federal
government.
At the time, the majority of immigrants supported
Thomas Jefferson and the DemocraticRepublicans, the political opponents of the
Federalists, so… the Acts attacked Jefferson
supporters
Alien and Sedition Acts
• Describe who
favored the
Alien and
Sedition Acts,
and why.
• Describe who
opposed the
Alien and
Sedition Acts,
and why.
Election of 1800: War of Words
• Adams was not being
“Federalist enough” and
lost votes in the North, he
also lost Hamilton’s
support – a leading
Federalist
• It was an ugly and very
personal campaign
• Final Electoral Tally
 Thomas Jefferson –
73
 Aaron Burr – 73
 John Adams – 65
*A tie!!! Who is the
president????
Election of 1800:
Results:
• TJ and Burr tie, Burr refuses to concede (even though he
said he would prior to the election), so it goes to House of
Reps. to settle. It is decided on the 36th house vote – Thomas
Jefferson is president
• Rules for elections change (12th amendment)
• The result of this election was affected by the three-fifths
clause – had slaves not been counted as persons for
purposes of Congressional electoral votes, Adams would
have won. Jefferson was subsequently criticized as having
won "the Temple of Liberty on the shoulders of slaves".
JA & the Federalist’s Last Word
• The outgoing Adams’
administration and Federalist’s
Congress increased the number of
federal judges and all of those
appointed were Federalists.
• The courts consistently interpreted
laws as Federalists for next couple
of decades.
• Most famous case:
• Marbury v. Madison which
established Judicial Review –
allowed the Supreme Court to
nullify (cancel) laws that were
determined unconstitutional
• This is the court’s biggest check
on presidential and congressional
power.