Forging the New Republic
1789-1815
Washington takes office

As our 1st president, he set
several precedents
“Mr. President”
 Did not seek a 3rd term
 Chose well known leaders to
serve in his Cabinet

The President’s Cabinet
Henry Knox, Secretary of War
Thomas Jefferson, Secretary
of State
Alexander Hamilton, Secretary
of the Treasury
Edmond Randolph, Attorney
General
Bill of
Rights
Passed
Judiciary Act


Congress appointed
John Jay as Chief
Justice and 5 other
Supreme Court judges
Also set up a system
of district and circuit
courts across the
nation.
Arguments start over national
debt



Alexander Hamilton,
Sec. of Treasury
National Bank is
good!
Sell bonds to pay
debts!



James Madison
Don’t reward
speculators!
If the southern states
paid off their debts,
the north should, too!
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RS22926.pdf
http://www.treasurydirect.gov/indiv/products/prod_ibonds_glance.htm
Plans to build the Economy




Hamilton wanted a protective tariff on
imported goods
North says YES!
South says NO!
Congress ended up passing a low tariff
Two viewpoints on the
Constitution


Strict construction – the government
should only do what the Constitution
specifically says
Loose construction – the government can
take any reasonable action not specifically
forbidden by the Constitution
Compromise

The capitol would be built in the south
(Virginia) if the southern states would
support Hamilton’s plan.
Whiskey Rebellion
Washington’s thoughts


The U.S. should remain independent from
foreign nations’ disputes.
Avoid the “baneful” effects of political
parties…they will only divide you!
Rise of Political Parties
Federalists
•Led by Hamilton
•Wealthy & educated
should lead
•Favored strong central
government
•Manufacturing &
trade
•Pro-British
•YES! to National Bank
Democratic
Republicans
•Led by Jefferson
•Power belongs to
the people
•Favored strong state
governments
•Farming
•Pro-French
•NO! to National Bank
Section 2, Creating a foreign
policy

American support for the French
Revolution was mixed because of the
violence & chaos.
A glass of champagne,
perhaps, before our next
beheading?
Jefferson
v.
Hamilton &
Adams
British seize
250 ships in the
French
West Indies!
Jay Treaty – “give back our ships…and that
land you own in the west & our people will pay their debts…”
Jay Treaty, or Jay's Treaty, a treaty
negotiated and signed in 1794 by
John Jay, United States special
envoy, and Lord William Grenville,
British foreign secretary, to settle
mutual grievances.
2nd President – John Adams

“His Rotundity”

John Adams had most
votes, became
President, Jefferson as
runner up became V-P
But they were enemies,
so things went from bad
to worse!
XYZ Affair



French diplomats
tried to bribe Adams
“Millions for defense
but not one cent for
tribute!”
Adams kept the U.S.
out of the war but lost
the support of his
party…
Frigates
THE VESSEL TO BE KNOWN
AS “OLD IRONSIDES”
SLIDES INTO THE SEA
Columbian Centinel, Boston
October 25, 1797
The powerful new 44-gun
frigate, “Constitution,” which
would become famous during the
War of 1812, is launched in
Boston harbor. An eyewitness
report reads, in part: “The best
judges have pronounced the
CONSTITUTION, like her
archetype to be a perfect
model of elegance, strength,
and durability.”
Alien and Sedition Acts


The President could expel any alien
thought to be dangerous to the country.
Made it illegal to criticize the government
or its officials.
Jefferson was furious!
“They [the Federalists] have
brought into the lower
house a sedition bill
which…is so against the
Constitution as to show
they mean to pay no
respect to it.”
Jefferson’s Response

Got Virginia & Kentucky to pass
resolutions that said the states could
decide whether or not federal law was
constitutional.
Election of 1800

Nasty politics (Federalist newspapers claimed
that the election of Jefferson would cause the
"teaching of "murder robbery, rape, adultery and
incest".)


A tie between Jefferson and Aaron Burr
So the House chose Jefferson as
President.