The Early Republic
1785-1815
By Maikol Garcia
AP-U.S.-History
Mr. Householder
5th Period
George Washington
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George Washington was born in 1732 and died in 1799. He was the first President
and served two terms (1789–1797). He was elected as the commander-in-chief of
the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He is one of
the Founding Fathers of the United States. He led the convention that drafted
the Constitution, which replaced the Articles of Confederation and established the
position of President. His devotion to republicanism and civic virtue made him an
exemplary figure among early American politicians.
The Siege of Yorktown- 1781
George Washington with French aid was able to surround the British southern army
under the command of Lord Cornwallis and force his unconditional surrender. This
battle effectively ended the Revolutionary War with Great Britain.
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Washington's Farewell Address- a letter written to "The People of the United
States". Washington wrote the letter near the end of his second term as President,
before his retirement to his home Mount Venom , Political factionalism- warned
about what Washington saw as a potentially harmful political factionalism in the
country. He urged Americans to unite for the good of the whole country. Two
political factions had developed into political parties in the early 1790’s- the
Federalists and the Republicans The Federalists, and Washington himself, backed
Hamilton's plan for a central bank and other strong central economic plans based on
manufacturing. The Democratic-Republicans opposed the strong government
inherent in the Hamiltonian plan and favored farmers as opposed to city people.
Foreign alliances- the letter also warned the nation to avoid permanent foreign
alliances, particularly in Europe. Both parties wanted to stay out of the wars
between France and Britain. The Federalists favored stronger ties with the British,
while the Republicans insisted on adhering to the Treaty of Alliance the U.S. had
already signed with France in 1778
Alexander Hamilton
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Founding father of the United States, chief to staff to Washington, founder of the
nations financial system, and founder of the fist political party
As Secretary of the Treasury, Hamilton was the primary author of the economic
policies of the Washington administration, especially the funding of the state debts
by the Federal government, the establishment of a national bank, a system of tariffs,
and friendly trade relations with Britain. He became the leader of the Federalist
Party, created largely in support of his views.
In the new government, Hamilton was appointed the Secretary of the Treasury. An
admirer of British political systems, Hamilton was a nationalist who emphasized
strong central government, he advocated assumption of state debts by the federal
government, and a tariff system to pay off the national debt, he also urged the
creation of a government-owned Bank of the United States.
Shaping of the national government
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As the government was being created certain things were being put into motion, and
certain people came into powerCensus- the US government will take a census every 10 years and it affects the numbers
of seats your state occupies in the U.S. House of Representatives, and also affects how
much money your state receives.
Excise tax- a tax on the manufacture, sale, or consumption of certain products
Bill of rights- first 10 amendments to the constitution that guaranteed civil rights to
american citizens
Jay's Treaty –treaty negotiated by John Jay in 1794 establishing American sovereignty
over the entire Northwest and producing a satisfactory commercial relationship with
Britain
Federalist Papers- the papers were a collection of essays written by Alexander Hamilton,
John Jay, and James Madison explaining how the new government/Constitution would
work. Their purpose was to convince the New York State legislature to ratify the
Constitution
"Father of the National Debt“- Alexander Hamilton- Hamilton advocated creation of a
national bank, assumption of state debts by the federal government, and a tariff system to
pay off the national debt.
Shaping the national government
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"necessary and proper" clause- allowed the federal government to "make all laws
which shall be necessary for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers.
Whiskey Rebellion- Farmers in Pennsylvania rebelled against Hamilton's excise tax
on whiskey. Washington led army and put down rebellion. Incident showed the
Constitution could react swiftly and effectively to such a problem.
John Jay- this man played an important role in the establishment of the new
government under the Constitution. One of the authors of the Federalist Papers, he
was involved in the drafting of the Constitution. He was also the first Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court
Thomas Jefferson- Washington's first Secretary of State. 3rd President 1801-1809.
Henry Knox- First Secretary of War, ordered by Washington to bring the British
artillery back to the siege at Boston that was captured at Fort Ticonderoga
James Madison- author of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and one of the
fathers of the Federalist Party and 4th President of the United States
Federalist
• The Federalist Party was the first American political party, from the early
1790s to 1816, the era of the First Party System and still lasting into the
1820’s . The Federalists controlled the federal government until 1801. The
party was formed by Alexander Hamilton, who, during George
Washington's first term, built a network of supporters, largely urban
bankers and businessmen, to support his fiscal policies. These supporters
grew into the Federalist Party committed to a fiscally sound and
nationalistic government. The United States' only Federalist president
was John Adams, although George Washington was broadly sympathetic to
the Federalist program, he remained an independent during his entire
presidency.
• The Federalist policies called for a national bank, tariffs, and good relations
with Britain as expressed in the Jay Treaty. Hamilton developed the
concept of implied powers, and successfully argued the adoption of that
interpretation of the United States Constitution. Their political opponents,
the Democratic-Republicans, led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.
By the time the Era of Good Feelings came the Federalist Party ended.
Democratic-Republican
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The Democratic-Republican Party- political party organized by Thomas
Jefferson and James Madison in 1791-1793. The Federalist Party controlled the
presidency, congress, and most states, from 1801 to 1824. It split after the1824
presidential election into two parties: the Democratic Party and the shortlived National Republican Party, later succeeded by the Whig Party.
The party was strongest in the South and weakest in the Northeast; it favored states'
rights. The party came to power with the election of Jefferson in 1801. The
Federalists, too exclusive to appeal to most people, faded away, and completely
died after 1815.
The organization formed first as an "Anti-Administration" secret meeting in the
national capital, Philadelphia, to oppose the programs of Secretary for the
Treasury Alexander Hamilton. Jefferson needed to have a nationwide party to
counteract the Federalists, a nationwide party organized by Hamilton. Foreign
affairs took a leading role in 1794-1795 as the Republicans vigorously opposed
the Jay Treaty with Britain. The party denounced many of Hamilton's ideas
especially the national bank, which Jefferson called unconstitutional.
Republican Motherhood
• "Republican Motherhood" – term people used for an attitude toward
women's roles before, during, and after the American Revolution. Its main
belief is that the patriots' daughters should be raised to uphold the ideals
of republicanism, in order to pass on republican values to the next
generation. Republican motherhood meant civic duty.
Beginning of the Second
Great Awakening
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By 1850, America was still a mostly church-going country. 75% of Americans
attended church regularly. The church-going nature of America was noted by
French observer Alexis de Tocqueville during a visit.
The "Scientific Revolution" also sparked deism. Just as the solar system,
mathematics, and physical laws and properties of the universe were being figured
out, the principles of scientific questions were applied to religion.
These perversions of Christianity ignited Christians to “take back their faith” and
oppose these new beliefs.
A Christian revival movement began around 1800. It reached full speed as the 2nd
Great Awakening in the 1830's. The 2nd Great Awakening was a rural movement it
was emotional, appealing to the common classes, and was a national movement. It
was unique in that it spawned a series of other movements: prison reform,
temperance, and abolition of slavery.
Leading preachers of the 2nd Great Awakening were Peter Cartwright, a Methodist
circuit rider traveling from town to town preaching, and Charles Grandison
Finney who was the most gifted speaker/preacher and could move the masses.
The 2nd Great Awakening started many reform movements including public
education, temperance, women's suffrage, prison reform, and better treatment for
the mentally handicapped.
Jefferson's Presidency
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Thomas Jefferson was an American Founding Father, the principal author of
the Declaration of Independence and the third President of the United States (1801–
1809). At the beginning of the American Revolution, he served in the Continental
Congress, representing Virginia and then served as a wartime Governor of Virginia.
During Jefferson's presidency, the territory of the US nearly tripled. The result of
the expedition of Lewis and Clark determined where the boundaries of this
continent were. Many animals and plants were named and discovered for the first
time
It was during the Jefferson administration that the case Marbury vs. Madison first
tested the powers of the Supreme Court. This was the first real test of the US
Constitution's balance of powers.
During Jefferson's administration, he created land grants for future schools. The
first was the University of Virgina. The first west of the Mississippi River is the
University of Missouri-Columiba. Jefferson believed that education was key to this
country's success as a nation.
Expansion into the trans-Appalachian
West; American Indian Resistance
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Miami confederacy- An alliance of North American Indians in the Great Lakes
Region, they resist expansion, led's to Northwest Indian War- negotiations did not
continue with the Miami Indians until General Anthony Wayne led 4,000 soldiers
into Ohio Valley and defeated Indians. Which led to the Treaty of Greenville signed
by Miami Indians, first time the sovereignty of Indian nations was recognized by
the new federal government.
Battle of Tippecanoe- Americans vs Shawnee Indians, led by governor William
Henry Harrison, the Americans defeated the Shawnee's and Tecumseh in the Indian
territory.
Pinckney's Treaty- America could settle the Northern border of Florida, and we
could now deposit goods at the mouth of Mississippi River (New Orleans); Spain
promised it would prevent Indian raids over the border.
Land Act of 1820-replaced the land act of 1800. This act offered Americans 80
acres of land for $1.25 an acre. This helped calm the Westerners when they
demanded cheaper land.
Wildcat Banks- western banks
“Little Turtle” war chief of the Miami confederacy, wants revenge and gets it when
he defeated the United States in their worst defeat in the entire history of the
American frontier at the border of Ohio and Indiana
Growth of Slavery
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Slavery had some high points and some low points in the 1800's, but no matter how it was
doing some people were always for it and some people were always against it. In the early
1800's slavery was declining, the trade began making less and less money. The United States
banned the slave trade in 1808, so slave owners had to rely on slaves to have children in order
to maintain the slave population. Slavery came out of its slump Eli Whitney created an
invention called the cotton gin. The cotton gin made it easier and faster to extract the seeds
within the cotton, in turn making it easier to sell the cotton quickly. The faster cotton could be
produced the faster it would need to be collected, so this required more slave hands. In 1831
an African American man named Nat Turner led a rebellion which was quickly put down by
the army, the rebellion led to stricter laws in Virginia regarding slavery, which meant people
could be more confident about buying slaves without fear that they would rebel.
The 1800's were the age of great suffering in America. Slaves in the 1800's were used merely
as farm workers. They were in the fields picking cotton and tobacco, day and night. At the
slave blocks, slaves prayed that they would be bought by a kind and generous owner, but most
were treated with cruelty. Any laborious job you can think of, African American slaves had to
do it. In the 1800's, the slaves had had enough so invisible set of pathways northward into
freedom started being build. Some of the most famous African Americans were those that
passed along this hidden journey; Harriet Tubman, Fredrick Douglass, and hundreds more.
Free Black Communities
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Between 1800 and 1830, the free black population of the state would grow steadily.
Many of these individuals moved to Connecticut’s growing towns including New
Haven, Hartford, and Middletown where more work could be found. In those
locations, the free black population began to cluster in fledgling communities. New
Haven witnessed the growth of a remarkable black community under the leadership
of William Lanson, a prosperous landholder, stone mason, and stable owner.
As these communities became more settled, the freed slaves began to create
institutions such as churches and improvement societies to serve the needs of their
communities
War of 1812
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The War of 1812 was a conflict between the United States and Britain that began in 1812
and lasted until early 1815. A declaration of war was requested by President James
Madison to protect American ships on the high seas and to stop the British from
capturing U.S. sailors. U.S. ships were being stopped and searched by both Great Britain
and France, which were both fighting each other in Europe. President Madison also
wanted to prevent Britain from creating alliances with Native Americans on the
American frontier. Americans in the West and South, who hoped to increase the size of
the United States by seizing control of both Canada and Florida, influenced his decision
Neither Britain nor the United States was particularly well prepared to fight this war, and
the conflict eventually ended in a stalemate.
Non-Intercourse Act1809, replaced embargo act of 1807 and forbade trade with France
and England but didn't change British and French policy towards neutral ships
War Hawks-supporters of the war- young politicians that wanted a taste of war like their
fathers/grandfathers
Second War for Independence-Another name for War of 1812
Battle of Thames- a decisive American victory in the war, led to American re-control of
the Northwest frontier.
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Treaty of Ghent- ended War of 1812, land conquered given back to respective
owners, and set up a commission to determine the disputed Canada/US border
James Madison- organized the Democratic-Republican party with Jefferson, 4th
President of US, author of Virginia resolution, Secretary of State for Jefferson,
supported the creation of the second National bank and high tariff in 1815.
James Monroe- Monroe doctrine, 5th President of the US, author of Monroe doctrine,
said "want to be neutral“
The main benefit for the United States was a renewed self-confidence and faith in the
ability of its military to defend the nation's freedom and honor. Even though neither side
came away from the war with a clear-cut victory, the American people saw the War of
1812 as proof of the success of the democratic experiment. The war ushered in a period
of American history that has often been called "the era of good feeling," a time when, at
least on the surface, most Americans felt united behind a common purpose. The War of
1812 convinced the country that it could now fight off any foreign threats and that its
focus should be on growth and development at home.
Battle of New Orleans- British troops who didn't know that the war was over, attacked
directly against a well dug army led by Andrew Jackson, the British were severely
defeated