Launching the New Government

Chapter 9

US Capitol Building

circa 1800

New Republic

US Capitol Building

circa 1800

Washington’s Presidency

Washington was inaugurated in New York City on April 30, 1789.

Washington was unanimously elected

Election of 1788

Soon after taking office Washington fell very ill. A tumor was discovered in his leg. The surgery to remove it threatened his life.

Jefferson feared that his death would sink the government.

But Washington recovered and within a month he was back on the job.

He left his home, Mount Vernon, and traveled to New York. There were many parades and cannon salutes.

John Adams was the Vice President.

Washington and Adams did not really get along. Washington rarely consulted with Adams. For the most part they ignored one another.

Washington was known for wearing dentures, but it is a myth that they were made out of wood. They were actually made of animal teeth, human teeth and vegetable ivory.

While serving as vice president I described my job as: “The most insignificant office that ever the

invention of man contrived.”

Washington as President

As the first President, Washington was setting an example for future

generations. He would set precedents

1. Calling the President Mr. President

Congress debated many possible titles for the President:

- His Highness, the President of the United States and the Protector of the Rights and Liberties of the Same

- His Highness, President of the United States and Protector of their Liberties

- His Highness

- His High Mightiness Just call me Mr. President.

2. Washington set up a Presidential Cabinet There is nothing in the Constitution about setting up a

Cabinet. However, it was clear that the President needed people to help him carry out his duties.

Department of StateSecretary of State –

deals with foreign affairsThomas Jefferson

Department of the Treasury Secretary of the Treasury –

deals with finance issuesAlexander Hamilton

Washington’s Cabinet

Hillary Clinton

Timothy Geithner

Department of War(Department of Defense)

Secretary of War –

(Secretary of Defense)

In charge of military affairs

Henry Knox

Department of JusticeAttorney General -

handles legal affairs

Edmund Randolph Eric Holder

Leon Panetta

3. Inaugural address

Washington’s second inaugural address was the shortest ever (135 words)

Warren G. Harding

George W. BushWilliam Henry

Harrison gave the longest inaugural

address

Barack Obama

4. Serving two terms

Washington decided not to run for a third term. He was fatigued and believed in rotation of the office.

Every President thereafter stepped down after two terms until 1940.

22nd Amendment – sets the term limit to two years.

Judiciary Act1789

The Constitution called for a Supreme Court. All other federal courts were to be set up by Congress.

Judiciary Act 1789

1. one Chief Justice and five Associate Justices

John Jay

Today there is one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices

John Roberts

2. Set up a system of district courts and appellate (circuit) courts across the nation.

District Courts

Appellate Courts

Supreme Court

National DebtAlexander Hamilton as the Secretary of the Treasury had to deal with the problem of the large national debt.

Why was the United States in debt?

- American Revolution –

the U.S. had borrowed money from foreign countries and ordinary citizens (bonds)

Bond

a certificate that promises to repay the money loaned, plus interest, on a certain date.

81,497,000U.S. Debt 1789 U.S. Debt 2012

** repaying debts was essential to building the trust of investors in the future

1. Repay both federal and state debts- buy up all the bonds

(issued by both the national and state governments before 1789)

- issue new bonds to pay off the old debts

Hamilton’s Plan

James Madison led the opposition to Hamilton’s plan. He felt it rewarded speculators.

Hamilton’s CompromiseMadison would support Hamilton’s plan if

Hamilton would support the building of the nation’s capital in the south.

- It is not part of any state, it is a district

- It is built on the land along the Potomac River between Virginia and Maryland.

Washington D.C. (District of Columbia)

Washington D.C. has one non-voting representative in the House of Representatives but no representation in the Senate. They pay both federal and state taxes

The 23rd Amendment was passed in 1961 giving the residents of Washington D.C. the ability to vote for the President. They have 3 electoral votes.

2. Hamilton also wanted to issue a high tariff on foreign goods brought into the country.

Hamilton’s plan cont.

A tariff is meant to protect local industry from foreign competition

Viewpoints

North

-There were more factories

-People supported a high tariff

South

-Most people were farmers and there were few factories so many items were imported

-People did not support a tariff

Reactions to the Tariff

Bank of the United States

- Created by Congress in 1791(Hamilton’s idea)

- Congress used the Necessary and Proper Clause in the Constitution to justify issuing a National

Bank

- Money from taxes were deposited there

- Issued paper money to pay the government’s bills and to make loans to farmers and businesses

Whiskey Rebellion• 1791 Congress passed a tax on whiskey made and sold

in the United States• Farmers in the backcountry resented the tax• In 1794 in Pennsylvania when tax collectors tried to

collect the tax the farmers revolted. They tarred and feathered the tax collectors while singing Revolutionary songs.

Washington responded by calling up the militia and dispatched them to Pennsylvania. He led them himself.

When the rebels heard that the troops were marching against them they fled back to their farms.

Washington pardoned most of the rebels.

Significance of Whiskey Rebellion:- the New Republic could promote the general

welfare- the new government was fair- the Constitution was working

French Revolution 1789 - 1799

The storming of the Bastille, July 14, 1789

Marie Antoinette

King Louis XVI

Why were the French rebelling against their king, Louis XVI?

French Revolution 1789 - 1799

• They wanted a constitution to limit the king’s power and protect basic rights

Why were the French rebelling against their king, Louis XVI?

• Peasants and middle class paid heavy taxes, while nobles paid none.

Americans’ Reactions to the French Revolution

- At first most supported the French1. They viewed it as the same struggle that they

had gone through with the British

2. Marquis de Lafayette was one of leaders

Reign of Terror (Sep. 1793 – July 1794)

The French killed close to 40,000 nobles during this time including the king and queen

At this time many Americans no longer supported the French

Revolution

For the French Revolution

- Thomas Jefferson

He felt the French had the right to

use violence to win freedom

Against the French Revolution- Alexander Hamilton, John Adams

They felt that you could not create a democracy through

widespread violence

“[one could no more create

democracy through widespread

violence] than a snowball can exist

in the streets of Philadelphia under

a burning sun.”

The French Revolution led to widespread war in Europe that lasted more than 20 years.

This meant that Americans had to decide on what their foreign policy would be with Europe during this time.

European rulers wanted to prevent revolutionary ideas from spreading to their lands.

During the American Revolution America and France signed the Treaty of Alliance

Now France wanted to use American ports to supply its ships and launch attacks on British ships.

The United States could not afford to go to war and aiding France would lead them to war with Britain.

Treaty of Alliance (Feb. 1778): It stated that the two countries agreed to aid each other in the future in the event of British attack.

Battle of Saratoga

Washington and his cabinet agreed that the United States should stay neutral

1. the U.S. was too young

2. the U.S. military was too weak

3. the U.S. was in debt

Neutrality Proclamation

April 1793

• the United States would not support either side in the war

• it forbade Americans from aiding either Britain or France

Struggling to Remain Neutral

American merchants wanted to take advantage of the war in Europe by trading with both Britain and France.

Americans wanted to go to war with Britain.

Washington knew that the United States was too weak to go to war with Britain.

The British captured more than 250 American ships that were trading with French merchants.

Chief Justice John Jay was sent to Britain to negotiate a treaty.

Jay’s Treaty1. Britain would pay damages for the

seized American ships.

2. Americans had to pay debts owed to British merchants from the American Revolution

3. Britain agreed to give up forts they still held in the West (Ohio River Valley)

The treaty was approved by the Senate in 1795.

The treaty did nothing to protect the rights of neutral American ships in the future. Britain continued to capture American ships.

Washington's Farewell AddressIn Washington’s Farewell Address he gave advice to the nation for the future.

• Warned against permanent foreign alliance

• Warned against forming political parties

• Stressed the importance of religion and morality

• Warned against an over-powerful military

Political Parties Form

Jefferson• Tall (6 ft. 2 in) and lanky

• Grew up on a wealthy Virginia plantation but spoke and dressed informally

• Quiet and humble

Hamilton• Born in the West Indies in poverty but he worked his

way up in society

• Dressed in fine clothes and spoke forcefully

• Energetic, brilliant

• Enjoyed political debate

Democratic/Republicans

• Believed people (common / farmers) should have political power

• Favored strong state governments – and more liberties for the people

• Emphasized agriculture

• Favored strict interpretation of Constitution

• Were pro-French

Opposed national bank

• Opposed protective tariff

Federalists

• Believed wealthy and well educated should lead nation

• Favored strong central government – at the expense of the liberty of the people

• emphasized manufacturing, shipping and trade

• Favored loose interpretation of Constitution

• Were pro-British

• Favored national bank

• Favored protective tariff

John Adams Thomas Jefferson

According to the Constitution (Article II section 1 clause 3) the person with the most electoral votes became President and the candidate with the second highest total was made Vice President.

John Adams won the office as President and Thomas Jefferson came in second and became Vice President.

They were from different political parties.

Federalist

Thomas Pinckney Aaron Burr

Democratic-Republican

Election of 1796Winner!

PresidentVice President

John Adams

• First President to live in the White House – they moved into the house in 1800. At that time it was called the Executive Mansion.

• named his horse after the Egyptian queen, Cleopatra.

• His nickname was “His Rotundity” because of his weight.

• He was one of two Presidents to sign the Declaration of Independence.

• Adams died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

• His last words were “Jefferson lives!”

Conflict with France

France objected to Jay’s Treaty because it favored Britain.

President Adams knew that the United States was too weak to go to war with France.

Americans now called for war against France.

In 1797, French ships began to seize American ships in the West Indies.

Adams sent diplomats to Paris in 1798 to discuss the rights of neutral nations.

The French foreign minister, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, sent three agents to offer the Americans a deal.

Talleyrand demanded $250,000 for himself and a $10 million loan to France before he would begin talks.

The Americans refused to pay. “Not a sixpence!”.

Adams sent the documents to Congress but changed the names of the French agents to X,Y and Z.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand

The XYZ Affair

Americans were outraged when they heard about the XYZ Affair.

“Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!”

Adams refused to ask Congress to declare war on France, but he could not ignore French attacks on American ships.

He decided to strengthened the navy by building frigates.

Quasi-War – relations between France and America remained strained from 1789 – 1800.

Federalists favored war with France.

1. They hoped it would weaken the

Democratic- Republicans who supported France

Alexander Hamilton

Federalists want war

with France!!

Federalist Party Splits

President Adams

2. They hoped war would force the nation to build its military forces. This would lead to a stronger federal government.

Alexander HamiltonPresident Adams

Federalist Party Splits

President Adams

President Adams disagreed with the Federalists

Alexander Hamilton

When Adams refused to declare war on France the Federalists party split.

Federalists want war

with France!!

I am a Federalist but I know what is

best for the country. We can’t go to war we are

too weak!!

Those who favored Hamilton and war with France

Those who favored Adams and peace

In 1800 President Adams sent more diplomats to France to once again discuss the relationship between the countries.

This time Napoleon Bonaparte was in charge of France.

Napoleon had no time to fight a war with the United states. He signed an agreement to stop seizing American ships.

Talks with France Resume

Alien and Sedition ActsPassed by Federalists in Congress

Alien Act

1. the President could expel any alien thought to be dangerous to the country

2. An immigrant had to wait 14 years until they could apply to be a citizen (used to be 5 years)

Why?

• many immigrants supported Jefferson and the Republicans and the act would keep these immigrants from voting for years

Sedition Act

1. citizens could be fined or jailed if they criticized the government or its officials.

Republicans Objected

They said that it violated the First Amendment of the Constitution which said citizens had freedom of speech.

Thomas Jefferson

Vice President Jefferson was a Republican and therefore opposed the Federalist Congress passing the Alien and Sedition Acts.

The Congress and the courts were controlled by Federalists. Therefore, Jefferson urged states to take action.

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

Kentucky Resolution

•November 1798

•Written by Thomas Jefferson

•Stated that a state “has an equal right to judge for itself” whether a law is constitutional.

Virginia Resolution

•December 1798

•Written by James Madison

•Stated that a state had the right to nullify a law passed by the federal government within their state if they thought it was unconstitutional.

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

The resolutions raised the issue of states’ rights.

Article VI – National Supremacy

- Everyone agreed National law was supreme but did the federal government have the right to pass these laws?

10th Amendment – Powers Reserved to the States

- Did states possess the power to declare a federal law unconstitutional?

Election of 1800Federalist

John Adams

Thomas Pinckney

Democratic-Republicans

Thomas Jefferson Aaron Burr

Republicans won the popular vote.

Jefferson and Burr both received 73 electoral votes. Each elector had cast one vote for Jefferson and one for Burr.

Election of 1800

Article II section 1 clause 3 - if no candidate wins the electoral vote then the House of Representatives decides the election.

The House of Representatives were mostly Federalists.

Over 4 days the House voted 35 times and had no winner.

On the 36th ballot the tie was finally broken and Jefferson was named President and Burr Vice President.

Alexander Hamilton turned his support to Jefferson because he thought he was better than Burr.

•Proposed by Congress on December 9, 1803

•Ratified by state legislatures on June 15, 1804

•Replaced Article II, Section 1, Clause 3 of the Constitution – stating that each member of the electoral college would cast two votes for the President, with the person receiving a majority of the electoral votes becoming President and the runner up becoming Vice President.

12th Amendment

The Twelfth Amendment stated that electors would vote separately for President and Vice President.

Thomas Jefferson• One of two Presidents who signed the Declaration of Independence.

• Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence

• Inventor of the dumbwaiter and the swivel chair.

• sold almost 6,500 books of his to the Library of Congress (to replace books that were burned by the British)

• Believed to have fathered children with one of his slaves – Sally Hemings

Burr-Hamilton Duel

Burr shot Hamilton and hit him in the abdomen above his right hip.

Hamilton died the following day.

With the death of the Federalist’s Party leader, Hamilton, the Federalist Party slowly declined.

Alexander Hamilton printed an article that criticized Vice President Aaron Burr’s character.

Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel on July 11, 1804.

Duels were sometimes legal in the 1800s