The Consitution and the New Republic,

1787-1800Unit 3 Ch.6

Weak Government

• Financial issues dominated the postwar agenda

• Without tariffs revenues, Congress could not pay debt interest

• A convention was called to deal with the issue of tariffs.o First at Washington's home, then Annapolis,

and finally Philadelphia

Philadelphia Convention

● James Madison’s Virginia Plano bicameral legislature with membership based

on population

● William Paterson’s New Jersey Plano unicameral legislature with each state having

equal votes

● Great Compromise○ bicameral legislature

■ each state has equal representation in the Senate

■ House of Representatives based on population

Philadelphia Convention

● Slaveryo conflict over slave representation- eventually

settled at 3/5thso Congress would be denied power to regulate

slavery for 20 years

● National Powero Supreme law of lando Taxationo Military defenseo External commerce

“The Elastic Clause”

• Article 1 section 8o gives Congress the power to make laws to

carry out its powers as defined in the Constitution

Debate over Ratification

● Federalists o Nationalists for Constitution as is

• Antifederalistso Feared losing power at state level; lack of bill

of rights

● The Federalist Paperso a political campaign to encourage ratification

● Ratification Conventions● 9 of 13 states needed to ratify for Const. to be

law

Devising the New Government● Federalist swept the 1788 election● Electoral College voted in Washington

as president○ John Adams came in 2nd making him VP

● Cabinet○ State- Jefferson○ Treasury- Hamilton○ War- Henry Knox

Judiciary Act 1789

● established a federal district court in each state

● cases involving federal laws could be appealed to the Supreme Court

The Bill of Rights

● 10 adopted in 1791 of 19 admitted by Madison

● eased Antifederalist fears of oppressive government

● addressed the issue of federalism○ balance of power between federal gov and

states

Hamilton's Financial Program● National Debt

○ confederation notes redeemed at face value for interest-bearing securities

○ created permanent national debt○ Patrick Henry and Madison called the plan

immoral○ government would assume war debts of

states and reimburse those that already paid it off

○ agreed to build the capital along the Potomac

Hamilton’s Financial Program● National Bank

○ jointly owned by private stockholders and the gov○ provide stability through loans, handling gov funds,

and issuing bills of credit○ Jefferson called the bank unconstitutional

● Revenue○ excise taxes (sales tax)○ higher tariffs on foreign imports

● Hamilton’s programs split the Federalist party○ Jefferson/Madison supporters called themselves

Democratic Republicans

Jefferson’s Agrarian Vision● Jefferson doubted factory laborers had

the economic and political freedom to sustain a republic

● dreamed that American farmers would supply Europe with food and Americans would purchase European goods

Proclamation of Neutrality● issued by Washington in 1793 in

response to the European war caused by the French Revolution

● U.S. merchants passed Britain’s naval blockade of French ports

● American firms took over the sugar trade to the West Indies

Whiskey Rebellion 1794● Pennsylvania farmer’s rebellion over

excise tax on spirits○ cut demand on corn whiskey distilled by

farmers

● Physically assaulted tax collectors● Washington nationalized 12,000

militiamen to disperse the rebels

Jay’s Treaty 1795

● Chief Justice John Jay was sent to negotiate an end to British seizure of U.S. merchant ships

● U.S.○ had to accept British right to stop neutral

ships○ government had to pay pre-Revolutionary

War debts owed by citizens

● British○ allow Americans to submit claims for illegal

seizures○ remove troops and Indian agents from

Northwest Territory

Rise of Political Parties

● Colonial legislatures had factions based on family, ethnicity, or region.

● Most Americans believed political parties were dangerous

● Federalists○ strong central government○ Pro-British foreign policy

● Republicans○ weak central governments○ pro-French foreign policy

XYZ Affair

● American ships were being seized by France.

● French foreign minister Talleyrand demanded a bribe to negotiate with U.S.

● The agents through whom he solicited were known as X,Y, and Z b/c their names were not known

● 1798-America cuts off trade and authorizes privateering

Federalist Limit Rights

● Republican-minded immigrants attacked Adams’ French policies

● Naturalization Act○ lengthened residency requirements for

citizenship from 5 to 14 years

● Alien Act○ authorized deportation of foreigners

● Sedition Act○ prohibited publication of criticism of the

president or members of Congress

States React

● Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions (1798)○ declared Alien and Sedition Acts

“unauthoritative, void, and of no force.”

● These resolutions set forth a state’s rights interpretation of the Constitution.○ the states have the rights to judge legitimacy

of federal laws

“Revolution of 1800”

● Thomas Jefferson○ Republican, pro-French foreign policy

● John Adams○ Federalist, pro-British foreign policy○ incumbent

● Jefferson wins, but electoral college also gives 73 votes to running mate Aaron Burr

● Adams convinces Federalist to stop blocking Jefferson

● Adams called Burr an “embryo Caesar” and the “most unfit man in the United States for the office of president.”