Chapter 8Chapter 8Creating a NationCreating a Nation

The American PeopleThe American People, 6, 6thth ed. ed.

I.I. Launching the Launching the National RepublicNational Republic

Beginning the New Beginning the New GovernmentGovernment On April 16, 1789, George Washington On April 16, 1789, George Washington

was unanimously named president of the was unanimously named president of the United States by the Electoral College.United States by the Electoral College.

Many thought his inaugural speech was Many thought his inaugural speech was too reminiscent of the English monarchy.too reminiscent of the English monarchy.

Congress had to decide how to formally Congress had to decide how to formally address Washington: “His Most Benign address Washington: “His Most Benign Highness,” and other kingly titles Highness,” and other kingly titles fortunately gave way to “Mr. President.”fortunately gave way to “Mr. President.”

The Bill of RightsThe Bill of Rights Among Congress’s first tasks was debate Among Congress’s first tasks was debate

over the constitutional amendments that over the constitutional amendments that several states had made conditional to several states had made conditional to ratification.ratification.

Congress argued the merits of twelve Congress argued the merits of twelve perspective amendments, finally selecting perspective amendments, finally selecting ten to become the national Bill of Rights.ten to become the national Bill of Rights.

Ratification of the amendments came in Ratification of the amendments came in December, 1791.December, 1791.

The People DivideThe People Divide Criticism of the new national government Criticism of the new national government

was quick to appear.was quick to appear. Opposition groups had formed a united Opposition groups had formed a united

front called the Jeffersonian Republicans.front called the Jeffersonian Republicans. The administration’s supporters were The administration’s supporters were

known as Federalists.known as Federalists. Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton

favored the federal assumption of all war favored the federal assumption of all war debts incurred by the states.debts incurred by the states.

The Whiskey RebellionThe Whiskey Rebellion The farmers of western Pennsylvania vented The farmers of western Pennsylvania vented

their anger at the federal government through an their anger at the federal government through an armed demonstration against the hated Whiskey armed demonstration against the hated Whiskey Tax.Tax.

Their livelihood depended on the transport of Their livelihood depended on the transport of surplus grain in the form of distilled alcohol; this surplus grain in the form of distilled alcohol; this was easier to ship.was easier to ship.

This pseudo-insurrection demonstrated the This pseudo-insurrection demonstrated the government’s vulnerabilitygovernment’s vulnerability

II.II. The Republic in a The Republic in a Threatening WorldThreatening World

The Promise and the Peril of The Promise and the Peril of the French Revolutionthe French Revolution

France’s revolution began in 1789 as an France’s revolution began in 1789 as an effort to reform the injustices of a effort to reform the injustices of a weakened monarchy and soon exploded weakened monarchy and soon exploded into a radical rebellion with the beheading into a radical rebellion with the beheading of Louis XVI.of Louis XVI.

For more than a decade the revolution For more than a decade the revolution dominated the stage in European politics.dominated the stage in European politics.

The Democratic-Republican The Democratic-Republican SocietiesSocieties Political clubs served as tools of democratic Political clubs served as tools of democratic

reform, providing safe havens for dissidents and reform, providing safe havens for dissidents and intellectuals.intellectuals.

The Jacobin clubs in France were the most The Jacobin clubs in France were the most famous, but similar organizations appeared in famous, but similar organizations appeared in the United States.the United States.

As early as 1792, constitutional societies were As early as 1792, constitutional societies were formed to oversee the rights of the people.formed to oversee the rights of the people.

The increase in these clubs was spurred by the The increase in these clubs was spurred by the visit of Citizen Edmund Genet, French minister visit of Citizen Edmund Genet, French minister to the United States.to the United States.

Jay’s Controversial TreatyJay’s Controversial Treaty Alarmed by sinking relations with England, Alarmed by sinking relations with England,

President Washington dispatched Chief President Washington dispatched Chief Justice John Jay to London in 1794 to Justice John Jay to London in 1794 to negotiate a number of disagreements left negotiate a number of disagreements left over from the Revolutionary War.over from the Revolutionary War.

Jay’s Treaty contained only partial Jay’s Treaty contained only partial remedies to these problems and angered remedies to these problems and angered Southern planters…there would be no Southern planters…there would be no compensation for their lost slaves.compensation for their lost slaves.

III.III. The Political Crisis The Political Crisis DeepensDeepens

The Election of 1796The Election of 1796 The presidential election of 1796 reflected the The presidential election of 1796 reflected the

political uncertainty of the times as Washington political uncertainty of the times as Washington announced he would not seek a third term.announced he would not seek a third term.

The potential successor was narrowed to The potential successor was narrowed to Jefferson or John Adams, two very different men Jefferson or John Adams, two very different men who had a great deal of shared experiences in who had a great deal of shared experiences in the Revolution and the creation of the the Revolution and the creation of the government.government.

Adams won the election, with Jefferson to serve Adams won the election, with Jefferson to serve as his Vice President.as his Vice President.

The War Crisis The War Crisis with Francewith France Adam’s first trial as president was the Adam’s first trial as president was the

interference of American shipping by French interference of American shipping by French naval vessels.naval vessels.

An American delegation was dispatched to Paris An American delegation was dispatched to Paris where arrogant administrators demanded bribes where arrogant administrators demanded bribes and promises of huge loans before they would and promises of huge loans before they would allow them to see the French foreign minister.allow them to see the French foreign minister.

Called the XYZ Affair, Adams recalled his Called the XYZ Affair, Adams recalled his delegation and denounced the French delegation and denounced the French government.government.

The Alien and The Alien and Sedition ActsSedition Acts The Federalist-dominated Congress acted to staunch The Federalist-dominated Congress acted to staunch

the flow of aliens into the country through:the flow of aliens into the country through: The Naturalization ActThe Naturalization Act – raised citizenship requirement – raised citizenship requirement

of residency from 5 to 14 yearsof residency from 5 to 14 years The Alien ActThe Alien Act – authorized the president to expel aliens – authorized the president to expel aliens

whom he judged dangerouswhom he judged dangerous The Alien Enemies ActThe Alien Enemies Act – allowed the president to – allowed the president to

imprison or banish the subjects of any hostile nation at imprison or banish the subjects of any hostile nation at will.will.

The Sedition ActThe Sedition Act – made punishable by fine and – made punishable by fine and imprisonment for anyone to conspire in opposition to the imprisonment for anyone to conspire in opposition to the government.government.

The Virginia and Kentucky The Virginia and Kentucky ResolutionsResolutions Building on the protests that met the Alien and Building on the protests that met the Alien and

Sedition Acts, the Virginia and Kentucky Sedition Acts, the Virginia and Kentucky legislatures passed resolutions that directly legislatures passed resolutions that directly challenged the federal laws.challenged the federal laws.

The Kentucky Resolutions declared the federal The Kentucky Resolutions declared the federal government had violated the Bill of Rights.government had violated the Bill of Rights.

The Virginia Resolutions declared the right of The Virginia Resolutions declared the right of states to set aside a federal law found to be a states to set aside a federal law found to be a threat to liberty.threat to liberty.

IV.IV. Restoring American Restoring American LibertyLiberty

Politics and the Politics and the Federal CourtsFederal Courts After a sweep of the presidency and the After a sweep of the presidency and the

Congress, the Jeffersonians prepared to purge Congress, the Jeffersonians prepared to purge several Federalist judges from the District several Federalist judges from the District courts. courts.

Listing questionable charges, the Jeffersonians Listing questionable charges, the Jeffersonians next impeached a Supreme Court Justice and next impeached a Supreme Court Justice and seriously considered the impeachment of the seriously considered the impeachment of the Chief Justice.Chief Justice.

Fortunately, a constitutional crisis was averted to Fortunately, a constitutional crisis was averted to allow time and attrition cleanse the courts of the allow time and attrition cleanse the courts of the opposition.opposition.

Dismantling the Federalist Dismantling the Federalist War ProgramWar Program

Jefferson ended any Federalist program Jefferson ended any Federalist program that he saw as an affront to personal that he saw as an affront to personal liberty.liberty.

Assuming the presidency, Jefferson freed Assuming the presidency, Jefferson freed jailed violators of the Alien and Sedition jailed violators of the Alien and Sedition acts and let the hated laws expire. acts and let the hated laws expire. Moreover, he disbanded the Federalist Moreover, he disbanded the Federalist provisional army and reduced the size of provisional army and reduced the size of the federal government. the federal government.

V.V. Building an Agrarian Building an Agrarian NationNation

The Jeffersonian VisionThe Jeffersonian Vision

Political liberty could survive only under Political liberty could survive only under the specific conditions of broad-based the specific conditions of broad-based social and economic equality.social and economic equality.

The path to equality in a world valuing The path to equality in a world valuing the pursuit of wealth was territorial the pursuit of wealth was territorial expansionism.expansionism.

The Windfall Louisiana The Windfall Louisiana PurchasePurchase James Monroe was sent to Paris by James Monroe was sent to Paris by

Jefferson to buy West Florida and Jefferson to buy West Florida and possibly New Orleans from Napoleon.possibly New Orleans from Napoleon.

Incredibly, Napoleon wanted to sell all of Incredibly, Napoleon wanted to sell all of the Louisiana Territory for $15 million.the Louisiana Territory for $15 million.

The United States gained 830,000 The United States gained 830,000 square miles of new territorysquare miles of new territory