Early Presidencies• George Washington• John Adams• Thomas Jefferson

Washington as President First election (Jan. – Feb.

1789) Washington elected

unanimously John Adams – Vice

President

Washington took oath of office April 30, 1789

Will set precedents (examples) for future presidents Begins immediately with

Oath of Office Adds “so help me God” at

end

“We are in a wilderness without a single footstep to guide us”

- James Madison

Washington Strengthens Executive

Constitution said nothing of a Cabinet

Congress created three executive departments: Department of State (foreign affairs)

Thomas Jefferson

Department of the Treasury (finances) Alexander Hamilton

Department of War (military) Henry Knox

Edmund Randolph - first attorney general

President Obama’s Cabinet

Washington Strengthens Judiciary

Constitution authorized Congress to set up federal court system

Judiciary Act of 1789 Provided for Supreme Court (6 justices) 3 federal circuit courts 13 federal district courts

State court decisions could be appealed to federal court – for constitutional issue Reasserts Supremacy Clause

Constitution is “supreme Law of the Land”

Bill of Rights (Amendments 1 – 10)

12 Amendments prepared by Congress were submitted for ratification 10 were approved

1. Freedom of speech, press religion2. Right to bear arms3. Freedom from quartering of troops4. No unreasonable searches or seizures5. No one may be deprived of life, liberty,

or property without due process of the law

6. Right to trial by jury7. Right to jury trial in civil cases8. No cruel or unusual punishment

9. Rights of the people10. Powers of the states and the people

Personal liberties

Limits on powers of

federal government

Hamilton Jefferson

AmericanGovernme

nt&

Economy

• Strong central government - Led by prosperous elite

• Supported commerce and industry

• Favored strong state and local governments

• Popular participation

• Favored a society of farmer-citizens

British Governme

nt & Society

• Admired both

• Preferred order of govt. and financial systems

• Govt. was corrupt and anti-republican

FrenchRevolution

• Disgusted by violence and social disruption

• Admired revolutionary movement

VS.

Creation of a National Bank

Hamilton“Loose” constructionist

Jefferson“Strict” constructionist

The National

Debt

AND

A National

Bank

• Proposed that national govt. assume debts of the states

- Incentive to support national govt.

• National bank chartered by Congress

- Funded by federal govt. and wealthy investors

• Article 1, Section 8 - “necessary and proper” clause

• Many southern states had paid off much of their debts

• Felt citizens who had loaned govt. money should be fully repaid

• Constitution made no provision for a national bank

Rise of Political Parties National issues arose with creation of

Constitution Differing views of how such issues should

be handled

Power and size of national government Led to two distinct factions (groups)

forming

No outline existed for the nomination of future candidates

Hamilton’s

Federalists

Jefferson’sDemocratic-Republicans

Washington D.C.National

government had been operating out of Philadelphia, PA

Southern location considered as compromise on issue of national bank

Between Maryland and Virginia

Congress Levies Taxes Taxed foreign products entering U.S.

Tariff Act of 1789 Protect American products

Supported by northern states Opposed by southern states

Whiskey Rebellion Tax on manufacture of whiskey

Hurt frontier farmers Depended on manufacture of whiskey as corn was difficult to transport

to market 7,000 rebels converged on Pittsburgh 13,000 militiamen dispatched by Washington

Rebellion disappeared

National government could and would enforce its laws

Foreign RelationsJay’s Treaty

1794 Negotiated with

British in London

Major provisions: British will evacuate

posts west of Appalachian Mtns. (Northwest Territory)

Compensation for seized ships

Payment of pre-Revolutionary debts owed Britain

Pinckney’s Treaty 1795

Negotiated with Spanish

Major provisions: Spain gave up all land

east of Mississippi EXCEPT Florida

Opened Mississippi and New Orleans for trade

Washington’s Farewell Address

Washington would establish another precedent in announcing his retirement in Sept. 1796 Two-term presidency Passing over of power

Washington warned against: The development of

factions Permanent

alliances

President Adams (1797 – 1801)

Election of 1796 (First contested election) John Adams (Federalist)

Received 71 electoral votes

Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican) Received 68 electoral votes

Sectionalism emerges Northern states voted for Adams Southern states voted for Jefferson

Concerns that one section of the country would be favored over the nation as a whole

Adams Avoids

WarXYZ Affair

Result of French attacks on American shippingUpset about Jay

Treaty (w/British)

Adams sent agents to negotiate with French agentsAlso met with

Congress to request buildup of American defenses

Americans expected to meet with French Foreign MinisterInstead are received by

intermediate agents (X, Y, & Z)

Agents demands:

$250,000 provided by American ministers

France not held liable for actions of French privateersU.S. must also

guarantee large French loanResulted in anti-French

sentiment

Alien & Sedition Acts Federalists pushed

repressive measures through Congress

Naturalization Act Eligibility for citizenship

increase from 5 to 14 years Ineligible if you come from

an “enemy” nation

Alien Enemies Act Gave president power to

arrest or expel aliens in time of “declared war” War never declared

Alien Act Authorized president to expel

all aliens he thought to be:“dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States”

Sedition Act Crime “to impede the

operation of any law”

Illegal to publish, or even utter, any “false, scandalous, and malicious” criticism of government officials

National Laws Meet Opposition

Alien and Sedition Acts viewed as unconstitutional by: Virginia (Madison) Kentucky (Jefferson)

Violations of the ______ Amendment

Felt federal government had gone beyond its powers established by the Constitution

States claimed they had the right to nullify (consider void) these unconstitutional acts

1s

t

Election of 1800 Each elector was to

vote for two candidates Most votes = President Runner up = VP

Development of political parties made this process impractical

Election of the President

• Following the passage of the 12th Amendment to the Constitution in 1804

The “Midnight Judges”

Adams appointed John Marshall chief justice of the Supreme Court Marshall’s decisions strengthened the power of the

Supreme Court and the federal government

Judiciary Act of 1801 Increased number of federal judges by 16 Passed prior to Adams leaving office

Adams nominates Federalists

Jefferson (Democratic-Republican) Argues appointments invalid since they were not delivered

prior to Adams leaving office

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Marbury v. Madison Questions considered:

Is Marbury entitled to his appointment? Yes.

Is his lawsuit the correct way to get it? By all means.

Is the Supreme Court the place for Marbury to get the relief he requests? Hmmm…

Marbury’s lawsuit was based on section of Judiciary Act of 1789

Supreme Court did not have original jurisdiction in this matter

John Marshall

Marbury v. Madison

Established principle of

judicial review

Louisiana Purchase American concerns over securing port of New Orleans and western Florida

Robert Livingston and James Monroe sent to negotiate with Foreign Minister Talleyrand

Slave rebellion in Haiti and European conflicts led Napoleon to abandon his North American interests

Louisiana Territory sold to Americans for $15 million

Was purchase constitutional?

Lewis & Clark Expedition Captains:

Meriwether Lewis William Clark

Corps of Discovery Consisted of 33

participants

Goal: Search for a

northwest passage to the Pacific Ocean

Journey May 1804 – Sept. 1806

Took account of plants, animals, topography, Native Americans

Created journals and maps to send back

Sacagawea Kidnapped from her tribe

Taken east to modern-day North Dakota

Sold into slavery and taken as a wife by Toussaint Charbonneau (French-Canadian)

Toussaint and Sacagawea became interpreter team for Lewis and Clark Expedition

Proved valuable in helping navigate trails and when negotiating with the Shoshones at the Rocky Mtns.