Launching a New

Nation

Washington’s

Presidency

Precedents:

• Cabinet Members (presidential advisory board)• Judiciary Act of 1789

• created 3 levels of federal courts and defined their powers and relationship to the state courts.

• 1792 - 24 stockbrokers signed an agreement under a buttonwood tree on Wall Street.• This was the foundation for

what was to become the New York Stock Exchange

An action that serves

as an example

Alexander Hamilton• Born in British West Indies• Very smart• Helped run a shipping company in his teens• Married into a wealthy NY family• Practiced law• Served as Washington’s aide• Delegate to 4 Continental Congresses

Secretary of TreasuryBiggest challenge – paying off the national debtDuring the war the government sold Bonds

Certificates of debt that carry a promise to buy back the bonds at a higher priceGovernment couldn’t afford to pay these back at a higher price.People could sell them to Speculators – people who buy items at low prices in the hopes that the value will rise.

US owed about 11.7 Million to

foreign countries & 40.4 million to

US citizens

HISTORY QUICKFACTIn the 16th and

17th Century in France, it was fashionable for men to wear high-heeled shoes

For example, King Louis XIV of France did

The Struggle to Stay Neutral

Nations in Europe were at war. In France, the American Revolution inspired the French Revolution, where the working class and poor overthrew the King of France. Americans were happy to hear about this until they learned about a method that the French used to kill King Louis XVI and Queen Marie-Antoinette

The Guillotine

Developed by a doctor to make death more humane.

Questioned when doctors argued that it took 30 seconds for the victim to die after the head was chopped off

Over 40, 000 died this way

Neutrality Proclamation April, 1793

US would not take sides of those at war in Europe and would remain neutral

France wanted to use US ships to attack Britain (privateers)

Jefferson believed US should help

France because they helped the us.

Hamilton said “NO”. Wanted to strengthen ties with

Great Britain.

Jefferson resigned from Washington’s cabinet in 1793

Jays Treaty

1793 Great Britain seized ships carryingfood to the French West Indies

British officers were helping Native Americans fight expanding settlers

Neither GB or US wanted another warWashington sends John Jay to GB Goal:

(1)evacuation of forts(2)payment of compensation for seizure of ships & slaves during the revolution

GB: • Pay damages• Abandon forts on the North Western frontier

US: agree to pay debts owed to GB

US citizens did not like it at all!

Washington didn’t like it either, but thought it was the best they could do.

Jay’s Treaty was signed on June 25, 1795

John Jay

Pinckney’s Treaty 1795

Spain was disputing the US/Florida borderThey closed the New Orleans port, blocking U.S. Trade

Ambassador Pinckney worked out a deal with Spain:

• the U.S would change their border lines slightly

• in exchange for use of the New Orleans port

• Settlers were being attacked by Native Americans (NA)

• NA had defeated 2 Generals already (Harmar & St. Clair)

• General Wayne took command 1792• Built Fort Green Ville 1793

• NA led by Little Turtle attacked a supply train. Wayne responded and defeated them burning NA towns and crops

Northwest Territory

Treaty of GreenvilleGeneral Wayne defeated Little Turtle in the Battle of Fallen Timbers (named so because a tornado had come throughand destroyed trees)

August of 1795 Native American leaders signed the Treaty of Greenville

• Gave the US claim to most Indian lands in the NW territory

• Guaranteed safety of citizens there• NA received $20,000 worth of goods• Claim of land they still held

Whiskey RebellionMarch 1791 - Congress passed a tax on American-made Whiskey (part of Hamilton’s plan) * also a test of the power of the federal gov’t to control the states

Why did they tax whiskey?

Farmers turned their grain into whiskey; it was easier to transport.

They got more money for the whiskey anyway.Farmers did not have the money to pay for the

tax.

The Rebellion

• In the summer of 1794, a group of farmers rebel against the whiskey tax and stage the Whiskey Rebellion.

• One group beat upa tax collector and coated him with tar and feathers

- Washington said he couldn’t watch and do nothing so he led the army against the rebellion. - First and only time a president has done so.- When his army came the rebels fled and the rebellion ended.

Washington’s Farewell Address•Lists benefits of uniting the states under one government

•Warns against political parties

•Need for educating citizens

•Warns for nation to stay neutral

John AdamsElection of 1796

First election with political parties

• Federalist Party (Hamilton)• Strong federal Government• support industry & trade

• Democratic/Republican Party (Jefferson & Madison)• Limit Federal Government’s power• *not related to today’s Republican

party

Business

“Royalist”

Farmers

“Favored

French”

Election of 1796

1st Place: JOHN ADAMS President

2nd Place: THOMAS JEFFERSON Vice-President

1st time more than one person ran for president:

The election

was very

close!

XYZ AFFAIRUS & France

Adams #1 goal: to improve relations with France.*remember France was mad at us for not

supporting them during their revolution

Adams sends 3 diplomats to France (John Marshal, Eldridge Gerry & CC Pinckney)

French Minister Talleyrand refused to see them

3 French Agents came to see them & told them:Talleyrand would see them if they paid a bribe of

$250,000… oh and the French government wanted to borrow $12 million

March 1798 Adams told Congress that the peace seeking mission had failed; he substituted the letters X, Y, & Z for the names of the French agents {that’s why it’s called the XYZ affair}

Federalist in Congress were calling for WAR!

Adams:- asked Congress to expand Navy- decided US should have a peacetime army

Adams did not want to go to WAR!! $$$$$$$

American & French ships begin fighting in the Caribbean (Quasi War or Franco American War)

Adams sent a rep to France to discuss ending the fighting

Finally signed the Convention of 1800 ~ peace treaty

“Millions for defense, but not

one cent for tribute”

This was the quote that rang out from congress when they were told about the French demands. …said by Robert Goodloe Harper

What do you think it means?

The Alien and Sedition Acts

Sedition Act: forbids anyone from publishing or voicing criticism of the federal government

Alien Act: authorized president to deport any resident alien considered “dangerous to the peace & safety of the US”

"He in a trice struck Griswold thrice / Upon his head enraged, Sir; / Who seized the tongs to ease his wrongs, / And Griswold thus engaged, Sir."

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

Jefferson and Madison attacked the Acts at the state level in two states: Kentucky and Virginia

In the resolutions they argued the Acts were unconstitutional

by 1801, the Alien & Sedition Acts expired. Jefferson, by then president, pardoned all who were convicted.

This showed that states could challenge the government

A Duel:Hamilton vs Vice President Burr

There were many years of feuding between the twoBurr challenged Hamilton to a duelHamilton missed; Burr fired; Hamilton was shot and died the next dayDuelling was illegal at the time and Burr was charged with murderbut never convicted

On the morning of July 11, 1804, a sitting Vice President of the United States shot and killed a Founding Father. Imagine the headlines and talk shows if that happened today!?