The Federal Period

George Washington(1789-1797)A. Precedents1. Cabinet2. two terms3. Farewell AddressB. Worked w/Congress to pass

law to set up judicial branch1. Judiciary Act of 1789 a. Supreme Court, appeals

courts, district courts

Washington

C. set up departments to help run executive branch (Cabinet)

1. Treasury – Alexander Hamilton

a. favored strong national gov’t

2. State – Thomas Jefferson a. afraid of power of

national gov’t; more faith in common man

Washington

D. Hamilton’s Economic Plan1. to manage country’s debt a. create national bankb. have federal gov’t take all

the debt of the statesi. many Southern states

already paid off debt; not happy

ii. compromise: build new capital in the South

Washington

E. Whiskey Rebellion (1794)1. farmers protested new tax

on whiskey2. Washington raised/sent

army to end ita. first test of fed.gov’t to

enforce law

WashingtonF. Foreign Affairs1. Proclamation of Neutrality a. Washington said US would be

neutral in war b/t Britain-France

b. Jefferson resigned from Cabinet2. Pinckney’s Treaty a. w/Spain; gave US use of Miss.

River (port of New Orleans)3. Jay’s Treaty a. w/Britain; agreed to leave

forts in NW territory

Washington

G. Formation of Political Parties1. from Hamilton-Jefferson views about role of gov’t2. Hamilton supporters – Federalists a. strong federal gov’t, broad/loose interpretation of the

Constitution3. Jefferson supporters – Democratic-Republicans a. strong state gov’ts, narrow/strict interpretation of the

Constitution

Washington

H. Farewell Address 1. warned about “the

spirit of party” – growing division of the country

2. warned about “permanent alliances”

a. stay out of affairs of other countries

The Federal Period (con’t)

John Adams (1797-1801)A. Election of 17961. election w/two political

parties 2. Adams (Federalist) v.

Jefferson (Dem-Rep)3. Adams won more

electoral votes – became president; Jefferson finished second – vp

John AdamsB. Foreign Policy1. XYZ Affair (1798)a. US trying to stop France from

taking shipsb. Three French officials

demanded a bribe from Americans in order to meet w/French foreign minister

c. Huge wave of anti-French feeling in US

i. “Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute.”

d. Undeclared naval war

John AdamsC. Domestic Policy1. Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)a. lots of new immigrants coming to

US – many voting w/ Dem-Rep. Party

b. Federalists believed there were French spies in the US

c. Alien Act-allowed president to deport any immigrants (aliens); be in the US 14 yrs. to become a citizen

d. Sedition Act-illegal for anyone to criticize the gov’t

i. Federalists trying to target Dem-Rep ii. violation of the ____ Amendment

John Adams

e. Jefferson and Madison (D-R) said law was unconstitutional

i. Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

- said states had right to nullify act of Congress they believed was unconstitutional

- nullification theory

The Federal PeriodThomas Jefferson (1801-1807)A. Election of 18001. Jefferson, Adams, Burra. Jefferson, Burr tied in electoral college

votesb. Constitution said election decided by

House of Rep.c. Hamilton used influence to win votes

for Jeffersond. peaceful transfer of power from one

party to anotheri. “We are all Republicans, we are all

Federalists.” ii. 12th Amendment passed by Congress

– separate vote for president/vp

Thomas JeffersonA. Domestic Policy1. Judiciary of 1801a. passed at last minute by Federalist

Congress and Adamsb. increased number of federal judges to

try to control courts (“midnight judges”)

c. Jefferson told Sec.of State Madison not to deliver papers to appoint one of the judges; judge sued

2. Marburyv. Madison (1803)a. Chief Justice John Marshallb. Court said a part of Judiciary Act of

1789 was unconstitutionalc. Established precedent of judicial review

– power of Supreme Court to declare law unconstitutional

Thomas Jefferson3. Louisiana Purchase (1803)a. US wanted to buy New Orleans

from Franceb. France offered all of Louisiana

Territoryc. Jefferson not sure at first if

Constitution allowed President to do this (Jefferson’s view of Constitution?)

d. sent treaty to Senate; ratifiede. doubled size of USf. Lewis and Clark Expedition

(1804-1806)

Thomas Jefferson

C. Foreign Policy1. US caught in the middle of war b/t Britain-

France; US trying to stay neutrala. British taking US sailors off ships and forcing

them into British Navy – impressmentb. Embargo Act (1807)i. Congress banned trade w/other countries

The Federal Period

James Madison (1809-1817) D-RA. Foreign Policy1. War of 1812 (US-Britain)a. Issuesi. conflicts w/British on seas

(impressment, imbargo) ii. conflicts w/Native

Americans in Northwest iii. War Hawks – congressman

from South, West pushing for war; patriotism took over

James Madisonb. US military not preparedc. British Navy blockaded on East Coasti. hurt businessman in New England;

Hartford Convention - to talk about seceding

d. 1814-British Army invaded Washington, burned White House

e. Francis Scott Key – Star Spangled Banner during attack on Baltimore

f. Battle of New Orleansi. US victory; made Andrew Jackson a herog. Treaty of Ghent (1814)i. issues not resolved ii. new mood of nationalism in the

country (“Second War for Independence”)

The Federal PeriodJames Monroe (1817-1825) D-RA. Post War US1. migration West – new states2. increased trade w/Britain3. regional differences creating

problems - sectionalism (North, South, West)

4. Missouri Compromise (1820)a. what to do about slavery in new

statesb. Missouri admitted as slave state,

Maine as free statec. 36 30 parallel on map – north free,

south slave