US HistoryChapter 6

The Origin of The Origin of American PoliticsAmerican Politics

1789-18201789-1820

Problems of the New Government

• National Debt• $52 million• Farm economy; 3 million people

• Not respected by other countries• No navy• Army of only 400 men

• Spain closed Mississippi River to American trade• Controlled New Orleans

• British kept forts within American territory

George Washington

• 1st President of the United States(April 30, 1789 - March 3, 1797)

• Nickname: Father of the Country

• Highly respected around the world as a General and leader

George Washington1789-1797

• Background• Fought in French and Indian War• Commander in Chief of the Continental

Army• Presiding Officer at Constitutional

Convention• Natural leader; seemed almost royal• Keen sense of duty• Sought no personal power

George Washington1789-1797

• Election• Unanimously elected• Inaugurated April 30, 1789 in New York City• Vice President – John Adams

• Views on Government• Avoided arguments• Concentrated on larger picture of national unity• Smoothly functioning administration• Created respect for the new government• Opposed to political parties

First Acts of the New Government

• Judiciary Act of 1789• Established the court system• Supreme Court

• 6 judges – 1 Chief Justice, 5 associates• John Jay – 1st Chief Justice

• 13 District Courts• 3 Circuit Courts• Allowed state court decisions to be

appealed to federal court when constitutional issues are in question

• Established office of Attorney General

First Acts of the New Government

• Bill of Rights• Fulfilled promise to Anti-Federalists; 1791

• Formation of First Cabinet• Advisers to the President

• Secretary of State – Thomas Jefferson• Attorney General – Edmund Randolph• Secretary of War - Henry Knox• Secretary of Treasury - Alexander Hamilton

• Had greatest influence on Washington’s administration

The First Cabinet Secretaries

Squabbling in the Cabinet…

• How Should the Constitution be Interpreted??? • Federalists believed in…

• Loose construction of Constitution

• Government could do anything that was not forbidden

• Anti-Federalists believed in…• Strict construction of

Constitution• Government should not do

anything unless specified

Two Factions Born

• Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, as heads of the Federalist and Anti-Federalist groups respectively, are often considered 'fathers' of the modern party system.

Whoops.. The New Government is Broke

• The war debt was enormous, and the creditors were demanding payment on the loans they had given during the war

• European countries refused to trade with the US worried that they would not be reimbursed for products and services

Hamilton’s Beliefs…

• Felt that government needed to direct the development of the American economy

• Had little faith in the people•Remember…we’re

the MOB!

Hamilton’s Financial Program

• Payment of all debts• Demonstrate to the world that the federal

government, not the individual states, was the responsible contracting party in all international commerce and foreign affairs

• Three types:• Domestic debt ($44 million in bonds)

• Exchange old bonds for new ones• Problem – speculators bought old bonds below face

value – would get rich• Necessary to establish US credit

Hamilton’s Financial Program

• Payment of all debts• Three types:

• Foreign debts ($12 million)• Pay back France and Spain

• State debts ($22 million)• Opposed by the Southern states because they had

already paid back their loans• To get South to agree, promised to move the capital

to the South• From? – temporary capital• To? – originally called Federal Town

Hamilton’s Strategy

• Alexander Hamilton•The new Secretary of the Treasury

worried about the nation’s debt from the war

• He wanted the national government to take over the states’ debt to European countries and banks and consolidate• 1 large debt instead of 13 smaller debts…• All he had to do was convince the 13 states to

take on each others debts!

Hamilton's Ideas for $$• Get us out of DEBT by…

1. Excise Tax (Luxury Tax)•One year tax on Whiskey to raise money•Chiefly affected farmers on western frontier

• Converted corn crop to whiskey to transport it to market more efficiently

2. Protective Tariff - Placing taxes on domestic products, and place tariffs on foreign goods entering the country• How are citizens going to feel about this one??• Only part of Hamilton’s plan that was rejected by

Congress

The Whiskey Rebellion

• Corn was not profitable as a crop until it was made into whiskey• Whiskey was also used as a kind of currency

in certain states and regions

• When Hamilton attempted to raise money through a tax on whiskey in 1794, Pennsylvania farmers took to arms

• The army was called in by Washington to squash the rebellion

• First time the new government was tested

Hamilton's Ideas for $$

●Creating the Bank of United States •Hamilton thought the Bank would help

centralize the debt, American finances, and investments

• Does anyone remember an article, section in the Constitution concerning a National Bank?•What is the position of the leaders on this

issue?

• Hamilton: necessary and proper clause• Jefferson: Constitution doesn’t give

government the power to have a bank.

The Rise of Political Parties

Federalists

Anti-FederalistsJeffersonians

Democratic Republicans

LeadersHamilton

John AdamsJefferson

James Madison

Supporters

Upper Class –Merchants, manufacturers

bankers, large land owners

Common People Farmers, city workers,

small shopkeepers

LocationStrongest in New England

South and West

The Rise of Political Parties

Federalists

Anti-FederalistsJeffersonians

Democratic Republicans

Relationship with Government

Believed in gov’t for and by the rich and well-born;

distrusted common people

Believed in more democracy; gov’t should

work in the interest of the common people

Interpretation of the Constitution

LooseWanted a strong

central government

StrictFavored states’ rights

& weak gov’t

Hamilton’s Program

FavoredBeneficial to economic

interests

OpposedToo much power to

government

ForeignAffairs

Favored Great Britain–government

dominated by upper class

Favored France – followed our lead to

revolt in 1789

War in Europe…Again!!

• Once again Great Britain and France were at war

• The Americans were uncertain of the position they should take..•Side with the French?•Side with the British?•Keep America neutral?

European Influences on the Federalists

• Alexander Hamilton and the Federalists were fans of Great Britain- and afraid of their navy!• “Keep your friends close, but

keep your enemies closer”

• He was afraid of the problems in France and the Reign of Terror- • The people were considered

“rabble” and sometimes referred to as “the mob”

European Influences on the Anti-Federalists

• Thomas Jefferson and the Anti-Federalists were still fans of France, the country that had helped them during the Revolutionary War

• Did not trust the British; thought we should help the French during the war

• Saw the current problems in France as a true reaction by a real democracy• Jefferson thought there should be a revolution

every 10 years• True democracies were all about change and

growth• Throw the bums, out!

Washington Decides…

• Washington declared neutrality in April 1793

• The new country would not have to take sides

• Angered the French who had sided with the Americans during the Revolution

Washington’s Cabinet Breaks Up

• The Former Anti-Federalists became a faction within the Washington cabinet

• Thomas Jefferson was the most influential opponent. • He resigned his position as

Sec. of State in opposition to the ideas

• Man of the people and states’ rights• States’ rights advocates

War Between France and Britain

• Great Britain• Began to seize American ships• Violated our “Freedom of the

Seas”

Definition: the right of a neutral nation to trade with belligerents in goods not intended for war

War Between France and Britain

• Great Britain continued its practice of stopping American ships and searching them for “British citizens”. •This resulted in the practice of

impressment. •This angered American traders and

businessmen who were losing key personnel.

• Still in the American NW – inciting Indians???• Chief Justice John Jay was sent to GB to

negotiate a treaty

“Jay’s Treaty” Major Provisions

• The withdrawal of British soldiers from posts in the American West

• A commission to be established to settle outstanding border issues between the U.S. and Canada

• A commission to be established to resolve American losses in British ship seizures and Loyalist losses during the War for Independence. • Missing from the treaty was a provision for

the British to refrain from the arrest of American ships and impressment of American seamen. It did help us get a favorable treaty with Spain.

Reactions to “Jay’s Treaty”

• The paper on which "the treaty was written was called a piece of shame."

• Jay was accused of having betrayed his country by negotiating a servile treaty with Britain's monarch.

• Jay's name became the subject of punning toasts such as, "clipped wings and lame legs" and he was burned in effigy in many states. • He claimed he could have walked the entire

eastern seaboard at night and had his way illuminated by protesters burning him in effigy.

Federalists…what were you thinking?

• But Congress ratified the treaty•The split between

factions became larger and…

•A new party was born!!

Treaty with Spain

• After Jay’s treaty, Spain feared US and Britain would team up to attack Florida and Louisiana – willing to work out problems.

• Pinckney Treaty (1795)• Guaranteed US free navigation of Mississippi• Gave US “right of deposit” in New Orleans – right

to transfer goods from riverboats to ocean going ships w/out paying Spanish tariff

• Established the Mississippi as the western boundary and the 31st parallel as southern boundary of US

• Considered an American triumph!!

Washington’s Retirement

• Set two term precedent• Tired of burden of public office• Hurt by bitter criticism of Democratic-Republicans• Wanted to show that no one was indispensable

• Farewell Address – urged• No political parties• Develop economy; solve domestic problems• Don’t enter into foreign alliances (entangling)• Stay out of Europe’s quarrels• Instituted foreign policy of non-involvement

The Election of 1796

• The Federalists and the Jeffersonians competed for the presidency in the 1796 and 1800 elections

• Federalists v Jeffersonians • Adams v Jefferson

• Winner 1796 –Federalists and Adams•Jefferson was then selected as his

Vice-President because he came in second!

John Adams1797-1801

• Ben Franklin said of Adams:“always honest, often great”

• Helped write the Declaration of Independence• Ambassador to England• Washington’s Vice President• First to live in the White House• Wife – Abigail – wrote her many love letters• Son – John Quincy Adams• Devout Christian• Vain, Stuffy, Overweight – often called “His Rotundy”• Died July 4, 1826 – same day as Jefferson

The French are MAD!!

• French enraged by American foreign policy• Proclamation of Neutrality• Jay Treaty with Britain

• The French withdrew their minister from Philadelphia; refused to receive the newly appointed U.S. Minister, Charles Pinckney.

• They then began to seize U.S. ships on the high seas bound for Britain. • Federalists want war

• President Adams responded by sending three Americans to negotiate

XYZ Affair• The Americans demanded that the French

halt the practice of seizing ships• Three anonymous French agents (X, Y, &

Z) were sent by the French Prime Minister Tallyrand to demand a bribe from America • This was common in 18th century Europe, but

John Jay refused

• The resulting scandal became known as the XYZ Affair.

• Americans become strongly anti-French.

Undeclared Naval War

• Congress votes funds to build navy• 1798 – Cabinet level navy department• Captured 100 French vessels• 1800 – Adams sent negotiator to

France – controlled by Napoleon• Agreed to end naval conflict and cancel

1778 treaty of alliance• Adams lost popularity but restored

peace

Naturalization Act

• Increased the number of years required for immigrant to become a citizen from 5 to 14 years.

What party will be most hurt by this law?

Alien Act

• President gained the right to imprison or deport citizens of other countries residing in the U.S. considered dangerous to U.S.•What about the land of liberty and

opinion?•Freedom of speech and assembly?

• Extremely unpopular among the Anti-Federalists

The Sedition Act

• Persons who wrote, published, or said anything “of a false, scandalous, and malicious” nature against the American government or its officials could be jailed or fined

• Anti-Federalists fumed after the law was signed by President Adams

• What happened to freedom of the press?

The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

• Jefferson, Madison, and others felt the Sedition Act violated free speech

• Legislatures of two states came up with “null and void” idea• If we don’t agree with the Act in our state, we will

not enforce or obey it

• A direct challenge to Federal superiority• The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions were

later used as a basis for the creation of the Confederacy

In other words…

• Its all about Federal Superiority vs. States Rights

• Should the states have the right to decide whether or not a federal statute is constitutional FOR THEM.• Can they nullify a law if it is not

agreeable to the state??

• The states versus federal government question began in earnest!

The Federalist Party dies

• Lost both executive and legislative branches in 1800

• Federalist judicial appointments served for many years• Most important – Chief Justice John

Marshall appointed January 31, 1801

• Never won another election• Party died but ideas remained

Summary of Federalist Era

• Fostered loose interpretation of Constitution• Established national credit• Created the court system• Demonstrated ability of government to

enforce laws• Admitted three states

• Vermont, Kentucky, Tennessee

• Kept nation out of war• Instituted a foreign policy of isolation

Election of 1800

• Jefferson versus Adams.. AGAIN!!• Nasty, personal attacks on each

man’s character• Jeffersonians called Adams an

elitist and Tory• Federalist newspapers claimed that

the election of Jefferson would cause the "teaching of murder robbery, rape, adultery and incest". • Sound more like politics today!

The Evolution of American Political Parties

• The Anti-Federalists became known as the Republican-Democrats in 1800• Sometimes known as the Democratic

Republicans or simply the Republicans• Historians have given them the name,

“Jeffersonians” to stop confusion with today’s Republican party

• FYI…The modern Democratic party actually can trace their roots to the Jeffersonians

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:ElectoralCollege1800-Large.png

The Confusing Results of 1800

• Neither Adams or Jefferson received the necessary number of electoral votes

• Since no one had the majority of votes, and the election was turned over to the House of Representatives. • The House deliberated from February 11th to

February 17th

•Jefferson was selected on the 36th ballot!!•Aaron Burr came in second and became

the new VP

Transfer of Power in 1800

•Americans disagreed peacefully

•Diplomatic …no bloodshed•The Constitution WORKED!!

Aaron Burr

• Jefferson’s greatest rivals were Alexander Hamilton and Vice President Aaron Burr• Jefferson saw Burr as a clear and present

danger, and began a campaign to ruin his reputation• "I never thought him an honest, frank-dealing

man, but considered him as a crooked gun, or other perverted machine, whose aim or shot you could never be sure of."

• "A great man in little things, he is really small in great ones”

• Alexander Hamilton said of Aaron Burr as vice president, • "He is an isolated man, totally without

influence."

The Burr- Hamilton Duel

•Hamilton then sarcastically questioned Burr's integrity.

•Sensing a chance to regain political honor, Burr demanded an apology.•Hamilton refused on the grounds that he could not recall the instance.

•After an exchange of testy letters, and despite the attempts of mutual friends to avert a confrontation, a duel was scheduled for July 11, 1804 along the bank of the Hudson River beneath a rocky ledge in New Jersey

Hamilton Dies of His Wounds

• The two men met at dawn• Hamilton's shot was fired into

the air away from Burr into the air.

• Burr fired at his opponent who was mortally wounded

• Hamilton died the next day• The guns were selected by

Hamilton and have a hair-trigger setting that may be switched on or off.

• Burr fled the state and returned to Washington as a fugitive to finish his term as Vice President!!

Thomas Jefferson1801 -1808

• First to be inaugurated in Washington• Self-taught architect – designed his home• Inventor

• Letter copying machine• 7 day clock• Pocket doors• Dumb waiter

• Spoke 7 languages• Lawyer• Deep abiding faith in the common people

Thomas Jefferson1801 -1808

• Founder of the University of Virginia• Author of the Declaration of

Independence• Governor of Virginia during the

Revolution• Ambassador to France• Widower

• Wrote 50,000 letters• Head and Heart Letter to wife

The 3rd President

• Views on Government• Democracy – ideal government that

functions best in an agricultural society of small independent farmers

• Role of Government – limited• favored popular education•Careful protection of civil liberties

• Constitution – Strict Interpreter•Supported loose interpretationwhen national welfare required it

Jefferson’s Policies

• Reverses some Federalists policies• All internal taxes eliminated• Cut military spending and reduced

national debt• US Military Academy (West Point) 1802• Alien and Sedition Acts expire• Replaced Federalists with Dem.-Repubs.• Repealed Naturalization Act• Repealed Judicial Act of 1801

Jefferson’s Policies

• Continued other Federalist Policies• Hamilton’s Financial Program• Washington’s policy of non-involvement• Move toward loose interpretation

• Louisiana Purchase

Louisiana Purchase - 1803

• Napoleon - purchased from Spain to create American Empire

• 1802 – suspended right of deposit• Jefferson feared strong French presence

would for US in alliance with Britain• Sent James Monroe and

Robert Livingston to try to buy New Orleans and W. Florida from France

Louisiana Purchase - 1803

• Napoleon sells entire territory• Needed money for war with Britain• Rather sell than lose• Slave in Hispaniola – didn’t need to feed

them

• Monroe agrees to purchase for $15 million – 3 cents an acre!!

Was it legal?

• Purchasing land is not an expressed power in the Constitution

• Jefferson at first suggested a Constitutional amendment

• Solution: Constitution gives power to make treaties –

Exploring Louisiana

• Wanted to learn about resources• Meriwether Lewis and William Clark

• Start in St. Louis, up Missouri River, across Rocky Mountains, reached Columbia River in Oregon Territory

• Indian guide - Sacajawea• Zebulon Pike

• Looking for source of Mississippi River• 2nd exploration into Rockies and Colorado• Found Great American desert

Sacajawea

Significance of Purchase

• Almost doubled size of the US• Source of tremendous wealth• Gave US control of Mississippi River

and New Orleans• Removed French influence in N.

America• Established precedent for future land

purchases• Moved Democratic-Republicans toward

loose interpretation of Constitution

Napoleonic Wars

• 1803 – Britain and France fight again!• Fought for 12 years• France supreme on land; Britain on sea• “Tiger against the Shark”• Stalemate on battlefield• Economic Warfare

• Berlin and Milan Decrees – France tried to restrict trade with Britain; GB retailiates

• Orders in Council – to blockade trade with FranceWhich is most effective?

Effect on the United States

• Hampered our trade with Europe• British seizing ships• British impressing sailors• Keep trying – profit made up for losses• Chesapeake-Leopard Affair

• British captain demanded to search the Chesapeake; American captain refused

• British fired on ship; boarded it and took off 4 sailors – 3 American citizens

• 3 Americans killed; 18 wounded• Americans demanded Jefferson take action; to

avoid war had Congress pass . . .

Embargo Act

• Prohibited all exports to all foreign countries• Prohibited American ship from sailing into

foreign ports• Didn’t hurt France and Britain much• Almost completely destroyed commerce in

New England• South and West lost foreign markets

for farm produce• Boomerang Effect • 1809 repealed-Non-intercourse Act

Election of 1808

• Federalist – Charles Pinckney• Little support

• Democratic-Republican – James Madison• Father of Constitution• Author of Federalist Papers• Smallest president• Wife – Dolly-served as hostess for Jefferson• Dolly sold notes on Constitutional Convention for

$30,000• Very extravagant• Had not money left• Daniel Webster bought groceries for her

Mr. Madison’s War

• Efforts at Peace• 3 years tried to protect American shipping

• War Hawks• John Calhoun; Henry Clay• Wanted war to acquire new territory in

Canada and Florida• Remove European powers from our

borders

• 1812 – Declaration of war by Congress

Causes of the War of 1812

• Britain’s seizure of American ships and impressment of American sailors

• American resentment of Britain dating back to the Revolution

• Believed British in Canada were inciting and arming Indians to attack American settlements

• American ambitions to annex Canada• South and West – Favored war;

Northeast – oppose to war

Military Events – War of 1812

• Americans invades Canada – unsuccessful• Britain invades US from Canada –

unsuccessful• Captain Oliver Perry – “We have met the enemy

and they are ours.”

• British blockade our ports• British invasion

• Chesapeake Bay – Washington DC captured• Washington DC – Burned White House• Ft. McHenry (Baltimore)

• Francis Scott Key – Star Spangled Banner

Ft. McHenry

Treaty of Ghent – Dec. 1814

Who won the war?

No one; no land changed handsTreaty did not mention

impressment of sailors but European war was over so not

an issue any longer.

Battle of New Orleans – Jan. 1815

• Biggest battle of war• Fought one month after treaty signed• Andrew Jackson – American commander• British attempt to invade Southwest

• British – 8000 men• American – 5400 men• Casualties

• British - 2000• Americans - 71

• Only decisive battle

Who won the war?

We did!!

Results of the War of 1812

• Strengthened isolation• Increased westward expansion• Encouraged American industry• Ended the Federalist Party – opposed

war• Hartford Convention

• Advocate states’ rights and nullification• Wanted Constitutional amendment to require

2/3 majority to declare war, admit new states

Read Chapter 6!!!