The Origins of American Politics; Liberty vs Order in the 1790’s Alexander Hamilton’s Program Secretary of Treasury with a national debt of $75 Million

Need for an Economic Policy  U.S. owed other nations and other Americans money due to the Revolutionary War and setting up of the United States.  Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury  Was responsible for developing an economic policy that would stabilize the economy and pay off the debts.

Hamilton’s Strategies Deal with the South assume state debts = capital in the South (DC) Deal with the South assume state debts = capital in the South (DC) Tariff on imported goods Tariff on imported goods Whiskey tax Whiskey tax Pay creditors Pay creditors Established National Bank of the U.S Established National Bank of the U.S Received opposition from Jeffersonian Republicans. Received opposition from Jeffersonian Republicans.

Foreign Policy Issues France France Political split over French Revolution, 1789 Political split over French Revolution, 1789 France and Britain at war = declare neutrality France and Britain at war = declare neutrality Britain Britain Jay’s Treaty Jay’s Treaty Controversy between Americans Controversy between Americans There were those who did not want a war with Britain, while others believed in revolutionary ideas and wanted Britain to pay. The Treaty would last until There were those who did not want a war with Britain, while others believed in revolutionary ideas and wanted Britain to pay. The Treaty would last until 1805.

Political Parties Emerge  Whiskey Rebellion, 1794  Pennsylvania refusal to pay tax  Washington quickly squashed the rebellion = American committed to enforcing laws  Washington’s farewell address  Political parties were bad for the nation  Called for policy of neutrality  First political parties in the U.S.  Had different views on economic and foreign policies  Both parties agreed on one thing – they were committed to the Republic.

Federalist  Alexander Hamilton: “Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of man will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice without constraint.”  Led by John Adams and Alexander Hamilton.  Believed in a strong national government  Believed in a strong commercial economy  Ideas supported by bankers and businessmen who held interest in the Northeast.

Democratic - Republicans  Thomas Jefferson: “A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor and bread it has earned – this is the sum of good government.”  Headed by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison  Believed in a weak national government  Believed in an agricultural economy  Supported by farmers, artisans and frontier settlers in the south.

Jeffersonian Republicans vs Federalist Thomas Jefferson vs Alexander Hamilton  Typical view of Constituition:  Strict  Favored weak central government  Opposed a national bank  Favored paying off the national debt  Pro-agriculture  Against large standing armies and navies  Believed that common men should hold political power  Pro-French  Included southern slaveholders, urban artisans, tradespeople and farmers  Typical view of Constitution  Loose  Favored strong central government  Favored a national bank  Favored using national debt to establish credit  Pro-business  For strong standing armies and navies  Believed political power should rest with wealthy, educated men  Pro-British  Included businessmen, professionals, congregational ministers and rural people satisfied with the status quo.

The Election of 1796  John Adams (Federalist) vs  Thomas Jefferson (Republican)  Adams beats Jefferson  Jefferson becomes his vice president.

Alien and Sedition Acts, 1798  Power to arrest and deport citizens of other countries  Naturalization Act: 14 years = citizen  Fines and jail: malicious, false and scandalous writings.

Election of 1800  Adams v. Jefferson/Burr  Burr and Jefferson = each 73 electoral votes = House of Representatives choose Jefferson  **First peaceful transfer of power between political parties!

The Jefferson Administration  Jefferson and the Courts  Judiciary Acts of 1801  Decrease number of Supreme Court judges  Increase number of federal judges  Supreme Court is strengthened making their role an equal branch of the national government  The court has the authority to mediate disagreements between branches of government, levels of government, and competing business interests.  Midnight Judges  Appointed federalists by Adams as he leaves office (Madison to deliver appointments)  John Marshall – Chief Justice of Supreme Court.

Marbury v. Madison 1803  Marbury sued for appointment papers Madison did not deliver  Marshall ruled against Marbury-declared parts of Judiciary Act of 1789 unconstitutional (first time)  Established judicial review: courts can decide if Congress’s laws are constitutional  Allows federal courts to review state laws and state court cases = federal power supreme  Constitution is the supreme law of the land.

McCulloch v. Maryland 1819  The doctrine of implied powers – Constitution grants to Congress implied powers so that there is a functional national government. Hamilton stated that about the Constitution that “it was impossible to define all the means which it should use, because it was impossible for the founders to anticipate all future exigencies (urgent need).”  States cannot over step their bounds

Gibbons v. Ogden 1824  Supreme Court gave U.S. power to regulate interstate business  This case later has an impact on federal control on television, pipelines and banking.

Jefferson’s Plan in the West  Louisiana Purchase, 1803  Jefferson sends Monroe to France to purchase New Orleans for control of the mouth of the Mississippi River  Napoleon offered all of French claims for $15 million  Doubling the size of the U.S.

Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1804  Search for river routes to the western ocean  Make contact with Native Americans living in the territories  Gather information about the region’s natural resources  Sacajawea, Shoshone, guide and interpreter  Reached the Pacific Ocean

Leading Up to war with Great Britain  By 1805, the treaty (Jay’s Treaty) with Great Britain was null and void  Europeans were at war – U.S. was right in the middle. France and Great Britain not happy with the U.S. trading with the other  British captured American sailors to serve in their navy  Jefferson knew that the U.S. navy could not stand up against the British fleet.

Embargo of 1807  Jefferson thought this was the best way to attack both countries-hurt them where it counts, in their pocket.  Congress outlawed most trade to foreign countries  Embargo was not successful because it did not impact Great Britain or France; however, it did hurt Americans especially in New England.

Native Americans  Indians were not happy with the expansion into their territory. They already felt the Americans had taken most of their land.  Some Indian leaders declared war on the Americans.  Americans believed the British were arming and giving the Indians supplies.

War of 1812  President James Madison convinced Congress that the British were helping the Indians and interfering with trade and this was impacting the farmers in the south and west.  Federalists opposed the war and threatened secession. They wanted constitutional amendments that would prevent the war. Did not happen.

1814  The British retreated; but not without doing a great deal of damage to the U.S.  Washington was in ruins – the Capitol and the White House were burned.  U.S. treasury was dead.  Baltimore was attacked and damaged.

Treaty of Ghent  Ends the war of 1812  Boundaries restored in the north.