Ch. 9.2 “Challenges to the New Government” Essential Question: Why did President Washington want to secure the Trans-Appalachian West, and how did he maintain the United States neutrality?

Ch. 9.2 Vocabulary 1. Battle of Fallen Timbers – American army defeated Native Americans over control of the Northwest Territory. 2. Treaty of Greenville – Agreement in which Native Americans surrendered present day Ohio and Indiana to the U.S. Government 3. Whiskey Rebellion – Protest against government tax on whiskey which hurt backcountry farmers. 4. French Revolution – French citizens rebelled against the government for liberty and equality 5. Neutral – Not siding with one country or another 6. Jay’s Treaty – Agreement which ended a dispute over American shipping during the French Revolution 7. Pinckney’s Treaty – Treaty with Spain allowed Americans to use the Mississippi River and store goods in New Orleans

Ch. 9.2 Focus Questions 1. Why was the Mississippi River and New Orleans important to America? 2. Why did President Washington send troops to the Ohio River Valley? 3. Why did the Battle of Fallen Timbers occur? 4. Explain why farmers preferred to transport their grains as whiskey. 5. Why did farmers from western Pennsylvania stage a rebellion in 1794?

Ch. 9.2 Focus Questions 6. What did General Lee and 13,000 soldiers do in 1794, and why was this action significant? 7. How did the American Revolution inspire the French Revolution? 8. Why did the United support of the French Revolution change? 9. Why did the war between France and Britain put the United States in an awkward position? 10. What stand did President Washington declare the United States would take regarding the war between France and Great Britain?

Securing the Northwest Territory Spain, Great Britain, The United States, and Native Americans all claimed land between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River. Spain held much of the land west of the Mississippi River, all of Florida, and the port of New Orleans at the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Securing the Northwest Territory The Mississippi River was important to American settlers because they carried their trade goods to market on flatboats down the river. The port at New Orleans was important to American settlers because it was the key port for trade. The Spanish threatened to close the port and also caused trouble between the Native Americans and the American settlers. The British, violating the Treaty of Paris, still held British forts north of the Ohio River. The British supported the Native Americans to maintain access to fur trade.

Battle of Fallen Timbers President Washington sent two armies to the Ohio Valley to secure the Northwest Territory. Both armies were defeated by a confederation of Native American tribes led by Little Turtle. After the second defeat, President Washington sent another army west. Native American chiefs ignored Little Turtle’s advice to negotiate with Pres. Washington. 2,000 Native Americans clashed with the American troops on August 20, 1794, at a location covered with fallen trees struck down by a storm. This battle became known as “The Battle of Fallen Timbers”

Battle of Fallen Timbers The Native Americans were defeated and retreated hoping the British would help. The British not wanting another war with the U.S. refused to help them. The Natives had no choice but to surrender. Twelve Native American tribes signed the Treaty of Greenville in 1795. Native Americans surrendered what is present day Ohio and Indiana to the United States government.

The Whiskey Rebellion As part of Alexander Hamilton’s financial plan, a government tax was placed on whiskey. Many backwoods farmers made their wheat and rye crops into whiskey because: Poor roads made transporting bushels of grain difficult One horse could transport two barrels of rye whiskey = 24 bushels of rye grain Customers paid more for whiskey then grain Most farmers traded whiskey for salt, sugar and other goods, so farmers used whiskey as money to get the supplies they needed.

The Whiskey Rebellion In 1794 a group of farmers staged “The Whiskey Rebellion” an organized rebellion against the whiskey tax. A tax collector was tarred and feathered! Washington sent an army of 13,000 soldiers into Pennsylvania in October of 1794. Most of the farmers fled, but federal troops arrested 20 farmers. President Washington showed that the federal government had the power and the will to enforce its laws.

The French Revolution Inspired by the American Revolution, the French revolutionaries in 1789 launched a movement for liberty and equality known as The French Revolution. By 1792, the revolution had become so violent, many Americans withdrew their support. King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette were executed. Other European kings believed this revolution threatened their own thrones.

The French Revolution France declared war on Britain, Holland and Spain. Britain led the fight against France. This war put the United States in an awkward position. France had been America’s ally in the revolution against Great Britain. Many Americans saw the French Revolution as proof that the American cause had been just.

The French Revolution Thomas Jefferson supported the French Revolution. A move to crush it would be seen as an attack on liberty everywhere. Alexander Hamilton however pointed out that Britain was the United States most important trading partner. What to do???? In April 1793, President Washington declared that the United States would remain neutral – not siding with one country or the other. The nation would be friendly and impartial to both sides. Congress passed a law forbidding the United States to help either side.