Washington and The New Republic 1790-1820

Political Freedoms Before 1820 Women North – not educated, lower classes had to work, could not vote South – supervised plantation houses, housewives and farmers, could not vote Wage Earners North – was compared to slavery, lived in tenements (cramped apartments), worked long hours, low pay, few voted Landless Farmers South – long hours, unstable work, tenant farming, few could vote Free Blacks North – segregated, did not have full rights, few allowed to vote South – tenant farmers, no civil rights, could not vote Slaves: South – absolutely no rights, followed slave codes Natives: land acquisition pushed them off their land, not considered citizens Immigrants British, Germans, Irish Moved to cities in large numbers, increasing population and competition for jobs → Nativism (native born favored over foreign born)

Washington Shapes the Government Challenges Establish strong national government Gain respect of Britain, France, and other countries Washington Heads the New Government Shaping the Executive Branch Cabinet = advisors to the president Secretary of State – Thomas Jefferson Secretary of Treasury – Alexander Hamilton Secretary of War – Henry Knox Attorney General – Edmund Randolph

Washington knew that he would establish a precedent (example, tradition to be followed) for how to govern Washington’s first task was to set up the details of the federal court system that was authorized by the Constitution Judiciary Act of 1789 = set up the federal court system Supreme Court (1 chief & 5 justices) Circuit Courts District Courts Allowed state court decisions to be appealed to a federal court when constitutional issues were raised

Creation of first Political Parties Hamilton Jefferson Federalist Strong central government Rule of rich, educated elite Economy based on industry Loose Interpretation of Constitution Support from North Democratic-Republican Stronger state governments Democracy of farmers Economy based on agriculture Strict Interpretation of Constitution Support from South & West

Hamilton’s Financial Plan Manage U.S. debts & establish national banking system Pay foreign debt & issue new bonds to cover the old ones How: deposit taxes and private investors $; tariffs Issues 1. Was a national bank constitutional? Strict = federal government had limited powers Loose = greater federal powers from “Elastic Clause” 2. Federal government to assume debts of states Southern states that had already paid off their debts did not like this Deal – If Capital was moved from New York City to South (DC), the South would pass the debt plan The compromise was passed

Regional differences Protective Tariff = tax on imports So government could make money Protected the American markets Excise Tax = tax on a product’s manufacture, sale, or distribution Placed on whiskey PA farmers protested, so Washington sent troops to put down their rebellion Whiskey Rebellion , 1787 – 1st time the government used force; showed the strength of the federal government

Border Issues

Treaty with Spain Spain controls access to New Orleans, a key trading post, and use of the Mississippi River Wanted to secure their land claims west of the Appalachian Mountains & shipping rights on the Mississippi River Pinckney’s Treaty of 1795 (Treaty of San Lorenzo) U.S. got land east of Mississippi River except Florida Gained use of the Mississippi River and New Orleans

Troubles with Native Americans As more and more people began to move and settle west of the Appalachians, the settlers came into conflict with natives, whose land claims were ignored → Battle of Fallen Timbers – Americans end Native resistance in OH Treaty of Greenville – natives gave up most of their lands Sets precedent in which natives were paid much less for their land than it was worth

British violated 1783 treaty by maintaining forts in the area Troubles with Britain More and more people began to move and settle west of the Appalachians into Northwest Territory (1783 Treaty of Paris in which Great Britain gave up its land rights allowed pioneers to settle here) British violated 1783 treaty by maintaining forts in the area British navy raiding American ships and kidnapping (impressments) American soldiers

Jay’s Treaty (1794) British gave up posts in Northwest Territory, but could continue fur trade Did not correct problem of freedom of the seas Postponed showdown (War of 1812) between U.S. & Great Britain

Washington’s Farewell Address, 1797 Speech the president gives as he leaves office Warned against political parties and foreign entanglements established a policy of isolation (neutrality) = staying out of foreign affairs