The Federalists in Power and the Emergence of a Two-Party System
Who did the American people elect as the first president of the United States? George Washington
Who was Washington’s first Secretary of State? Thomas Jefferson
Who was Washington’s first Secretary of the Treasury? Alexander Hamilton
What political party did Thomas Jefferson organize? Democratic-Republican Party
What is a political party? A group of people with similar beliefs about how the government should be run
What was another name for Jefferson’s Democratic-Republican Party? Republicans
What political party did Alexander Hamilton organize? The Federalist Party
What is the cabinet? Heads of the executive departments Official advisers to the president
What does the Secretary of State do? Oversees the nation’s relations with foreign countries Handles foreign affairs
What does the Secretary of the Treasury do? Advises the president on economic issues, like taxes and government finance
What is strict construction of the Constitution? An interpretation of the Constitution believing that the powers of the federal government are strictly defined
What is loose construction of the Constitution? An interpretation of the Constitution believing that the federal government has broad powers
Did Jefferson believe in strict or loose construction of the Constitution? Strict construction
Did Hamilton believe in strict or loose construction of the Constitution?
What clause of the Constitution allows Congress “to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper” to carry out those powers that are listed in the Constitution? The Elastic Clause
According to Alexander Hamilton, what specified powers would the Bank of the United States help Congress carry out?
Collecting taxes Borrowing money Paying the public debt Regulating commerce (trade)
Who led the Democratic-Republican Party? Thomas Jefferson James Madison
What were five beliefs of the Democratic-Republican Party?
Strict construction of the Constitution A weak national government (relative to the power of the states) Strong state governments An economy based on agriculture (farming) A pro-French foreign policy
Who supported the Democratic-Republican Party? Farmers Artisans (skilled craftsmen) Frontier settlers
In what region of the United States was the Democratic-Republican Party strongest? South
Who led the Federalist Party? Alexander Hamilton John Adams
What were five beliefs of the Federalist Party?
Loose construction of the Constitution A strong national government A national bank A commercial economy (based on manufacturing and trade) A pro-British foreign policy
What groups supported the Federalist Party? Bankers Businessmen
In what region of the nation was the Federalist Party strongest? The Northeast
What treaty aimed at settling commercial and boundary disputes between the United States and Great Britain?
The Jay Treaty Also called Jay’s Treaty
Which political party supported the Jay Treaty? The Federalists
What was the most important provision (part) of the Jay Treaty?
Great Britain agreed to evacuate or leave its forts in the Ohio Valley and retreat to the boundary line set by the treaty that ended the Revolutionary War
Who followed George Washington as president? John Adams
What was President Adams’ policy towards France? An undeclared naval war against France
What were three results of Adams’ policy towards France?
Maintained peace with France Preserved the honor of the United States Made Adams less popular among members of his own Federalist Party, who wanted the United States to declare war against France
Who was the most important Chief Justice of the Supreme Court during the early years of the United States? John Marshall
What was John Marshall’s political party and what was his home state? Federalist Virginia
How did the Supreme Court decisions under John Marshall strengthen the federal courts? Made the federal courts an independent and equal branch of the United States government
What is judicial review? The power of the courts to declare a law unconstitutional
What is a precedent? An example for future action
What were three important decisions by the Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Marshall?
Marbury v. Madison McCulloch v. Maryland Gibbons v. Ogden
How did the Supreme Court rule in the case of Marbury v. Madison? Declared a federal law unconstitutional
What precedent did Marbury v. Madison set? Judicial Review
Why is judicial review so important to the Supreme Court? Gives the Supreme Court its main check on the power of Congress
Doctrine of implied powers What doctrine did the Supreme Court set forth in its McCulloch v. Maryland decision? Doctrine of implied powers
What two legal questions were involved in the McCulloch case?
1) Did Congress have the authority to establish the Bank of the United States? 2) Did the Maryland law taxing the BUS unconstitutionally interfere with congressional powers?
What two points did the Supreme Court make in McCulloch v. Maryland?
1) Congress had the power to create the BUS. 2) Maryland could not tax agencies of the national government, which carried out constitutional powers.
What did Chief Justice Marshall say about implied powers in the McCulloch Decision?
Congress possessed implied powers that the Constitution did not specifically mention.
What laws did Chief Justice Marshall declare to be supreme in the McCulloch Decision?
The Constitution and federal laws Federal laws override state constitutions and state laws.
How did the Marshall Court rule on the Maryland state law that taxed the Baltimore branch of the Bank of the United States?
The Maryland state law that taxed the BUS was unconstitutional.
Who wrote, “The Power to tax is the power to destroy”?
Chief Justice John Marshall
What did the case of Gibbons v. Ogden involve?
the state of New York’s regulations for steamboats, which did business between New York and another state New Jersey
How did the Supreme Court rule in the case of Gibbons v. Ogden?
that the federal government had complete control over interstate commerce
What is interstate commerce? trade between states
What doctrine did the Marshall Court use to settle disagreements between different branches of the national government?
the doctrine of judicial review in Marbury v. Madison
What doctrine did the Marshall Court use to settle disagreements between the federal government and the states?
the doctrine of implied powers in McCulloch v. Maryland
In what case did the Marshall Court provide the foundation block for the Supreme Court to settle disagreements between competing business interests?
Gibbons v. Ogden
What Supreme Court decision set forth a broadly national view of economic affairs?
Gibbons v. Ogden