After the Constitution The Bill of Rights, the development of political parties, and the Presidencies of George Washington and John Adams

The Bill of Rights One of the main reasons for the American Revolution was that colonists felt like their rights were not being recognized as stated in the English Bill of Rights If they were subjects of Britain, then wouldn’t their rights be the same as British subjects in Britain? This is also a reason why Antifederalists were reluctant to approve the Constitution; they felt that their rights would be abridged (lessened) under these new laws A proposal of the Bill of Rights was introduced by James Madison The first 10 amendments to the Constitution Including freedoms from and protections by the government It was approved separately by both houses of Congress in 1789; ratified in 1792

Bill of Rights The first nine rights deal with key individual rights and protections These rights include the right to free speech, assembly, and religion Protections against self-incrimination and the right to trial by jury The tenth amendment limited the power of the Federal government This was done to protect individual rights It stated that any rights not specifically addressed (enumerated) in the Constitution or Bill of Rights are reserved for the state Why do you think the rights listed in the Bill of Rights? And how do they relate to the type of government the Founding Fathers had established?

Presidency: George Washington The new nation faced several issues A national debt of $52 million mainly a farming economy and only 3 million citizens Spanish had closed the Mississippi to American trade No national navy and a small army (400 men) Why was George Washington elected as President by Congress? Influential and popular John Adams served as Vice President Only the Pres., VP, and Congress existed With few rules to guide the administration, GW immediate began setting important precedents (acts or statements that would become traditions) Along with Madison (HOR), Washington passed the Judiciary Act of 1789 to establish the Supreme Court and a system of federal courts This act also established the Office of the Attorney General, who would prosecute cases on behlf of the federal government

Presidency: George Washington George Washington’s most important precedent was establishing the President’s Cabinet A group of federal leaders who headed the major departments (or areas) of the executive branch: the State Dept (foreign policy; Jefferson), Secretary of Treasury (nation’s finances; Hamilton), War Dept. (national defense), and the Attorney General All positions were nominated by the president and approved by the Senate; codified (recognized by law) in 1907 Washington’s platform Non-intervention in foreign policy; refused to ally with France; and asked Britain to forgive much of America’s pre-war debt and reduce trade restrictions Under Washington, Hamilton persuaded Congress to assume the responsibility of the national debt He used a “loose interpretation” (as opposed to a “strict interpretation”) of the law to do this

American Economy under Washington Once Washington negotiated trade with Britain, the American economy boomed Trade with England increased Congress began taxing alcohol to help pay the states’ debt from the Revolutionary War The tax on liquor was difficult for small local producers They used excess crops to produce whiskey and transport (their economy) The tax reminded them of England’s taxation policy before the war 1794, farmers refused to pay the tax and began attacking tax collectors  this was known as The Whiskey Rebellion Washington responded by sending a militia to the western territories to end the rebellion This set precedent for law enforcement (important!!!!)

American Foreign Policy In addition to building a government, making peace with Native Americans, and maintaining control over an expanding territory, the young US had to deal with European powers at war After the American Revolution, Britain had maintained some forts along the Ohio River Valley in hopes to impede (stop) American expansion British troops provided Indians with guns and ammunition to help their resistance against American westward expansion Resistance was stopped at the Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794) 1789, the French Revolution occurs Americans now saw the French as an ally in the fight against aristocracy and kings However, the French began killing aristocrats and royal family, threatening to get rid of kings across Europe (including Britain 1793, Britain and France go to war  the US claims neutrality because the war was beginning to cause differences between US leader (policy of non-intervention)

Political Parties Political parties developed from the differences over how the government should operate Differences specifically occurred between Secretary of State, Jefferson and Secretary of Treasury Hamilton The also disagreed over the constitutionality of a national bank Hamilton and his group adopted the name of the Federalists (yes after the Federalists who wanted the approval of the Constitution) Hamilton wanted to expand the power of the government to stabilize the nation and its economy Wanted to base economy on industry and trade; pro-British (trade); loose interpretation of the Constitution Jefferson and his group of supporters came to be known as Democratic-Republicans Believed that the national government must limit its power to those areas described by the Constitution State’s powers; farming economy; pro-French (democracy); strict interpretation of the Constitution

Political Parties And so began the two-party system that has come to control US politics Over time various parties will arise, change, stay or fall After GW announced his intention to run for a 3rd term, the two parties fought and competed to replace him In his farewell address, Washington warned against the dangers of political parties, or factions “However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.”

Presidency: John Adams The election of 1796 was a bitter contest between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson Adams won by a small margin; in accordance with Constitution, Jefferson became VP Votes were split by regions; Jefferson had most of the southern vote and Adams carried almost all of the Northern states Adams had bad public relations Although the US claimed neutrality under Washington, Adams would have to deal with the French In 1794, during the war between Britain and France, Britain seized American ships and The Treaty of Jay was signed to make peace with the British The French saw this as betrayal by their ally  they seize American ships Adams sent envoys (ambassadors) to Paris to negotiate peace

Presidency: John Adams The X-Y-Z Affair Named for the code names of three French officials: “X”, “Y”, and “Z” The French made ridiculous demands including $25,000 in bribes Adams ended negotiations and the American public became outraged by the French 1798, a small American navy was organized to handle the matters of French warships  US was successful To pay for this however, Congress had to impose unpopular taxes The Alien and Sedition Acts The acts authorized the President to arrest and deport immigrants who criticized the federal government  stating that this criticism undermined trust in the government Also, because most immigrants supported the Democratic-Republicans, the Federalists (the ruling party) made it difficult for them to become citizens by increasing citizenship requirements Trial rights for those arrested made it difficult for them to defend themselves  10 men were convicted of sedition The Virginia and Kentucky resolutions called acts unconstitutional  states’ rights (states could refuse to enforce federal laws)