George Washington (1789-1797) As 1st president, set precedents (examples) Created the Cabinet Served only 2 terms Foreign policy of neutrality Helped turn the ideas in the Constitution into a strong national government Judiciary Act of 1789 sets up federal courts Hamilton’s financial plan creates a national bank Used military force to put down the Whiskey Rebellion Warned us against military alliances and political parties in his Farewell Address

John Adams (1797-1801) Leading member of the Federalist party, he believed in a strong national government and that the elastic clause could be used to stretch the power of the federal government (loose interpretation of the Constitution) XYZ Affair– French diplomats demand bribes from the US, resulting in tension (quasi-war) between France and the US until 1800 The Alien and Sedition Acts made people afraid that the Federalists were abusing their power Sedition Act: Punished people for speaking out against the government (which violated 1st Amendment freedom of speech/press) Alien Acts: extended the wait for citizenship to from 5 to 14 years and allowed the president to deport any “dangerous” non-citizen These laws were designed to weaken the Democratic-Republican party but actually hurt the Federalists Elected to only one term in office 1st president to reside in the White House– he moved in November 1, 1800 just before he lost the election to Jefferson (his vice president)

Election of 1800 John Adams vs. Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson and his running mate, Aaron Burr, received the same number of electoral votes, therefore, they were tied for President. The tie was broken in the House of Representatives and Jefferson was elected President. 1st peaceful transfer of power from one political party (Federalists) to another (Democratic-Republicans) Motivated Congress to draft the 12th Amendment which clarified the process to elect the President and Vice President

Effects of the Louisiana Purchase More than doubled the size of the United States (13 states would be created) Secured American access and control of the Mississippi River Strengthened the case for loose interpretation of executive power and use of the elastic clause.

Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809) Primary author of the Declaration of Independence (1776) Jefferson pardoned all who were convicted under the Alien & Sedition Acts. Returned naturalization to 5 years Repealed excise tax on whiskey Reduced national debt and balanced the budget Sent the navy to fight the Barbary pirates Contradicted his belief in strict interpretation of the Constitution by purchasing the Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million in 1803

Alexander Hamilton One of the authors of the Federalist Papers, which argued for ratification of the Constitution 1st Secretary of the Treasury (1789-1795) His Financial Plan helped create a stable economy for the US and strengthened the power of the national government Created a national bank (the Bank of the US) Had the federal government take over all debts from the Revolutionary War, resulting in a compromise that moved the capital of the US from New York to Washington, DC proposed an excise tax on whiskey proposed a tariff (tax on imports) to promote manufacturing in the US Debate over the national bank led to the creation of the 1st political parties in the US Hamilton was the leader of the Federalist party—believed in a strong national government and the use of the elastic clause by Congress Shot to death in a duel with Vice President Aaron Burr in July 1804

Strict construction vs. Loose construction The Constitution should be interpreted word for word– if it doesn’t say it, the federal gov’t can’t do it The Constitution should be interpreted broadly—the elastic clause allows Congress to stretch its powers Ex: Thomas Jefferson (before Louisiana Purchase) and the Democratic Republicans Ex: Alexander Hamilton and the Bank of the US, the Federalist party

Lewis & Clark Jefferson authorized an expedition, led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase territory. Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery departed in 1804 and followed the Missouri River westward to the Pacific Ocean. The Corps returned in 1806 with important data about the landscape, animals, plants, mineral wealth and inhabitants of the area. Their expedition encouraged settlement of the west.

James Madison (1809-1817) Asked Congress to declare war on Britain in 1812 for 2 reasons: the US was hoping to gain land in Canada, and to stop the impressment (kidnapping) of US sailors War of 1812 is often called 2nd war for American independence; it makes Britain finally respect us as a separate nation Era of Good Feelings: during Madison’s presidency, the country experiences a feeling of nationalism– there is only 1 dominant political party and we build roads and canals to improve trade inside the country

If The War of 1812 ended in a tie, why was it important? Gave the United States a National Identity We were able to hold our own against the British Started us thinking about continuing westward expansion Led to an increase in nationalism (part of the Era of good Feelings) British forces captured Washington DC and burned the Capitol building and the White House Created a hero in Andrew Jackson and the Western Frontiersmen at the Battle of New Orleans (which actually happened after the war had ended) Gives us Uncle Sam and the poem that will become our national anthem (The Star-Spangled Banner)

Significance of Marbury v. Madison Establishes the Supreme Court’s power of judicial review– the power of the Court to declare a law unconstutitional If a law conflicts with the Constitution, the law gets thrown away because the Constitution is the supreme law Expands the power of the judicial branch (judicial review is not in the Constitution!)

How did Chief Justice John Marshall’s decisions strengthen the power of the federal government (1801-1835)? Marbury v. Madison: Established the power of judicial review (which made the judicial branch stronger) McCulloch v. Maryland: Allowed Congress to stretch its powers under the elastic clause to create a national bank Used the Supremacy Clause to explain that the federal government should have more power than the states (McCulloch v. Maryland, Gibbons v. Ogden)