7. Democracy in Distress: The Violence of Party Politics Washington and Adams

During the Washington Administration  Very different visions of America were expressed.  Centered on the concepts of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson

Congress Creates Executive Departments  War Department: Henry Knox Henry Knox  State Department: Thomas Jefferson  Treasury Department: Alexander Hamilton Alexander Hamilton  Attorney General: Edmund Randolph Edmund Randolph (Part-Time) (Part-Time) From the left are Henry Knox, Secretary of War, Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State, and Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury (standing next to President Washington on the right). The man with his back turned is Edmund Randolph, who was the first Attorney General.

Conflict Emerges Between Jefferson and Hamilton Hamilton  Loose Construction  Strong central government  Pro-British  Industrial Nation Jefferson  Strict Construction  Stronger state governments  Pro-French  Agricultural Nation

Marks the Formal Beginning of Political Parties ( Jeffersonian) Republicans  Thomas Jefferson  States’ Rights  Strict Interpretation of Constitution  Support for France  Against greed of the industrial sector  National Gazette Federalists  Alexander Hamilton  Strong national government  Loose interpretation of Constitution  Support for Britain  Centralized economic planning  Gazette of the United States

Domestic Issue: Native Americans  Americans were moving westward onto land occupied by Native Americans.  Public Land Act of 1796  The British were supporting the Native Americans.  Treaty of Greenville, 1795 ended the conflict.

Domestic Issue: Whiskey Rebellion (1794) Tax Collector is Tarred and Feathered

Domestic Issue: Hamilton’s Financial Program  Pay off the national debt and assume the war debts of the states.  High tariffs on imported goods  Create the Bank of the United States for depositing government funds and for printing banknotes.

The Debate Those in Favor  Northern merchants  Would gain directly from high tariffs  Currency would be stabilized Those Opposed  Anti-Federalists  Too much power to the government  Southerners (Always opposed to high tariffs)

Residence Act of 1790  Washington D.C. was selected as national capital  In exchange for Jeffersonian support for Hamilton’s Financial Plan.

Foreign Agenda  Washington’s entire term (as well as John Adams’ administration) was consumed with the issue of what to do about the French Revolution

Proclamation of Neutrality, 1793  Washington did not want the US to become involved  Led to renewed controversy in cabinet.  Thomas Jefferson will eventually resign

The Debate  Most Americans identified with the revolutionaries.  Wanted the president to openly support their efforts.  Thomas Jefferson  Alliance with the French monarchy was still in effect.  Mandated that the president support the existing government.  Alexander Hamilton

Europe Tries to Involve U.S.  Citizen Genet Affair  Impressments of Ships

Jay Treaty (1794)  John Jay sent to London to solve issues:  Remove British forts in the Northwest Territory  Payment for ships taken  Better trade relations  Acceptance of American Neutrality  Hamilton leaks info to British  Only concession Jay gained was removal of British in the Northwest.

Pinckney Treaty (1795)  Signed with Spain  Set boundaries for northern Florida  The Spanish allow the Americans to use the lower Mississippi River and New Orleans without paying duties.

Washington’s Farewell Address  Stresses the benefits of the federal government  Warns against the party system  Advocates a stable public credit  Warns against permanent foreign alliances

Election of 1796  Adams won by just three electoral votes  Jefferson became his vice-president as specified in the constitution.

Foreign Policy  Inherited the problem of the French Revolution from Washington  Complications ensued when French navy began to seize American ships and citizens  Adams attempts to settle this issue by sending a team of diplomats to France.  The outcome further angers Americans

XYZ Affair  American diplomats sent to France.  French asked theme to pay a bribe in order to settle the issue  “Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute”.

Domestic: Repression Alien Act  President can deport any aliens considered dangerous  Detain any enemy aliens in time of war  Made it more difficult to obtain citizenship Sedition Act  Illegal for newspaper editors to criticize either the president or Congress  Heavy penalties for editors who violated the law. Both bills were aimed at actual or potential Republican opposition

Kentucky and Virginia Resolves  Opposed: Jefferson and Madison  Adopt theory of nullification.  These two states declare they will not follow new laws.  Becomes known as States’ Rights

Election of 1800  Federalists lose popularity  Presidential candidates were Adams and Pickney (Federalists) and Jefferson and Burr (Republicans)  Republicans win but both had the same number of electoral votes  Decided in the House of Representatives

The Revolution of 1800  Alexander Hamilton throws his support to Thomas Jefferson (angering Aaron Burr)  The party in power changes for the first time in U.S. history.

Adams’ Most Significant Contribution  “Lame Duck” appointment of John Marshall (Jefferson’s cousin) as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court  Serving for over three decades, Marshall defines the function of the Supreme Court.