Political developments in the Early National Period

George Washington Inaugurated President on April 30, 1789 in New York John Adams was Vice President Asked Congress for funds to created three cabinet positions

The First Cabinet Secretary of State – Thomas Jefferson Secretary of War – Henry Knox Secretary of the Treasury – Alexander Hamilton

Creation of a National Bank, 1791 Washington and Hamilton created the Bank of the United States Madison and Jefferson greatly disagreed that Congress had the power to created the bank because the Constitution did not give this power to Congress

Hamilton argued that Congress had the “implied power” to create a national bank because of the “necessary and proper” clause Greatly extended Congress’s power and led to the Whiskey Rebellion

Whiskey Rebellion, 1794 Farmers in western Pennsylvania protested a tax on whiskey Washington sent an armed force against them From then on, most people in the West opposed the Federalists

Emergence of Political Parties Controversy over the Federalists’ support for the Bank of the United States, the Jay Treaty, and the undeclared war on France contributed to the emergence of an organized opposition party, the Democratic-Republicans, led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

Emergence of Political Parties Emerged after George Washington’s presidency ended in the late 1790s Jefferson and Madison opposed Hamilton’s financial plan

Federalists Led by John Adams and Alexander Hamilton Believed in a strong national government and industrial economy Were supported by bankers and business interests in the Northeast.

Democratic Republicans Led by Thomas Jefferson Believed in a weak national government and an agricultural economy. Supported by farmers, artisans, and frontier settlers in the South

Opposed to he Federalists’ support for the Bank of the United States, the Jay Treaty, and the undeclared war on France

Election of 1800 Won by Thomas Jefferson, was the first American presidential election in which power was peacefully transferred from one party to another.

Important Supreme Court Decisions

Marbury v. Madison Established the power of the federal courts to declare laws unconstitutional: “judicial review” Chief Justice John Marshall of Virginia

McCulloch v. Maryland prohibited the states from taxing agencies of the federal government “the power to tax is the power to destroy”

Gibbons v. Ogden, 1824 Established the federal government’s right to regulate all aspects of interstate commerce (interstate waterways)

Expansion resulting from the Louisiana Purchase and War of 1812

Louisiana Purchase Jefferson as President in 1803 purchased the huge Louisiana Territory from France

Louisiana Purchase The purchase doubled the size of the United States overnight

Lewis and Clark Jefferson authorized the Lewis and Clark expedition to explore the new territories that lay west of the Mississippi River Lewis Clark

Lewis and Clark Sacajawea, an Indian (First American) woman, served as their guide and translator