Issues Facing the New Government

George Washington’s Presidency No political party affiliation No political party affiliation Won 100% of electoral vote in both elections Won 100% of electoral vote in both elections Established precedent of only serving 2 terms as president Established precedent of only serving 2 terms as president

Alexander Hamilton Washington’s Treasury Secretary Washington’s Treasury Secretary Federalist Party Federalist Party Wanted to build a financially strong and independent US, especially for American industry and businesses Wanted to build a financially strong and independent US, especially for American industry and businesses

Thomas Jefferson Washington’s Secretary of State Washington’s Secretary of State Democratic- Republican Party Democratic- Republican Party Wanted to protect states’ rights, US- French relations Wanted to protect states’ rights, US- French relations Resigned in 1793 Resigned in 1793

Henry Knox Washington’s Secretary of War Washington’s Secretary of War Famous hero of the Revolutionary War Famous hero of the Revolutionary War Ft. Knox (in Kentucky) is named after him: (Remember: Forts are used in WAR) Ft. Knox (in Kentucky) is named after him: (Remember: Forts are used in WAR) Supposedly died from swallowing a chicken bone Supposedly died from swallowing a chicken bone

Edmund Randolph Washington’s Attorney General Washington’s Attorney General Later became Secretary of State after Jefferson’s resignation, but then had to resign himself in 1795, due to scandal; he had been advising the French government on how to deal with Pres. Washington, potentially an act of treason Later became Secretary of State after Jefferson’s resignation, but then had to resign himself in 1795, due to scandal; he had been advising the French government on how to deal with Pres. Washington, potentially an act of treason

Judiciary Act of 1789 Established the Federal Court system Established the Federal Court system Made the Supreme Court the highest court in the U.S. Made the Supreme Court the highest court in the U.S. President George Washington appointed John Jay as the 1 st Chief Justice President George Washington appointed John Jay as the 1 st Chief Justice

John Jay First Chief Justice ( ) First Chief Justice ( ) Federalist Federalist Sent to England in to negotiate Jay’s Treaty (more on that in a later lesson) Sent to England in to negotiate Jay’s Treaty (more on that in a later lesson) Resigned from the court in 1795 to become governor of New York Resigned from the court in 1795 to become governor of New York

Hamilton’s Economic Plan Most states had many debts left over from the Revolution Most states had many debts left over from the Revolution Hamilton wanted the US to assume the states’ individual debts Hamilton wanted the US to assume the states’ individual debts US would pay these debts by taxing whiskey and imported goods US would pay these debts by taxing whiskey and imported goods Hamilton also wanted to establish a national bank Hamilton also wanted to establish a national bank

Constitutional opposition to Hamilton’s Plan Thomas Jefferson argued government did not have the constitutional power to create a bank (a strict interpretation of the Constitution) Thomas Jefferson argued government did not have the constitutional power to create a bank (a strict interpretation of the Constitution) Hamilton argued that the “necessary and proper” clause allowed the government to do what was necessary to perform its functions (loose interpretation) Hamilton argued that the “necessary and proper” clause allowed the government to do what was necessary to perform its functions (loose interpretation)

Southern opposition to Hamilton’s Plan Taxes on imported goods would hurt southern farmers Taxes on imported goods would hurt southern farmers Many southern states had already paid their war debts Many southern states had already paid their war debts South agreed to support Hamilton’s plan only after North agreed to move the capital from New York City to the Potomac River (Washington DC) South agreed to support Hamilton’s plan only after North agreed to move the capital from New York City to the Potomac River (Washington DC)

Frontier opposition to Hamilton’s Plan Didn’t like tax on whiskey because that was how many frontiersmen made their living Didn’t like tax on whiskey because that was how many frontiersmen made their living This opposition led to the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 This opposition led to the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794

Whiskey Rebellion Pennsylvania farmers refused to pay whiskey tax and took up arms Pennsylvania farmers refused to pay whiskey tax and took up arms Pres. Washington responded by leading the US Army in putting down the rebellion Pres. Washington responded by leading the US Army in putting down the rebellion Federal government demonstrated it could enforce its laws Federal government demonstrated it could enforce its laws

Federalists vs. Democratic-Republicans Federalists Federalists Led by Alexander Hamilton Led by Alexander Hamilton Favored strong national government Favored strong national government Favored large landowners and merchants Favored large landowners and merchants Favored tariffs and government regulations that supported business Favored tariffs and government regulations that supported business Loose interpretationists Loose interpretationists More popular in the North More popular in the North Pro-business Pro-business Favored neutrality in the war between Britain and France Favored neutrality in the war between Britain and France Democratic-Republicans Democratic-Republicans Led by Thomas Jefferson Led by Thomas Jefferson Favored strong state governments Favored strong state governments Favored small farmers Favored small farmers Favored a “laissez-faire” approach where government did not regulate the economy Favored a “laissez-faire” approach where government did not regulate the economy Strict interpretationists Strict interpretationists More popular in the South More popular in the South Pro-farmers Pro-farmers Favored France in their war against Britain Favored France in their war against Britain

Washington’s Farewell Address US should stay neutral and avoid “foreign entanglements” US should stay neutral and avoid “foreign entanglements” Good government is based on religion and morality Good government is based on religion and morality Political parties are divisive and dangerous to national unity Political parties are divisive and dangerous to national unity

John Adams’ Presidency 1797 – – 1801 Federalist Federalist Had been Washington’s Vice- President Had been Washington’s Vice- President Beat out Jefferson in 1796 election by only 3 electoral votes, but lost to Jefferson in 1800 election Beat out Jefferson in 1796 election by only 3 electoral votes, but lost to Jefferson in 1800 election

Alien Acts of 1798 Allowed government to arrest and deport foreigners deemed “untrustworthy” Allowed government to arrest and deport foreigners deemed “untrustworthy” Prevented poor immigrants (who tended to vote Democratic- Republican) from voting Prevented poor immigrants (who tended to vote Democratic- Republican) from voting

Sedition Act of 1798 Limited free speech by making it illegal to publish "false, scandalous, and malicious writing" against the government or its officials Limited free speech by making it illegal to publish "false, scandalous, and malicious writing" against the government or its officials Used to silence critics, who were usually from the other party: Democratic-Republicans Used to silence critics, who were usually from the other party: Democratic-Republicans

The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions Written in response to the Alien and Sedition Acts by Jefferson and James Madison Written in response to the Alien and Sedition Acts by Jefferson and James Madison Claimed that states do not have to obey or enforce federal laws that they believe to be unconstitutional – they can “nullify” the law: the Doctrine of Nullification Claimed that states do not have to obey or enforce federal laws that they believe to be unconstitutional – they can “nullify” the law: the Doctrine of Nullification

Election of 1800 Presidential election was won by Democratic- Republicans, but it was a tie between Jefferson and Aaron Burr Presidential election was won by Democratic- Republicans, but it was a tie between Jefferson and Aaron Burr Federalists had to choose which Dem.-Rep. to support; Hamilton decided to support Jefferson over Burr Federalists had to choose which Dem.-Rep. to support; Hamilton decided to support Jefferson over Burr Sometimes called the “Peaceful Revolution” Sometimes called the “Peaceful Revolution”

Burr-Hamilton Duel July 1804 July 1804 Vice-President Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel in which Burr shot and killed Hamilton Vice-President Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel in which Burr shot and killed Hamilton Burr was charged with murder, but acquitted and finished his term as VP Burr was charged with murder, but acquitted and finished his term as VP

The Midnight Judges Adams appointed a bunch of Federalist judges to life terms just before leaving office Adams appointed a bunch of Federalist judges to life terms just before leaving office Jefferson ordered his Sec. of State James Madison to withhold their commissions, preventing them from taking office Jefferson ordered his Sec. of State James Madison to withhold their commissions, preventing them from taking office These denied judges sued in federal court These denied judges sued in federal court

John Marshall Chief Justice of the Supreme Court ( ) Chief Justice of the Supreme Court ( ) A Federalist A Federalist Longest serving Chief Justice in US History Longest serving Chief Justice in US History Established the Supreme Court’s authority to interpret constitutionality of laws Established the Supreme Court’s authority to interpret constitutionality of laws

Marbury v. Madison Court found that, while the judges had a right to be seated, the Supreme Court did not have jurisdiction in the case Court found that, while the judges had a right to be seated, the Supreme Court did not have jurisdiction in the case Declared the Judiciary Act of 1789, which had given the Court jurisdiction, to be in conflict with the Constitution and therefore unconstitutional Declared the Judiciary Act of 1789, which had given the Court jurisdiction, to be in conflict with the Constitution and therefore unconstitutional Established precedent of judicial review – the Supreme Court decides whether laws violate the Constitution Established precedent of judicial review – the Supreme Court decides whether laws violate the Constitution

Thomas Jefferson’s Presidency 1801 – – 1809 Democratic- Republican Democratic- Republican Both he and John Adams died on July 4, 1826 – 50 years to the day after signing the Declaration of Independence! Both he and John Adams died on July 4, 1826 – 50 years to the day after signing the Declaration of Independence!

The Louisiana Purchase US acquired 828,800 square miles for a total purchase price of $23,213,568 US acquired 828,800 square miles for a total purchase price of $23,213,568 About $0.03 per acre! About $0.03 per acre! Napoleon’s France needed the $$$ Napoleon’s France needed the $$$ Begins US policy of pursuing economic prosperity through territorial expansion Begins US policy of pursuing economic prosperity through territorial expansion

The Decline of the Federalists Federalists opposed the War of 1812 (a war with Britain), and staged a formal protest in 1814 Federalists opposed the War of 1812 (a war with Britain), and staged a formal protest in 1814 Unfortunately, they protested just as news arrived that the US had won the war, causing them to lose popularity and fade from the political scene. Unfortunately, they protested just as news arrived that the US had won the war, causing them to lose popularity and fade from the political scene.