1. Founding Fathers

2. Alexander Hamilton Secretary of Treasury under Washington
Shaped fiscal policy in favor of wealthy
In turn, the wealthy would lend the government $ and political support
Report on Public Credit - selling of securities and federal lands, assumption of state debts, set up the first National Bank
Led to debate between states (Mass v VA)
Capital Compromise – Hamilton proposes moving country capital to Washington, D.C. to appease the South
Proposed Bank of the US could print paper $ and provide currency

3. Interpretation of Constitution
Thomas Jefferson and Democratic-Republicans believed in strict construction of Constitution
Hamilton - elastic clause (Necessary and Proper) and Federalists believe in loose construction
North vs South – North commerce favored the bank; South agriculture did not favor
Bank of the US was chartered in 1791 for 20 years

4. Whiskey Rebellion
Farmers from Pennsylvania protesting Hamilton’s excise tax on Whiskey
Washington called around to end the rebellion. Worked.
Significance – 1st use of Federal military to end a domestic situation; strengthened the Federal government

5. Note – the competition for power between political parties has become a type of checks and balance in maintaining a sound democracy – giving a voice to people/party who were currently in power; stopping the government from going too far to an extreme.

6. Here come the British…again
Washington - Proclamation of Neutrality in 1793 (shortly after Britain and France are at war)
Britain maintained forts in US frontier (violation of Treaty 1783)
Britain sold guns to the Indians; encouraged attacks on US
Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794)
Britain started impressment (seizing of US sailors and ships)
Violation of US Neutrality; Jefferson called on an embargo
Hamilton need the British trade for economic development; war with Britain at this point would crush the US economy

7. Jay’s Treaty Chief Justice John Jay sent to London in 1794
Britain promises to leave forts in the US frontier
Britain pays for damages for seized ships
US agrees to pay debts till owed to British merchants from pre-Revolutionary accounts
South owed most of these debts
Britain still allowed to control fur trade in Northern US states
Controversial – supported Federalists plan of gov’t; many Demo-Repubs said it went against idea of Republicanism

8. 1796 Election – first “real” US election
Federalists best candidate is John Adams
Hamilton was key leader but his financial policies made him very unpopular
Democratic-Republicans support Thomas Jefferson
Federalists get most support from New England; Jefferson from Southern States
Result: Adams got 71 electoral votes vs. Jefferson’s 68; popular vote was 35,726 vs 31,115
Since Jefferson came in 2nd he became Vice President (eh?)

9. French Issues
France was very angry about Jay’s Treaty; saw it as violation to Franco-American Alliance of 1778
Adams did not want war with France; sent reps to reach agreement with France
US representatives were met by 3 “go-betweens” (X, Y, Z) that demanded intolerable terms and huge bribes to meet with the French King
U.S. is insulted; hysteria enraged the US
Jefferson opposed a war vs. France
Led to undeclared hostilities b/n US and France in the Caribbean
Napoleon Bonaparte became new dictator of France; called for ending crisis with US
Adams averted war and smoothed relations leading to Louisiana Purchase in 1803.

10. Thesis Statement Practice
A thesis statement is the position a student is going to take, the argument that is going to be made. It is therefore the answer to the question being asked. As such, the thesis statement is not a fact; it is an informed interpretation of the facts. Neither is the thesis statement just an opinion. Rather the thesis is the reasoned judgment of the student

11. Examples
Bad: George Washington set many important precedents as president.
(This is a fact not a position)
Good: The precedents that Washington set as America’s first president greatly benefited the American political system.
(This is a clear position that can be supported or opposed)
Weak: The Revolutionary War brought about change in American society.
(This is, technically, a position. But, it is vague and not really debatable.)
Strong: The Revolutionary War ushered in a slew of wide-ranging and permanent social changes in American society.
(This is a clear, strong, and debatable thesis.)

12. Thesis Practice. Write an opening paragraph for the following
Thesis Practice. Write an opening paragraph for the following. Underline the thesis statement
What were the problems of the post-Revolutionary period and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation that led to the adoption of a new Constitution?
What were the philosophical and political disagreements between Hamilton and Jefferson that led to the creation of the first political parties?
In what ways did the French and Indian War ( ) alter the political, economic, and ideological relations between Britain and its American colonies?