1. After the Constitution
The Bill of Rights, the development of political parties, and the Presidencies of George Washington and John Adams

2. The Bill of Rights
One of the main reasons for the American Revolution was that colonists felt like their rights were not being recognized as stated in the English Bill of Rights
If they were subjects of Britain, then wouldn’t their rights be the same as British subjects in Britain?
This is also a reason why Antifederalists were reluctant to approve the Constitution; they felt that their rights would be abridged (lessened) under these new laws
A proposal of the Bill of Rights was introduced by James Madison
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution
Including freedoms from and protections by the government
It was approved separately by both houses of Congress in 1789; ratified in 1792

3. Bill of Rights
The first nine rights deal with key individual rights and protections
These rights include the right to free speech, assembly, and religion
Protections against self-incrimination and the right to trial by jury
The tenth amendment limited the power of the Federal government
This was done to protect individual rights
It stated that any rights not specifically addressed (enumerated) in the Constitution or Bill of Rights are reserved for the state
Why do you think the rights listed in the Bill of Rights? And how do they relate to the type of government the Founding Fathers had established?

4. Presidency: George Washington
The new nation faced several issues
A national debt of $52 million
mainly a farming economy and only 3 million citizens
Spanish had closed the Mississippi to American trade
No national navy and a small army (400 men)
Why was George Washington elected as President by Congress?
Influential and popular
John Adams served as Vice President
Only the Pres., VP, and Congress existed
With few rules to guide the administration, GW immediate began setting important precedents (acts or statements that would become traditions)
Along with Madison (HOR), Washington passed the Judiciary Act of 1789 to establish the Supreme Court and a system of federal courts
This act also established the Office of the Attorney General, who would prosecute cases on behlf of the federal government

5. Presidency: George Washington
George Washington’s most important precedent was establishing the President’s Cabinet
A group of federal leaders who headed the major departments (or areas) of the executive branch: the State Dept (foreign policy; Jefferson), Secretary of Treasury (nation’s finances; Hamilton), War Dept. (national defense), and the Attorney General
All positions were nominated by the president and approved by the Senate; codified (recognized by law) in 1907
Washington’s platform
Non-intervention in foreign policy; refused to ally with France; and asked Britain to forgive much of America’s pre-war debt and reduce trade restrictions
Under Washington, Hamilton persuaded Congress to assume the responsibility of the national debt
He used a “loose interpretation” (as opposed to a “strict interpretation”) of the law to do this

6. American Economy under Washington
Once Washington negotiated trade with Britain, the American economy boomed
Trade with England increased
Congress began taxing alcohol to help pay the states’ debt from the Revolutionary War
The tax on liquor was difficult for small local producers
They used excess crops to produce whiskey and transport (their economy)
The tax reminded them of England’s taxation policy before the war
1794, farmers refused to pay the tax and began attacking tax collectors  this was known as The Whiskey Rebellion
Washington responded by sending a militia to the western territories to end the rebellion
This set precedent for law enforcement (important!!!!)

7. American Foreign Policy
In addition to building a government, making peace with Native Americans, and maintaining control over an expanding territory, the young US had to deal with European powers at war
After the American Revolution, Britain had maintained some forts along the Ohio River Valley in hopes to impede (stop) American expansion
British troops provided Indians with guns and ammunition to help their resistance against American westward expansion
Resistance was stopped at the Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794)
1789, the French Revolution occurs
Americans now saw the French as an ally in the fight against aristocracy and kings
However, the French began killing aristocrats and royal family, threatening to get rid of kings across Europe (including Britain
1793, Britain and France go to war  the US claims neutrality because the war was beginning to cause differences between US leader (policy of non-intervention)

8. Political Parties
Political parties developed from the differences over how the government should operate
Differences specifically occurred between Secretary of State, Jefferson and Secretary of Treasury Hamilton
The also disagreed over the constitutionality of a national bank
Hamilton and his group adopted the name of the Federalists (yes after the Federalists who wanted the approval of the Constitution)
Hamilton wanted to expand the power of the government to stabilize the nation and its economy
Wanted to base economy on industry and trade; pro-British (trade); loose interpretation of the Constitution
Jefferson and his group of supporters came to be known as Democratic-Republicans
Believed that the national government must limit its power to those areas described by the Constitution
State’s powers; farming economy; pro-French (democracy); strict interpretation of the Constitution

9. Political Parties
And so began the two-party system that has come to control US politics
Over time various parties will arise, change, stay or fall
After GW announced his intention to run for a 3rd term, the two parties fought and competed to replace him
In his farewell address, Washington warned against the dangers of political parties, or factions
“However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.”

10. Presidency: John Adams
The election of 1796 was a bitter contest between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson
Adams won by a small margin; in accordance with Constitution, Jefferson became VP
Votes were split by regions; Jefferson had most of the southern vote and Adams carried almost all of the Northern states
Adams had bad public relations
Although the US claimed neutrality under Washington, Adams would have to deal with the French
In 1794, during the war between Britain and France, Britain seized American ships and The Treaty of Jay was signed to make peace with the British
The French saw this as betrayal by their ally  they seize American ships
Adams sent envoys (ambassadors) to Paris to negotiate peace

11. Presidency: John Adams
The X-Y-Z Affair
Named for the code names of three French officials: “X”, “Y”, and “Z”
The French made ridiculous demands including $25,000 in bribes
Adams ended negotiations and the American public became outraged by the French
1798, a small American navy was organized to handle the matters of French warships  US was successful
To pay for this however, Congress had to impose unpopular taxes
The Alien and Sedition Acts
The acts authorized the President to arrest and deport immigrants who criticized the federal government  stating that this criticism undermined trust in the government
Also, because most immigrants supported the Democratic-Republicans, the Federalists (the ruling party) made it difficult for them to become citizens by increasing citizenship requirements
Trial rights for those arrested made it difficult for them to defend themselves  10 men were convicted of sedition
The Virginia and Kentucky resolutions called acts unconstitutional  states’ rights (states could refuse to enforce federal laws)