Unit 11: Political Developments in the Early Republic

1. Unit 11:Political Developments in the Early Republic

2. President George Washington • * Congress UNANIMOUSLY (ALL AGREED) voted him in as the FIRSTPres (of the newly formed) USA • * former Gen. of Continental Army • * lured(convinced to come ) out of retirement • addressed both houses of Congress to • work with him • was very nervous • said it felt similar to a criminal going to his • execution

3. Washington as President of the USA Launching the New Govt… • Congress= deeply divided over ALL issues • some members = eager to build a strong national government • others = wanted a limited amount of pwr for the nat’l govt • differences showed up immediatelyin a debate over what title to use when addressing the president and the excise tax

4. What Shall We “Call” Our New President? • Adams said: “Your Excellency” - strong nat’l govt supporters agreed • others said: such titles smelled of royalty and had no place in a democracy • debate ended: Washington said to call him “Mr. President”(also known as Commander-in-Chief)and be done with it

5. Setting up the Executive Branch • Also… • Congress must determinehow to properlyrun the Executive Branch of govt. • What positions should be addressed first? • Whowill hold those positions? • How long will they be in office? • All was decided by Washington. • This became known as the President’s Cabinet.

6. Washington’s Cabinet • George Washington(first Pres. of the US) • John Adams(first Vice Pres. of the US) • Henry Knox (first Sec. of War) • Thomas Jefferson (first Sec. of State) • Edmund Randolph (first Attorney General) • Alexander Hamilton (first Sec. of Treasury) • Benjamin • Franklin • (first Postmaster General)

7. Washington as President of the USA MAJOR lack of funds!! (i.e. no money) 1) most critical problem facing the new govt. 2) national treasury was empty 3) Congress aa) had the power to raise funds through taxes bb) members argued endlessly about what to tax and by how much cc) by 1791 = agreed to place an excise tax(a tax on the production or sale of a product) on whiskey and other luxury goodssuch as carriages

8. Whiskey Rebellion • settlers living west of the Appalachian Mountains • (in the ORV) reacted angrily to the tax • farmers = too costly to transport their grain across • the mtsto sell in eastern cities • 1) distilled(if you’ve watched “Moonshiners” on TV, you will know what it • means to “distill” their whiskey) their bulky wheat into whiskey • 2)shipped cheaper than wheat • 3)complained that the tax made their whiskey too • expensive • 4) refused to pay it

9. Congress… • lowered the excise tax in 1793 • most farmers began to pay up • BUT: tax rebels of western Pennsylvania would • not! • 1794 = Whiskey Boys= tarred and featheredtax • collectorswho tried to enforce the law

10. Hamilton’s & Washington’s Views on Whiskey Rebellion • saw the Whiskey Rebellion(a revolt by farmers in 1794 agst the excise tax on whiskey) as a threat to the authority of the national govt • Hamilton = urged (tried to convince)Washington to send 13,000 state militia troops across the Appalachian Mtsto crush the rebels • rebellion was finally ended

11. Jefferson’s View on the Whiskey Rebellion • thought the militia being sent was foolish • even worse = upset that Hamilton was prepared to violate people’s liberties by using armed forces to put down opposition to government policies • said this is what a DICTATORwould do

12. The French Revolution • same time as the Whiskey Rebellion= the nation was caught up in a debate over events in France • 1789 (same time as Washington becoming pres) = French peoplerebelled against their king • French Leaders: dreamed of building a nation based on “liberty, equality, and fraternity(brotherhood) • 3 yrs later = France became a republic (nation based on democracy)and declared “a war of all peoples against all kings”

13. The French Revolution • news from France caused supporters of the revolution to change their opinion (NOT a good thing) • many Americans = thrilled by the French • Revolution • HOWEVER: France’s revolutionary • govt began beheading wealthy nobles(rich ppl) • - some 20,000 men, women, and • children were murdered

14. The French Revolution Hamilton’s View of FR: • he and his followers: called themselves Federalists • most were wealthy • HORRIFIED by the bloodshed in France • scared that what happened to the wealthy families in France would happen to them

15. The French Revolution Jefferson’s Views on FR: • very excited about France becoming a republic • he and followers: began calling themselves Democratic-Republicans (or simply Republicans) • These DRs saw the French Revolution as part of a great crusade for democracy

16. Federalists vs Democratic-Republicans • their rivalry(fighting/arguments) = eventually gave rise to the nation’s first political parties • extremelydifferent visions for the new nation • Federalists: founded by Alexander Hamilton • Democratic-Republicans: founded by Thomas Jefferson - wanted a strong national govt. • wanted a power of the ppl • and states’ rights (originally the Anti- • Federalists)

17. Although there was tension, the nation grew quickly during Washington’stwo • termsin office: • the states KY, TN, • and VT were added. Tennessee • He left thenationUNITED • and at PEACE. (This doesn’t • last long, however.)

18. The battle is on …

19. Federalists vs Democratic- Republicans vs Alexander Hamilton Thomas Jefferson

20. Alexander Hamilton • Founder of the Federalist Party • Alexander Hamilton * our nation’s first Secretary of the Treasury • responsible for improving America’s financial well-being and printing money.

21. Alexander Hamilton Money

22. Hamilton = born in the West Indies (not in America) • never knew his father • charming, able, and • ambitious but poor • wrote an essay at 13 • recognized and sent to NY • to receive an education Personal Background

23. Personal Background (continued) • married well • became a delegate to the Constit’l Convention representing NY • Very vain • VERY bad temper when • angered • Wanted to be Pres. of US • eventually • Couldn’t • WHY?? Elizabeth Schuyler

24. View of Human Nature • believedmost people were basically selfish and out for themselves • regular ppl – those without money and/or education – “the mob” • distrusted any system of government that gave too much power to “the mob”  this could only lead to error, confusion, and instability

25. Ideal Economy • ideal economy = based on business, manufacturing, and trade (Northern view) • at this time: US economy based on agriculture (farming) • believed the nation neededa national bank to collect taxes, print money, and make loans to build factories and ships

26. Ideal Economy – National Bank • said a national bank would… 1)help the govt by collecting taxes and keeping those funds safe 2) give the govt a stable currency by printing paper money supported by gold and silver 3) make loans to businesspeople to build new factories and ships 4) increase business and trade causing them to expand 5) make Americans better off 6) proposal ran into heavy opposition (ppl who didn’t agree)

27. Ideal Economy. . . • first: new nation needed to begin paying off the • huge debts that Congress and the states had • accumulated (money added up) during the • American Revolution • 1790 = Hamilton presented Congress with a • plan to pay off all war debts quickly • said govt would lose respect both at home and • abroad if not • South = HATED this idea • - most southerners: already paid their war depts • - saw little reason to help Northern states to pay • their debts Notice: The U.S. is a brand new country and ALREADY splitting between the Northern views and! Southern views!! What is this foreshadowing?

28. Best Form of Government • “the best people” —educated, wealthy, public- • spirited white men like themselves—should run • the country • believed: best for the “general good” • QUOTE: “Those who own the country,” said • Federalist John Jay bluntly, • “ought to govern it.” • favored a strong national government

29. Government Continued… • hoped to use the new government’s powers under the Constitution to - unite the quarreling states - keep order among the ppl • rights of states = not as important as national power and unity • had no deep loyalty to any state • said: his country was not New York = but the United States of America • hoped to see his adopted country become a great and powerful nation

30. Interpretation of the Constitution Hamilton said… 1)Congress could exercise only those powers specificallylisted in the Constitution 2) Federalists supported a loose construction(broad interpretation) of the Constitution = Congress has powers beyond those specifically given in the Constitution 3) said the Elastic Clauseallowed Congress to “make all laws which shall be necessary and proper” for carrying out its listed powers (9th and 10th Amendments) - collecting taxes was one of those powers - Congress = could set up a bank to help the govt with tax collection 4) 1791 = the Bank of the United States = helped the nation’s economy grow and prosper

31. Relations with Britain and France • Hamilton sided with Britain • against France. •  respected Britain’s power and order = needed them for trade/business purposes • shocked by the violence and chaos of the French Revolution • Goal: be a pwrfl/respected nation who could defend itself agst any enemy

32. Thomas Jefferson • Founderof the Democratic- Republican Party • First Sec of State • Knownfor improving America’s relations withother countries, includingthe negotiationoftreaties • * Remember: He was an excellent writer!

33. Thomas Jefferson Money

34. Personal Background • born into a wealthy family who owned a large farm in Virginia • showed his brilliance and curiosity. • became a VA planter with many slaves • wrote the Dec. of Indpdnc (1776) • assumed that informed citizens could make • good decisions for themselves and their country • had great faith in the goodness and wisdom of • people who worked the soil—farmers and • planters like himself

35. View of Human Nature • believed that ordinary, informed people could make good decisionsfor the country • had great faith in the goodness and wisdom of people who worked the soil—farmers and planters like himself • regular ppl: Hamilton called “the mob”

36. Ideal Economy • favored an economy based on agriculture. • Opposed the national bank • said it only loaned money to businesses -- -- not farmers.

37. Ideal Economy – National Bank • TJ and the DRs disagreed!! 1)said Congress didn’t have the right based on the Constitution 2) said Congress could only exercise those powers specifically listed in the Constitution 3) AGAIN: - South = HATED this idea - most southerners: already paid their war debts - saw little reason to help Northern states to pay their debts • AGAIN Notice: • The U.S. is a brand new country and ALREADY splitting between the • Northern views and! Southern views!! • - What is this foreshadowing?

38. United States Bank • although not everyone wanted it = the US National Bank happened. • 1791 • helped the nation’s economy grow and prosper

39. Best Form of Government • thought the best government was a democracy, where ordinary Americans chose their leaders (popular vote) • Democratic-Republicans = favored democracy over any other form of govt

40. Govt… continued • had no patience with the Federalists’ view • that only the “best people” (the mob) should • rule • said: Fed.’s view came dangerously • close to monarchy, or rule by • a king • believed: the best government was • the one that governed the least • thought: a small government with • limited powers was most likely to leave ppl • alone to enjoy the blessingsof liberty Limited government

41. Govt… continued • wanted a strict construction/interpretationof • the Constitution: a narrow interpretation • meaning that Congress has only those powers • specifically given/listed in the Constitution • insisted that the Constitution meant exactly • what it said = NO Elastic Clause should be used • maintained: any addition to the powers listed in the document, such as the creation of a national bank, was unconstitutional and dangerous • said: states’ rights were more important than • nat’l rights

42. Relations with Great Britain and France • Jefferson: favored France over Britain • felt that almost everything Hamilton did (in the name of putting the United States on the path to greatness) was a step down the road to ruin • TJ and AH: held very different views on almost everything

43. wanted France to be democratic = BUT not in a • heated war •  did NOT side with GB • called Federalists: “British bootlickers” • Democratic-Republicans = newspaper implied • that Feds were weak and eager to please the British • most Democratic-Republicans continued to • support France • regretted the bloodshed • argued that the loss of a few thousand aristocrats • was a small price to pay for freedom

44. Citizen Genet • Edmond Genêt • 1793: French govt sent Edmond Genêt (zhuh-NAY) to the US • France and GB were at war w/each other! • new official representative = liason(middle man) to speak on behalf of the French • preferred to be called “Citizen Genêt (adopted this title to emphasize the equality of all people) • MISSION: to convince Americans they should join France in its war against GB

45. Citizen Genet . . . • Democratic-Republicans = welcomed him as a conquering hero • large crowds cheered him as he traveled about the country • formally presented himself to Pres GW • didn‘t get the warm and enthusiastic reception he expected • Washington: did not want to be drawn into war with Great Britain if US sided with Fr • HOWEVER: France expected the US to support them b/c they helped Americans win their independence from GB

46. Genet … contd • Washington: response to Genêt was cool and dignified • Genêt = began making speeches agst the pres • attacks on Washington = brought thousands of Genêt’s supporters into Philadelphia’s streets • protesters threatened to drag Washington out of his house • Fr supporters: wanted to declare war in favor of the French revolution • Jefferson got angry – even though he loved France • asked the French govt to recall its troublesome representative

47. Washington’s Farewell Address

48. Washington’s Farewell Address • When Washington left office, he warned against the dangers of passionate loyalty to parties. Iffightingbetween parties was not controlled, it could tear the young nation apart. • Washington’s views came from his observationof the growing hostilities (angry issues)between the Federalists (led by Alexander Hamilton–Secretary of the Treasury) and the Democratic-Republicans (led by Thomas Jefferson– Secretary of State).

49. Washington’s Quote as Part of His Farewell Address “With slight shades of difference,” he said, “You have the same religion, manners, habits, and political principles. You have in a common cause fought and triumphed together.”

50. THE ELECTION OF 1796:FIRST REAL Election Thomas Jefferson Democratic- Republican John AdamsFederalist Mainly supported by lawyers, merchants, ship owners, and business people in the North. Mainly supported by farmers in the South and the West.