Early America (1789-1860)

1. Early America (1789-1860)

2. Main Ideas • Washington & the new national government • Managing national debt & banks • Political parties • Expanding west • Conflict & change

3. Washington & the New National Government • Question to consider: • What steps did Washington take to make the new government work?

4. Washington & the New National Government • Washington inaugurated April 30, 1789 • Setting up an executive office • Congress created three Cabinet departments to help the President: • Members of the Cabinet advised the President and directed their departments. Washington set a precedentby choosing well-known leaders to serve in the Cabinet: • Thomas Jefferson = Sec. of State • Alexander Hamilton = Sec. of Treasury • Henry Knox = Sec. of War

5. Washington & the New National Government • Setting up a judicial branch • The Constitution created a judicial branch but did not specify its format • Judiciary Act of 1789 created the Supreme Court, along w/ a circuit of federal and district courts • Appeal process: • decisions made by a state court could be appealed to a federal court on constitutional issues • Federal supremacy: • federal laws > state laws • Marbury v. Madison  judicial review (S. Court can declare laws & acts of Congress “unconstitutional”)

6. Managing National Debt & Banks • Questions to consider: • What was Hamilton’s plan to reduce the nation’s debt and build the economy? • What were the causes and results of the Whiskey Rebellion?

7. Managing National Debt & Banks • The problem • The U.S. had a huge national debt—the total amount of money that a government owes to others. • The national & state governments had borrowed by issuing bonds—certificates that promise to repay the money loaned, plus interest, on a certain date. • Hamilton’s plan • Establish a national bank funded by the gov’t AND private investors • Buy up old bonds, issue new ones to keep trust of investors & have money for debt repayment

8. Managing National Debt & Banks • The Debate • Madison argued that Congress could not make a national bank if the Constitution didn’t set one up; plus many southern states had already paid THEIR debts • Strict vs. loose interpretation of the Constitution • Strict: if the Constitution doesn’t say it, you can’t do it • Loose interpretation: How does the “necessary and proper” clause fit in? • Congress can make any laws or set up institutions that are “necessary and proper” for the country • The compromise • Hamilton promised to support putting the nation’s capital in the South if southerners agreed to his plan for repaying state debts.

9. Managing National Debt & Banks • Whiskey Rebellion • Causes • To raise money for the Treasury, Congress approved an excise tax – tax on a product’s manufacture & sale – on whiskey • Farmers who grew corn said was easier to get their product to market & make a profit if they turned their corn into whiskey. • What did they do? • They rebelled, marching in protest and tarring and feathering tax collectors. • How did the federal gov’t respond? • Sent 13,000 militiamen (national army) to squash the rebellion

10. Political Parties • Many competing views in early America led to creation of separate parties – groups with similar ideologies and political goals • Federalists – called for a strong central gov’t (Hamilton) • Democratic-Republicans – wanted strong state gov’t (Jefferson) • Theory of this party is called “Jeffersonian republicanism”

11. Political Parties • Election of 1800 – 1st time P & VP had the same number of votes – tie-breaker • Election of 1824 – rift in the Republican party • “Jacksonians” accused another republican, Henry Clay, of helping the other party win (he was appointed Sec. of State by Adams); corruption scandal • Clay & his faction became the National Republican Party • Jackson & his faction became the Democratic Party • Spoils system = hiring supporters and friends to government positions

12. Presidents • Jefferson (pg. 75, 113-114) • Madison (pg. 114) • Monroe (pg. 116-117) • Jackson (pg. 123-126)