Unit 3: The New Republic and Antebellum Period (1789-1850)

1. Unit 3: The New Republic and Antebellum Period (1789-1850) Challenges to the New Republic (1789-1825)

2. President Washington Defines the Office of President • The “Father of Our Country” 1789-1797 • First Cabinet: Jefferson – Sec. State, Hamilton -Sec. Treasury • Hamilton wanted a large National Bank (the Bank of the U.S. in 1792) – it barely passed! • He wanted stable economy, strong defense, no national debt and a way to regulate state and local banks.

3. The First U.S. Political Parties • The Federalists – Led by Hamilton; believed in a loose interpretation of Constitution (Elastic Clause) • Democratic-Republicans – Led by Jefferson wanted a strict interpretation of Constitution and said the National Bank was unconstitutional

4. Early Struggles With Foreign Policy • The French Revolution (1789-1799) created problems for the U.S. • The U.S. said it was neutral. Were we? • 1793 – Britain began seizing U.S. ships and impressingU.S. sailors • Jay’s Treaty 1794 – British gave up forts on American side of Great Lakes, but kept restrictions on U.S. shipping/ trade. War was avoided, but some cried foul.

5. The Battle of Fallen Timbers 1794 & Pinckney’s Treaty 1795 • Americans forces under General “Mad Anthony” Wayne defeat alliance of Native Americans led by Shawnee War chief, Blue Jacket, near Toledo, Ohio. • This led to increased American settlement as Indians gave up 2/3 of Ohio and S. Indiana. • Pinckney’s Treaty – 1795; with Spain (got LA from France in 1763) allowed the U.S. to use the port of New Orleans.

6. John Adams (1797-1801) • Problems with France, offended by Jay’s Treaty, dominated the Federalist, Adams’, tenure. • They copied the British and began seizing and fighting with American ships. • Alien Act of 1798 – toughened the citizenship requirements for immigrants and restricted free speech. Most new immigrants usually voted Democratic-Republican. • Sedition Act of 1798 – made it illegal to criticize the government in a time of crisis (i.e. the French threat).

7. Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809) • Didn’t believe in a strong presidency or federal government; he was for “states’ rights” • Had Congress remove Alien & Sedition Acts; he was for 1st Amendment • Cut federal taxes on stamps & land & made cuts in government spending and reduced the debt from $80 Million to $59 Million-a minor miracle! • Marbury vs. Madison (1803) – Supreme Court Case that set precedent for judicial review – the power to decide the constitutionality of federal law.

8. Jefferson’s Presidency • The Louisiana Purchase (1803) – from France for $15 Million was apex of his presidency • Lewis & Clark Expedition (1804-06) – Explored LA & reached Pacific Ocean • Zebulon Pike (1806-07) explored S.W. Louisiana

9. Jefferson’s Presidency Continued • Embargo Act of 1807 – suspended trade with Great Britain • Britain practiced impressment– a policy of seizing U.S. sailors and forcing them to work in Royal Navy • We thought Britain would need our food and cotton more than we needed their clothing – it failed because it hurt U.S. merchants & our economy • Congress ended it 1809 as Jefferson left office, but we were still having problems with the British Empire

10. James Madison (1809-1817) • The War of 1812 – Madison felt there was no choice but war • Britain invaded & captured Washington, DC • The U.S. failed to take Canada • We won most battles and therefore the war • Battle of New Orleans (1814) – Andrew Jackson becomes a national hero

11. James Monroe (1817-1825) • He wanted to prevent Spain or any other European nation from ever having colonies in the Americas • Monroe Doctrine (1823) – said we would use force to keep Western Hemisphere free of European domination • We saw ourselves as the supreme power in the hemisphere • We lacked the military to enforce it, but it will shape American foreign policy in the late 1800s and early 1900s