Challenges to the New Government

1. Challenges to the New Government

2. Whiskey Rebellion To help pay off the war debt, Washington started to tax whiskey In the summer of 1794, a group of farmers in Western Pennsylvania rebelled against the whiskey tax and staged the Whiskey Rebellion. One group beat up a tax collector and coated him with tar and feathers.

4. The Government Responds Alexander Hamilton wanted the government to look strong. He encouraged President Washington to stop the revolt. Federal troops marched to Western Pennsylvania and put down the revolt. Washington had proved that the government would deal with people not obeying the law.

5. Why do you think Washington chose to lead the troops himself?

6. Struggle over the West Native Americans with the encouragement of the British and Spanish battle American settlers over frontier lands. Washington sends the U.S. Army to battle the Native Americans and restore order. 1795 Treaty of Greenville � Native Americans agreed to surrender most of their land in present-day Ohio.

7. Struggle with Britain Britain and France are at war with each other. Some individual Americans begin aiding the French. Britain retaliates by capturing American merchant ships and impressing American�s into their British navy. Jay�s Treaty � restores peaceful relations with Britain. Britains agree to leave our lands, pay damages for captured ships, and restore trade with us.

8. France gets upset France, angered by Jay�s Treaty begin attacking American ships. America must respond, but how?

9. Washington�s Farewell Address Before he retired, Washington gave a farewell address (speech). In it he Warned against political parties - he thought they caused arguments Urged the nation to remain neutral and not become involved in foreign alliances. Warned against a powerful military. Urged Americans to maintain and value a sense of national unity.

10. Political Parties Despite Washington�s warnings, political parties developed. The first two political parties were the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans. The Federalists wanted a strong national government. The Democratic-Republicans thought a strong national government would lead to tyranny.

11. Hamilton versus Jefferson Alexander Hamilton led the Federalists. Thomas Jefferson led the Democratic-Republicans. Northern merchants and manufacturers became Federalists. Southern farmers and workers became Democratic-Republicans

13. John Adams Becomes 2nd President After Washington retired, his Vice-President, John Adams became the second president. Thomas Jefferson came in second. He became Vice-President.

14. XYZ Affair The U.S. was having problems with France. They were seizing American ships so they couldn�t trade with England. Adams sent men to France to work out the problems. However, the talks would occur only if the Americans agreed to loan France $10 million and to pay the minister a bribe of $250,000. The Americans refused. The incident became known as the XYZ Affair.

15. Alien and Sedition Acts President Adams was criticized for the XYZ affair by Democratic-Republican newspapers. He blamed the papers and new immigrants for his problems. To silence his critics, the Alien and Sedition Acts were passed. These acts targeted aliens �immigrants who were not yet citizens.

16. One act increased the waiting period for becoming a U.S. citizen from 5 to 14 years. Other acts gave the president the power to arrest disloyal aliens or order them out of the country during wartime. A fourth act outlawed sedition. Saying or writing anything false or harmful about the government became illegal. Newspaper editors were arrested. Many people thought the Alien and Sedition Acts violated the First Amendment.

17. States� Rights Jefferson and Madison encourage states to �nullify� (cancel) the Alien and Sedition Acts. Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions do just that. Federalists become nervous that this will split apart our new nation.

18. The President Acts In the meantime, President Adams seeks a treaty with France to end the hostilities and avoid war. His Federalist party is angry at him and this splits their votes for the next president. Thus Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson becomes the 3rd president.