Chapter 11

1. Chapter 11 We the People: Putting the Constitution to Work 1789–1800

2. The First Presidency • Washington • Unanimously elected • Takes oath April 30, 1789 • Takes oath in New York City • Washington’s leadership • Believes in republicanism • Shows strong sense of duty • Aware of his role as major figure • Precedents • Knows he is setting precedents • Republican title: “Mr. President” • Brings dignity to office • Wins respect abroad

3. The First Presidency (cont.’d) • Early appointments • Balances politics and sections • Seeks and listens to men of ability • First Cabinet • Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson • Attorney General Edmund Randolph • Secretary of War Henry Knox • Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton • Postmaster-general Samuel Osgood

4. The National Debt • Funding the nation • Hamilton in charge of nation’s finances • Congress enacts 5% tariff on imports • Hamilton proposes to repay foreign loans • U.S. owes approximately $12 million • Passes Congress easily • First debate: funding the nation • Hamilton proposes to repay domestic loans • U.S. owes approximately $44 million • Original owners sold bonds to speculators • Critics do not want to pay speculators full value • Congress votes to repay present owners at full value

5. The National Debt • Assumption • Hamilton proposes to assume state debts • South opposes plan since their debt already paid • Hamilton and Jefferson strike compromise • Measure passes in return for putting capital on Potomac • Bank of the United States (BUS) • Hamilton proposes establishing strong BUS • Jefferson: Congress does not have power; “strict construction” • Hamilton: Congress does have power; “broad construction” • Washington signs BUS bill

6. The National Debt • Hamilton proposes protective tariff • Believes it will encourage industrial growth • Farmers oppose tariff due to higher prices • Opponents fear retaliatory tariffs • Measure does not pass

7. Troubles Abroad • French Revolution • Americans rejoice at first • Revolution becomes more radical • Conservative Americans fear equality and fraternity • Reign of Terror • King and Queen beheaded • Robespierre tries to wipe out religion • More Americans fearful of French Revolution

8. Troubles Abroad (cont.’d) • France and England at War • France goes to war with England and much of Europe • Try to enlist U.S. aid • Washington declared U.S. neutral • Genet French minister to U.S. • Ignores diplomatic protocol to promote Revolution • Brings captured British vessels to American ports • Washington orders him recalled

9. Troubles Abroad (cont.’d) • Rule of 1756 • British claim U.S. cannot trade with French West Indies • British start seizing American vessels • British impresses U.S. citizens into British navy • Jay’s Treaty 1794 • Threat of War between U.S. and Britain • Washington sends Jay to negotiate • Treaty pro-British; no mention of impressment • Jefferson Republicans condemn treaty • Political Parties developing • Federalists – nationalist, social conservative, mercantile, • Jeffersonian Republicans – planters, ideological democrats • Pinckney’s Treaty 1795 • Jay’s Treaty scares Spain, who needs an ally • Spain agrees to U.S. demands • U.S. gains free navigation of Mississippi • U.S. gains right of deposit at New Orleans

10. The Tumultuous Northwest • Northwest Territory • Far less civilized than the east • Still struggling as frontier farmers • Dark and Bloody Ground • Northwest Ordinance respected Indian claims • New settlers violate those claims • Government comes to settler’s rescue • Large, well-armed Indian population • U.S. militias lose two major battles • 1790 General Harmar’s expedition • 1791 General St. Clair’s expedition • Washington sends “Mad Anthony” Wayne • Defeat Indians at Battle of Fallen Timbers 1794 • Treaty of Grenville 1795 • Indians cede southern Ohio

11. Tumultuous Northwest (cont.’d) • Whiskey Rebellion • People are heavy whiskey drinkers • Partly to fight disease • Partly to fight isolation • Whiskey cheap • Whiskey major cash crop • Grain too bulky to cross mountains • Hamilton places excise tax on whiskey • Westerners’ response: Whiskey Rebellion • Federal government quickly crushes rebels • Shows power of federal government

12. Presidency of John Adams • Election of 1796 • Federalist Adams vs. Republican Jefferson • Hamilton tries to manipulate vote • Adams new President • Jefferson new Vice-President • Adams in office • A moderate man of integrity • Neurotically insecure, raging temper • Spends little time in capital • Keeps Washington’s cabinet

13. Presidency of John Adams(cont.’d) • War Scare with France • France angry over Jay’s treaty • France starts seizing U.S. ships • High Federalists demand war with France • Adams sends peace delegation to France • X,Y,Z affair • French insult U.S. diplomats • French demand bribe and loan • High Federalists demand war • Adams builds up navy for undeclared naval war

14. Presidency of John Adams(cont.’d) • Alien and Sedition Acts • Jefferson’s Republicans still pro-French • Federalists respond with Alien and Sedition Acts • Make it harder to become citizen, easy to deport aliens • Make it illegal to criticize government • Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions • Jefferson and Madison write resolutions • Claim Alien and Sedition Acts unconstitutional • Use state supremacy argument to try to nullify acts • Raises major long-term issue, but acts stay in effect

15. Discussion Questions • Evaluate the presidency of Washington. How successful was his administration? • What were the causes, events and repercussions of the Whiskey Rebellion? • What was the Bank of the United States? Why was it such a controversial issue to Federalists and Anti-Federalists? • How did the war in Europe affect early American politics? Provide examples.