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Washington’s Presidency

Washington’s Presidency. John Adams – VP Knew he would set a precedent , or a pattern for how things are done. Mr. President Federal Judiciary Act – creates Supreme Court with six Justices – later became nine. John Jay – First Chief Justice. Assembling a Cabinet.

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Washington’s Presidency

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  1. Washington’s Presidency • John Adams – VP • Knew he would set a precedent, or a pattern for how things are done. • Mr. President • Federal Judiciary Act – creates Supreme Court with six Justices – later became nine. • John Jay – First Chief Justice

  2. Assembling a Cabinet • Henry Knox – Secretary of War • Thomas Jefferson – Secretary of State • Alexander Hamilton – Secretary of Treasury • Attorney General – Edmund Randolph (top legal office in nation – head of Dept. of Justice)

  3. Hamilton’s Political Views The Nation’s Finances • Debt: $52 million • Owed to: France, Spain, Netherlands, private U.S. citizens. • Hamilton’s task: find a way to pay them back to earn their respect. • Strong federal government • Federal government stronger than states. • Government should encourage industry.

  4. Hamilton’s Plan • 1. pay off all war debts • 2. raising government revenues • 3. create a national bank

  5. What happens? • A quid pro quo – South supports the plan and capital is moved to the South. (Washington D.C) • Tariffs – tax on imported goods. Are a way to raise revenue AND since it is a tax on foreign goods it encourages Americans to buy American. • Create National Bank – Safe place to keep money, make loans to businesses and issue paper money. • Many argue that it the Federal government is NOT allowed to create a bank, not mentioned in the Constitution.

  6. Loose vs. Strict Interpretation Strict Greater Federal Power Broad/general If it doesn’t say something you can do whatever you want. Federal Government powers very limited. Specific Exactly what the Constitution says, it means. Loose

  7. Challenges to the New Government • Challenges over Land (Shocker!) – in the Northwest Territory (land that becomes OH, IN, IL, MN, WI, MI) in the Ohio River Valley. • Native Americans + British vs. Americans – • Americans lose twice. • Finally an easy win at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. Battle between NA and Americans – named that because trees were all fallen after a recent bad storm. • Treaty of Greenville - treaty signed by twelve tribes where they agreed to cede, or surrender lands in present day Ohio and numerous ports and outposts.

  8. Challenges to the New Government • Hamilton created the Whiskey Tax – this hit small, Backcountry farmers • Whisky made from corn. • Corn was their cash crop. • It was cheap and easy to make (think Moonshiners) so they often used it as money to trade for things. • Whiskey Rebellion – led by Backcountry Pennsylvania farmers who were armed and attacked Pittsburgh and even burned down a tax collector’s home. (1794) • Good time for Washington to show the power of Federal Government to enforce the laws even far from the capital. • 13,000 troops put down the rebellion (They run)

  9. Problems Abroad… • French Revolution – revolution overthrowing the government in France that began in 1787 and ended in violence and mass executions. • Whose side? • France – had been our allies in Revolutionary War against Britain. • Britain – our biggest trading partner. • U.S. is so young and new, we are vulnerable and in debt. Washington declares U.S. will remain neutral. Congress even passed a law that we would not support France or Britain.

  10. Problems Abroad… • Jay’s Treaty – British will leave Ohio Valley by 1796, pay for damages to seized ships but America could not get in on Caribbean trade. • Pinckney’s Treaty – with Spain. • American can travel freely up the Mississippi River. • U.S. can store goods in New Orleans (Spanish)

  11. Valentine’s Day Question: • In your opinion what is the true meaning of Valentine’s Day? • A. It is a materialistic, man-made holiday created for commercial purposes. (So that people buy each other cards, candy, flowers, jewelry, gifts, etc.) • B. It is a day to express your love to the ones you care for in special ways.

  12. Washington retires… • After two terms. • In his final address • he warned that political differences would weaken the nation. • Main focus: Foreign policy (relations with the governments of other countries.) • Urges Americans to remain neutral. • “Steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.”

  13. Growth of Political Parties Group of people that try to promote its ideas and influence government. Federalists Jefferson and Madison Farmers and workers Strong state governments Rural nation of farmers Strict interpretation of Constitution Opposed Central Bank Hamilton Northern merchants and manufacturers. Strong National Government Trade, manufacturing, and cities nation. Loose Interpretation of Constitution In favor of Central Bank Democratic-Republicans

  14. Democratic Republicans Federalists Election of 1796 • Thomas Jefferson • 68 electoral votes • John Adams • 71 electoral votes President: John Adams – VP: Thomas Jefferson * They are exact opposites and even rivals in their political beliefs who know are President and VP.

  15. XYZ Affair • Tensions arise with France so now President Adams sends American diplomats. • When they arrive they are ignored for months until finally three French agents, later named X, Y, and Z tell them that the minister will hold the talks IF…. • America loans French $10 million. • America pays the minister a bribe of $250,000 • Americans say no!

  16. Alien and Sedition Acts - Series of four laws enacted in 1798 to reduce the political power of recent immigrants. • Adams gets angry when a Democratic-Republican newspaper begins criticizing him. Calling him, “the blasted tyrant of America.” • Adams blamed Democratic –Republicans and immigrants so he encouraged the Federalist Congress to pass the Alien and Sedition Acts. • They were targeted at aliens, or immigrants who are NOT yet citizens. • They included: • Increased waiting periods for U.S. citizenship from 5 to 14 years. • Power to President to arrest suspicious aliens or deport them in wartime. • Outlawed sedition, or stirring up rebellion against a government. • 10 Democratic-Republican newspaper editors were convicted of opinions damaging to the government • What Freedom did this act impose on?

  17. VA and KY Resolutions Resolutions passed by KY and VA in 1798 giving the states the right to declare acts of Congress null and void. • In response to the Alien and Sedition Acts, D-R, had to find a way to fight them. • They found that way in states’ rights, the idea that states have certain rights that the federal government cannot over rule. (Amendment 10) • They used the principle of nullification, or the idea that a state could nullify or cancel, any act of Congress that it considered unconstitutional. • They were unsuccessful in overturning the Alien and Sedition Acts, but within two years the D-R took over Congress and either reversed or let them expire.

  18. The end of Adams… • In 1800, Adams becomes the first President to govern from the nation’s new capital in Washington D.C., except he lost the election of 1800 to Thomas Jefferson.

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