Launching a New Nation

1. Launching a New Nation Chapter 8

2. Washington takes Office • The Capital of the United states was New York City • George Washington traveled there in April of 1789. • Washington was inaugurated on April 30, 1789 • He was anxious and knew that his actions would set a precedent.

3. Washington takes Office • Congress and the President had to put together a working government. • The Congress passed laws to set up three departments for the Executive Branch (The President) • The Department of the Treasury, Department of State and Department of war • Each was headed by a person chosen by the President

4. Washington takes Office • The President appointed an attorney general to advise him on legal issues • Alexander Hamilton was the Secretary of Treasury • Thomas Jefferson was the Secretary of State • Henry Knox was the Secretary of War • Edmund Randolph was the Attorney General • Today the Presidents advisors are known as the Cabinet.

6. Washington takes Office • The Judiciary Act of 1789 set up for the Supreme Court of 6 justices • Under the Supreme Court were 3 circuit Courts and 13 district courts • The job of the federal courts was to hear appeals from the state court • John Jay was the First Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

7. Washington takes Office • After the Revolution the federal government owed $52 million • This was owed in bonds • Speculators bought bonds from people because the people thought that they were not going to worth money

8. Washington takes Office • Alexander Hamilton, the Secretary of Treasury came up with a plan to solve the problem • The US government would agree to pay all federal and state debts • The US government would open a national bank for depositing government goods • The US government would start a high tax on imported goods

9. Washington takes Office • Hamilton wanted to prove to other countries that the US would pay back their debts • Several southern states did not think they should have to pay the federal debt because they already paid off their state debt • After debate, the Southerners would help pay back the debt • In return the capital would be in the South

11. Washington takes Office • Hamilton created a bank that would hold funds and issue paper money • Thomas Jefferson fought against the bank saying it was Unconstitutional • The bank was created 1791 • Hamilton imposed a tariff on goods • It would raise money for the government

12. Washington takes Office • In 1791, Congress started a tax on whiskey • This was supposed to raise money for the government • It led to a revolt because many farmers made money by turning corn into whiskey.

13. Washington takes Office • In 1794, officials in western PA tried to collect taxes • The Farmers rebelled and burned down the home of the tax collector • This gained popularity and a mob marched throughout Pittsburgh and was known as the Whiskey Rebellion • Washington sent the militia to break it up • This was an example of the new government’s strength.

15. The Birth of Political Parties • The writers of the Constitution did not believe that political parties were going to develop • People instead spoke of factions instead of political parties • Both Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton both disliked factions, they believed that it would bring chaos • By 1790, Jefferson and James Madison formed on political party and Alexander Hamilton formed the other

16. The Birth of Political Parties • The Republicans argued that the federal government was growing too strong under Washington and that power should be at the state level • Federalists believed that there needed to be a strong central government to make the country work • The country became torn, Hamilton claimed that Washington was a federalist • Newspapers claimed that Federalists wanted to betray the constitution and bring back the king

17. The Birth of Political Parties • Federalists also favored a national bank and tariff, close ties with England • Republicans did not want a bank or tariff and wanted ties with France • In 1796, George Washington would not run for a third term, this set a precedent

18. The Birth of Political Parties • Republican candidate was Thomas Jefferson • Federalists candidate was John Adams • In 1796-President and Vice president did not run together, the person who got the most votes became president and the person who got the second most was vice president • Adams became president and Jefferson became vice president • This led to tensions

19. Troubles at home and Abroad • Ten years after the Treaty of Paris, British soldiers were still in the North West Territory. • The Native Americans tried to keep their lands too • Many American leaders believed that the future depended on settling western lands • The officials tried to force the natives to sell their land • They succeeded in buying most of Kentucky and part of Tennessee

20. Troubles at home and Abroad • Washington sent troops to end the native attacks on settlers • The Natives defeated the military twice before Washington sent General Anthony Wayne. • Wayne won against the Natives at the Battle of Fallen Timbers-Named this because of all the fallen trees

21. Troubles at home and Abroad • The French Revolution began in 1789 • Most Americans supported the French at first because it was similar to what they went through • But then the French Revolution got much more violent with the “reign of terror” • 17,000 people, including the king and queen were killed.

23. Troubles at home and Abroad • By 1793, France and England were at war, Washington wanted to remain Neutral • But still trade with both sides-Unfortunately, both countries began to stop American ships and seize their cargo. • The British began impressment of sailors • Hamilton urged the president to stay friendly with Britain because the US depended on them for imports

24. Troubles at home and Abroad • John Jay went to London to form a treaty with Britain • The US would pay its debts to British merchants and the British would pay for the ships it has seized • They would also withdraw from the Northwest Territory • They refused to recognize the US right to trade with France and would not stop impressment • The Jay’s Treaty was approved by the senate

25. Troubles at home and Abroad • In 1796, Washington decided to retire, he left pieces of advice • He warned against political parties and thought they would divide the nations

26. Troubles at home and Abroad • He said that the nation should remain neutral and not get involved with European affairs • Things Washington accomplished • The Unites States now had a Federal Government • The economy was improving • Washington had avoided war • The British had been forced to leave the Northwest Territory

27. The Presidency of John Adams • When Adams became president, the French were angered by US neutrality • Jay’s Treaty with England only increased tensions

28. The Presidency of John Adams • In 1797, Adams sent three men to France-They were met with French agents demanding that the US pay a bribe of $250,000 • They also wanted several million dollars • The Americans refused • The Bribe became public and the French agents names were kept secret • This was called the XYZ Affair

29. The Presidency of John Adams • Because of the XYZ Affair, Federalists demanded that Adams ask Congress to declare war on France • Adams asked Congress to increase the size of the Army and rebuild the Navy • He also created a separate department of the Navy

30. The Presidency of John Adams • Between 1798 and 1800, the US fought an undeclared naval war with France • To avoid real war, Adams sent a new mission to France • Napoleon Bonaparte, Frances leader, was fighting a war in Europe and agreed to stop seizing American ships. • Although Adams had avoided war, his own Federalist Party disapproved with him

31. The Presidency of John Adams • The Mistrust in France led to a mistrust of Immigrants • The Alien Act was passed saying that a person had to live in the US for 14 years before becoming a citizen, instead of 5 years • The Sedition Act was passed putting a limit on free speech- • It was a crime to speak out against the President, Congress or Government

32. The Presidency of John Adams • The Republicans denounced the Alien and Sedition Acts. • The Problem was that the Supreme Court was not fully established and did not know how to make a law unconstitutional.

33. The Presidency of John Adams • James Madison and Thomas Jefferson led the campaign toward the power of the Supreme Court • They said that states had the right to declare laws unconstitutional • The Sedition Act expired in 1801 • After this, the Supreme Court could nullify the laws passed by Congress • The differences between states rights and federal rights became a problem after this.