Democracy and Dissent: The Violence of Party Politics, 1788–1800

1. 7 Democracy and Dissent: The Violence of Party Politics, 1788–1800

2. Force of Public Opinion • Root cause of political parties: ambiguity of republic ideology – what is a Republic • Jefferson and Hamilton both want republic but disagree on what it is • Start of political parties – Federalists vs Jeffersonians Republicans

3. Principle and Pragmatism:Establishing a New Government • George Washington unanimously elected president, 1788 • Washington was symbol of new government • He embodied the hopes and fears of the new republic • Washington made his own decisions • Congress established three executive departments: War, State, and Treasury

4. Principle and Pragmatism:Establishing a New Government • Judiciary Act of 1789 established Supreme Court with one chief justice and eight associate justices • 1789—5% tariff levied to fund government

5. Conflicting Visions: Alexander Hamilton • Washington’s aide-de-camp in Revolution • Secretary of the Treasury • Wanted stronger ties to Britain – model banks after Britain • Strong central government with support of wealthy • Envisioned U.S. as an industrial power – Private greed could be source of public good • Feared anarchy more than tyranny – belief in elites

6. Conflicting Visions:Thomas Jefferson • Secretary of state under Washington • Believed limited government preserves liberty • Envisioned U.S. as an agrarian nation • Trusted the common people • Against large debt • Favored France over Britain

7. Hamilton’s Plan forProsperity and Security • Washington’s first term – finances • Congress asked Hamilton for suggestions for solutions to debt problem • He produced three reports: • First Report is Report on the Public Credit • Report contains two parts: Funding and Assumption • Debt of $54 million, additional state debt of $25 million • 80% of debt held by speculators

8. Funding and Assumption • Funding: Congress redeems federal certificates of debt at face value to current holders • Insisted bondholders support new government • Criticized by Madison and others because most debt in hands of speculators • Madison thought only a few would benefit

9. Funding and Assumption • Assumption: federal government pays states’ debts • Opposed by states that had already paid their debts • Madison at first led congress to defeat the funding • But eventually passed in exchange for locating capital on Potomac (Washington D.C.)

10. Interpreting the Constitution: The Bank Controversy • Second Report was Bank of the United States • National bank would be privately owned, but partly funded by federal government • Opposed because it might “perpetuate a large monied interest” – saw bank as corrupt like British system • Jefferson opposed it as unconstitutional

11. Interpreting the Constitution: The Bank Controversy • Hamilton defended constitutionality through doctrine of “implied powers” • Congress chartered bank, 1791 • Perception that Hamilton was bringing corrupt British system to America • Washington approved Hamilton’s idea because it was stronger than Jefferson’s

12. Setback for Hamilton • Third Report was Report on Manufacturing (1791) sought federal encouragement for manufacturing • Protective tariffs and industrial bounties • Madison warned that program would strengthen federal government at state expense • Jefferson warned that the rise of cities would destroy agriculture • Southerners opposed to protective tariffs

13. Charges of Treason:The Battle over Foreign Affairs • French and English Wars shape U.S. political division • Washington’s second term focused on foreign affairs • Both British and French treated America arrogantly • Jeffersonian Republicans • Favored France • States’ rights • Strict interpretation of the Constitution

14. Charges of Treason:The Battle over Foreign Affairs • Hamiltonian Federalists • Favored England • Strong central government and economic planning • Maintenance of order by federal troops

15. The Peril of Neutrality • British still occupied Ohio River Valley and discriminated against American trade • Franco-British War broke out, 1793 • England violated American sovereignty and neutrality on high seas • British actions indicate a disdain for American rights • Jefferson: punish England by cutting off trade • Hamilton: appease England because too strong

16. Jay’s Treaty Sparks Domestic Unrest • John Jay to England to demand: • Removal of English from American soil • Payment for ships illegally seized • Better commercial relations • Acceptance of United States’ neutrality

17. Jay’s Treaty Sparks Domestic Unrest • Hamilton told English that U.S. not firm and would make compromises • Jay’s Treaty won no major concessions • British to abandon frontier posts and let a few small ships trade in British West Indies • Washington disliked, but accepted, treaty • Senate ratified by smallest possible margin • Treaty caused major concerns

18. New Orleans and Florida • Spain had closed Mississippi River to Americans • Spain interpreted Jay’s Treaty as Anglo-American alliance against Spain so Spain agree to new treaty with America

19. New Orleans and Florida • Treaty of San Lorenzo (Pinckney’s Treaty) • Spanish opened the Mississippi River and New Orleans to U.S. West • Settled disputed border between Florida and U.S. • Spanish ceased inciting Indians against settlers

20. Conquest of the West

21. Popular Political Culture • Political “parties” condemned as factions • By end of Washington’s first term, government is divided • Widespread concern over loss of common revolutionary purpose • Federalists and Republicans suspected each others’ loyalty • Party members thought it a patriotic duty to destroy opposing party

22. Informing the Public: News and Politics • Changing the nation’s political life • Newspapers widely read, highly influential – most people could read • Newspapers shrill, totally partisan • Newspapers main source of political information

23. Whiskey Rebellion: Charges of Republican Conspiracy • Excise tax on whiskey imposed 1791 • 1794—western Pennsylvania farmers protested • Lent credence to fears of violence against the government • Republican governor refused to act • Federalists interpreted as Republican conspiracy • Washington and Hamilton led 15,000-man army to crush the rebellion • Rebels could not be found – embarrassing fiasco for government • Increased Republican electoral strength along the frontier

24. Whiskey Rebellion: Charges of Republican Conspiracy • Washington blamed Republicans for encouraging unrest • Jefferson saw it as excuse to raise army to intimidate opposition

25. Washington’s Farewell • Washington increasingly sympathetic to Federalists • Fall 1796—Washington released Farewell Address • Warned against alliances with nations that weren’t promoting American security

26. The Adams Presidency • Bitterly divisive election in 1796 • Federalists divided, Hamilton tried to push Pinckney over Adams • Adams forced to accept people not supportive in cabinet • Hamilton interferes with Adam’s presidency and made it difficult

27. The XYZ Affair andDomestic Politics • Jay’s Treaty prompted France to treat U.S. as unfriendly nation • Diplomatic mission failed when three French officials (X, Y, and Z) demanded bribe • Provoked anti-French outrage in U.S. • XYZ affair led to Quasi war with France – France seized US ships

28. Crushing Political Dissent • Federalists began building up the army • Ostensible purpose: repel French invasion • Actual intention: stifle internal opposition • Hamilton commanded army, controlled officers

29. Crushing Political Dissent • Hamilton sought declaration of war against France to begin operations against dissent • Adams created navy, refused to ask Congress for war

30. Silencing Political Opposition: The Alien and Sedition Acts • Alien and Sedition Acts • Purpose to silence Republicans • First civil liberties crisis • Alien Enemies Act and Alien Act gave the president power to expel any foreigner • Sedition Act criminalized criticism of the government – many see as threat to their political rights and infringement on First Amendment

31. Silencing Political Opposition: The Alien and Sedition Acts • The Naturalization Act requires U.S. residency of fourteen years for citizenship • Allows Federalists to maintain control

32. Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions • Republicans saw Alien and Sedition Acts as dire threat to liberty • Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions - states have the right to nullify federal law under certain circumstances (States’ Rights) • Jefferson’s Kentucky Resolutions—states may nullify unconstitutional federal law • Madison’s Virginia Resolutions—urged states to protect their citizens

33. Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions • Purpose of resolutions: clarify differences between Republicans and Federalists, not justify secession

34. Adams’s Finest Hour • 1799—Adams broke with Hamilton • Sent new team to negotiate with France • War hysteria against France vanished • U.S. resolves – United States resolved its differences with France • Hamilton’s army seen as a useless expense

35. The Peaceful Revolution: The Election of 1800 • Hamilton’s High Federalists led campaign to replace Adams with Pinckney • Federalists lost, but Republicans Jefferson and Burr tied • Election went to House of Representatives and they picked Jefferson after many ballots • 12th amendment to Constitution ensures this didn’t happen again – changed process of electing President and VP

36. The Peaceful Revolution: The Election of 1800 • Adams and the “midnight judges” • Chief Justice John Marshall • Jefferson’s inaugural: “we are all republicans, we are all federalists” • Federalists lost touch with public • Federalists party split

37. Danger of Political Extremism • Election of 1800 one of the most important • Transfer of power from Federalists to Republicans achieved peacefully • Nation averted ideological civil war