Launching the New Ship of State

1. Launching the New Ship of State 1789 – 1800 Mr. Love

2. America • Population – doubling every 25 years • 90% rural • 5% of people lived west of the Appalachian Mountains • 1791 – Vermont became 14th state

3. President Washington • 1789 - Unanimously drafted as president by the Electoral College • April 30, 1789 – took oath of office in New York City (the temporary capital) • Established cabinet • Sec. of State – T. Jefferson • Sec. Of Treasury – A. Hamilton • Sec. Of War – Henry Knox • Attorney Gen – Edmund Randolph

4. The Bill of Rights • Amendments – proposed in 2 ways • New constitutional convention requested by 2/3 of the states • 2/3 vote of both houses of Congress • James Madison – drafted the bill of rights • Guided them through Congress • 1791 – adopted

5. Religion Speech Press Bear arms Trial by jury Assembly Petition of the gov’t for redress of grievances Prohibits cruel & unusual punishment Arbitrary gov’t seizure of private property Freedoms

6. 9th & 10th Amendment • 9th Amendment • Specifying certain rights “shall not be constructed to deny or disparage others retained by the people” • 10th Amendment • Reserved all rights not explicitly delegated or prohibited by the federal Constitution “to the States respectively, or to the people.” • Preserved strong central gov’t while specifying protections for minority & individual liberties

7. Hamilton’s Economic Plan • Pay off national debt - $54 million • War bonds had depreciated & speculators had bought most of the bonds • Hamilton wants the debt of the AOC to transfer to the new government. Why? • Assumption of state’s debts - $21.5 million • Some states with smaller debts did not approve • Compromise • Virginia would have the federal district on the Potomac – Washington, D.C. • Bargain carried out in 1790

8. Hamilton's Plan conti. • Debt to be paid by custom duties (tariffs) which made trade with England important • What is a tarrif? • Increased duties opposed by agriculture & the commercial classes • Excise tax passed on whiskey • Bank of the United States • Constitutional? • Strict construction v. loose construction • What are these constructions?

9. Supported bank Constitution did not forbid it Congress may pass any laws “necessary & proper” to carry out the powers vested in the various gov’t agencies (Implied powers) Opposed bank What constitution did not permit it forbade All powers not specifically granted to the central gov’t were reserved for the states (Reserved powers) Wanted state banks This is me on the right Hamilton Battles Jefferson

10. Loose construction Hamilton Elastic clause- “all powers necessary & proper” Strict construction Jefferson Literal interpretation Interpretation of Constitution

11. National Bank • 1791 – established in Philadelphia • Chartered for 20 years • Capital - $10 million • 1/5 owned by federal gov’t • Stock sold to public

12. The Whiskey Rebellion • Pennsylvania – 1794 • “Whiskey Boys” regarded it not as a tax on a frivolous luxury but as a burden on an economic necessity & a medium of exchange • Tarred & feathered tax collectors • Washington summoned the militia of several states • Rebellion was put down • Proved gov’t could put down rebellions

14. The Emergence of Political Parties • 1792 – 1st political parties • Federalists – Hamiltonians • Democratic-Republicans – Jeffersonians • Proved to be among the indispensable ingredients of a sound democracy • “loyal opposition” • I think these are a flashy donkey and elephant.

15. Led by A. Hamilton Rule by the “best people” Strong central gov’t Gov’t support for business Pro-British Law & order Led by T. Jefferson Sympathy for common people Weak central gov’t Gov’t support for agriculture Universal education Pro-French Democratic- Federalists v. Republicans

16. The Impact of the French Revolution • 1789 - Originally supported by Americans • French were fighting for liberty/ a republic • By 1792 – Americans viewed war as a bloodbath • Problem: Franco-American Alliance – 1778 • Bound US to help French defend their West Indies against future foes • British were beginning to attack islands

17. Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation • Neutrality Proclamation of 1793 • Warned American citizens to be impartial towards both sides • Citizen Genet controversy • Came to Charleston & tried to convince citizens to support the French • Eventually deported • In 1778 both France & America stood to gain, in 1793 only France

18. Hamilton supported England 75% of all custom duties came from British imports Jefferson supported the French British occupation of forts in the west & their impressment of US seamen Support

19. Embroilments with Britain • British ignored Peace Treaty of 1783 • Reluctant to abandon fur trade • Also hoped to build up an Indian buffer state to contain American expansion • Battle of Fallen Timbers 1794 • Treaty of Greenville 1795 – Indians ceded their claims to Ohio country

20. Jay’s Treaty • 1794 - President Washington sent John Jay to London to avert war • Hamilton supplied British with the details of America’s bargaining strategy • Agreement • British agree to evacuate (AGAIN) forts in the Northwest • British consented to pay damages for the recent seizures of American ships • Did not agree to cease further acts of impressment or seizure of American ships • US agreed to pay debts still owed to British merchants

21. Pinckney’s Treaty &Washington’s Farewell • 1795 – Spain granted free navigation of the Mississippi River & yielded large area north of Florida that had been disputed • Map p. 175 • 1796 – Washington’s Farewell Address • Warned against dangers of permanent foreign alliances • Isolationist

22. John Adams Becomes President • 1796 – Presidential election focused on the terms of the Jay Treaty & the Whiskey Rebellion • John Adams – President • Federalists • Thomas Jefferson – Vice President • As runner-up, he became Vice President • Hamilton – resigns his position • Even plots with cabinet against Pres. Adams

23. Unofficial Fighting with France • 1797 – Angered by Jay’s Treaty, France began seizing American merchant ships • Adams sent envoy to Paris to meet with Talleyrand (French foreign minister) • XYZ Affair - French demanded loan & bribe in order to speak with Talleyrand • Adams sought to avoid war but was preparing • Department of Navy & US Marine Corps established • (1789–1800) Undeclared hostilities • At sea and in the West Indies

24. Adams Puts Patriotism Above Party • Talleyrand decided he would receive envoys with proper respect • 1800 - Adams sent envoys to Paris • Napoleon Bonaparte had recently seized power & wanted to “free his hands of America” • Convention of 1800 • ended alliance between France & America • United States agreed to pay the damage claims of American shippers

25. Alien & Sedition Acts • 1798 –passed by the Federalists • Jeffersonians had support of European Immigrants • Alien Act • Residency requirements for citizenship raised from 5 years to 14 years • President could deport dangerous aliens • Sedition Act • Newspapers who “falsely” defamed the gov’t would be fined & their editors imprisoned (violation of the 1st Amendment!)

26. Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions1798 • Virginia (Madison) / Kentucky (Jefferson) • Stressed the compact theory of gov’t • 13 sovereign states had entered into a “compact” or contract regarding jurisdiction. • Therefore, the states were the final judges of whether the gov’t had overstepped their authority • Stressed doctrine of nullification • States decide when to nullify unconstitutional legislation