The New Republic, 1787-1800

A. Selecting the 1st President

ü  Chosen unanimously by Electoral College

ü  Inaugurated Apr. 30, 1789

ü  From this point on, what the Constitution & its system of checks & balances actually meant would be determined by day to day decisions of Congress, the President, and the Court

B. The Federal Court System

• Constitution’s description of the Federal Court system is very vague-
• Judiciary Act of 1789

 

C. The Judiciary Act of 1789

ü  Established a Supreme Court with 1 Chief Justice & 5 associate justices

ü  Empowered to rule on the constitutionality of decisions made in state courts

ü  Also provided for a system of 13 district courts and three circuit courts of appeal

D. The Cabinet

• Thomas Jefferson, Sec. of State
• Alexander Hamilton, Sec. of Treasury
• Edmund Randolph, Attorney General
• Henry Knox, Sec. of War

 

II. Federalists and Republicans

A. Competing Vision

• Resolution of ratification did not resolve deep disagreements about the nature of the new government.
• Federalists
• Country’s mission to become a genuine nation-state, w/centralized authority, a complex commercial economy, and proud standing in world affairs.
• Democratic-Republicans
• Society should remain predominantly rural and agrarian, it should have a central gov’t of modest size and powers that would leave most power in the hands of the states and the people

B. Hamilton’s Plan

ü  Debt Assumption

• New gov’t would take responsibility for existing public debt (funding the debt)
• Assume all state debts
• Now everyone has stake in government’s survival
• Tariffs and Excise Taxes
• Hamilton’s Report of Manufacturing – laid out grand scheme for growth of industry
• Tariffs to protect infant industries
• Excise taxes to raise revenue

ü  Creation of a national bank

C. Hamilton’s Plan

• Supported by northern merchants who would gain from the tariff and stabilized currency.  This faction is led by Hamilton
• Opposed primarily by Anti-Federalists who feared that states would loose power.  This faction is led by Jefferson.

 

 After much political wrangling, Hamilton’s plan is adopted with slight modifications:

1)      Gets his debt but in return moves the capitol to Washington D.C.

2)       Gets tariff but at a lower rate than he wanted.  Added excise taxes, like the whiskey tax, to make up the difference.

3)       National Bank, but is it constitutional?

D. Strict vs. Loose Construction

• necessary and proper” clause
• Hamilton, “Gov’t can do things even if the Constitution doesn’t specifically give them permission.”
• Jefferson, “If the Constitution doesn’t specifically say it, government can’t do it”

 

E. Origins of Political Parties

ü  There had always been groups of legislators who formed temporary factions to settle issues. 

• First time these factions are organized across state lines
• Political parties were viewed as an evil that should be avoided
• Causes
• Debate over ratification
• Hamilton’s Financial Program
• French Revolution

II. Establishing National Sovereignty

A. Whiskey Rebellion, 1794

ü  A group of farmers in Pennsylvania refuse to pay the federal excise tax on whiskey

ü  Incident seems to challenge the authority of the government and the Constitution

B. More on Whiskey Rebellion

– Washington responds by sending 15,000 troops

ü  It’s put down w/o violence

ü  Westerners widely   resented & condemned

ü   Jefferson gains their  support

ü  Compare to Shays’

C. Continuing Tensions with Native Americans

ü  Throughout the 1790s, setters continued westward push into the Ohio Valley

ü  Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794)

ü  Americans angered by evidence that the British

ü   Supplied weapons to natives

ü   Encouraged them to attack “invading” Americans

D. The French Revolution, 1789-1799

Dominated Washington & Adams’ Presidencies b/c in 1793 France went to war w/Europe

U.S. Policy Options?

ü  Support France

ü  Support France’s   enemies        

ü  Support no one

E.  Most Americans generally supported French aspirations to establish a Republic

• U.S.- French Alliance from the Revolutionary War is still on the books.
• But Washington worried our nation was too young & not ready for a war.
• Proclamation of Neutrality (1793)

 

F. Citizen Genet

• Objected to Washington’s Policy of Neutrality
• Broke all diplomatic rules by going over Washington’s head directly to the American people.
• Even Jefferson is outraged by Genet’s behavior & he is asked to leave the USA

 

G. Jay Treaty, 1794

Washington sends Jay to get compensation for recent British assaults & demand their withdrawal from western forts

He returns a year later,

ü  Est. undisputed American sovereignty in the Northwest

ü  Produced a satisfactory commercial relationship w/Britain

ü  People are outraged!!

H. Pinckney Treaty, 1795

Spain feared an alliance between Britain and America, so they decide to consolidate their territory in North America.

ü  Spain opened Mississippi and New Orleans to U.S. trade

ü  Right of deposit was granted

ü  Accept U.S. claim for north Florida border

I. Washington’s Farewell Address

ü  Do not get involved in European affairs

ü  Avoid “permanent alliances”

ü  No political parties

ü  Avoid sectionalism

 

III. Presidency of John Adams,1797-1801

A. Election of 1796

• John Adams (Federalist)
• Thomas Jefferson  (Dem.-Rep.)
• Adams wins by 3 electoral votes, Jefferson becomes his VP!
• Hamilton and Southern Federalists don’t like Adams so they vote for Thomas Pinckney.  Even more Adams’ supports refused to vote for Pinckney so Thomas Jefferson, the leader of the opposition party ends up the VP!  Adams never able to effectively challenge Hamilton for control of the Federalist Party.  He will be largely ineffective.

 

B. XYZ Affair

Millions for defense but not one cent for tribute”

ü  U.S. merchant ships being seized by French warships

ü  Adams sent delegation but French ministers demanded bribes

ü  Americans clamored for war

C. Quasi War with France

• Adams persuaded Congress to cut off all trade with France and to authorize American vessels to capture French armed ships on the high sees.
• 1800 Adams sends another commission to meet w/Napoleon

D. Alien and Sedition Acts, 1798

ü  Fed. gain control of                Congress in 1798 b/c                          of anti-French feeling

ü  Hoped to take adv. of                          their victory by enacting laws that would restrict Democratic-Republicans.

E. Alien and Sedition Acts Up Close

• Naturalization Act-
• Increased citizenship requirement from 5-14 years for immigrants

 

• Alien Act-
• President can deport any aliens considered dangerous

 

• Sedition Act –
• Illegal for newspapers to criticize the President or Congress

 

F. Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

Republicans argued Alien & Sedition acts violate the 1st Amendment therefore states had the power to nullify those federal laws.

G. The Crisis Fades

Two Reasons:

(1)    Federalists lost their majorities in Congress after the 1800 election

(2)    Supreme Court  asserted its power of judicial review

H. The Election of 1800

-Between John Adams (federalists) and Thomas Jefferson (democrat-republican)

ü  Same players, different circumstances

ü  Federalists have lost popularity

• People dislike Alien and Sedition Acts
• Complain about new taxes
  • imposed by Federalists to pay for  possible war with France.
  • One of the ugliest campaigns in American history

I. The Election Results

• Federalists lose executive & legislative

 

• Jefferson and Aaron Burr tie   

                                      

• Election thrown to House of Rep.

 

J. Election Results

Hamilton disliked Jefferson but he hated Burr more, used all his influence to get the House to vote for Jefferson.

K. The “Revolution” of 1800

• Peaceful transition of power from one party to another