Testing the Constitutio

n

Washington, Hamilton, Jefferson, Adams

Washington's Election

• Did not run• Elected unanimously by Electoral College – Twice!• VP was the question• John Adams

1792

Vice President

Precedent•Guide for later action•Examples•Cabinet•Attorney General•2 term limit

•War•Gen. Henry Knox•State•Thomas Jefferson•Treasury•Alexander Hamilton

Cabinet – Exec. Depts.

Jefferson Hamilton

Vs.

Conflict

• Background•Aide to Washington during War•At Constitutional Convention• Wanted a strong central

government• President for life• Outvoted - little influence

•Urged NY to ratify Const.•Wrote many of Federalist Papers

Alexander Hamilton

•Background•Architect, Lawyer•Diplomat to France•Author of Dec. of Ind.•Separation of Church and State• Founded the University of Virginia• Favored a small central government

Thomas Jefferson

•Main Issue - France•Revolution•War with England•They ask us for Help•Washington’s Response:•Neutrality

Foreign Affairs

•National Debt•State Debts•Bank of the US•Necessary and Proper Clause•Economic Troubles•Regulate Trade - Protective Tariffs

Domestic Issues

•Loose vs. Strict Constructionists•Hamilton?•Loose•Necessary & Proper Clause – “Elastic Clause”

•Jefferson & Madison?•Strict

Political Philosophy

•Who does Pres. Washington agree with most often?•Hamilton•Arguments lead to the first political parties

Washington

•Hamilton and Supporters?•Federalists

• Jefferson and Supporters?•Democratic-Republicans

Political Parties

• Federalists?•Lawyers, Merchants, ship owners and Industrialists •Mostly in Northeast

•Democratic-Republicans?•Small farmers•Mostly in the South and West

Supporters

Washington’s Retirement

•Another Precedent•His most important one?•Steps down after 2 terms

• Jefferson and Adams run for the Presidency in 1796•Winner?•Adams 71 to 68

Vice President?• How was the Vice President chosen?•2nd Place winner• Jefferson becomes VP

•Washington gives some final advice to the country before his second term is over• Two “themes”

Farewell Address

• Neutrality Abroad•No permanent Alliances•Temporary ones?• Ok if necessary

•Trade agreements are great

Farewell Address

• Neutrality Abroad•How long did we listen?• 150 years

• Unity at Home•Limit political disagreements•How long did we listen?• About 4 seconds

Farewell Address

•Main Issues• Internal Federalist struggles• Alexander Hamilton

•XYZ Affair•Alien and Sedition Acts•Midnight Judges

President Adams

• Adams wanted to negotiate with France• Talleyrand wanted a

bribe•Foreign Minister

• Wanted a bribe to talk•Sent 3 agents “X, Y, & Z”

• We refused• Talk of War

XYZ Affair

• Hamilton wants war against France•Hurt the Dem-Rep’s • They wanted close ties with France

• Adams does not•We’re still too weak

• Splits the Federalist Party

Playing Politics

•Alien Act•Raises citizenship requirements• 5 to 14 years

•Pres. can expel aliens•How does this affect the Dem-Rep party?

Federalist Policies

•Sedition Act•Can’t “publishing false, scandalous, or malicious writings against the President, Congress, or the Government of the US”•Constitutional?

•How does this affect Dem-Rep’s?

Federalist Policies

• Adams has support cut by Hamilton• Jefferson AND Burr

win!•Tie in Electoral College with Aaron Burr•House votes for Jefferson

Election of 1800

• Adams is Pres. until Jefferson takes oath• Lots of Federal courts

without judges•Stays up late filling them with Federalists

• Extends life of Federalist Party

Lame Duck - Adams