8.1 The First President Objectives

What actions were taken to launch the new government?

How did Hamilton propose to strengthen the economy?

Precedent Tradition George Washington established

precedents that all future Presidents would follow.

Presidential Requirements natural-born citizens of the United

States at least thirty-five years old must have been resident in the United

States for at least fourteen years

President Can be elected to 2 Terms for a total of

10 years

Cabinet

Made up of the heads (leaders) of the following departments and the Attorney General. State Department

Secretary of State - Thomas Jefferson Treasury Department

Secretary of Treasury - Alexander Hamilton War Department

Secretary of War - Henry Knox Attorney General - Edmund Randolph

Advise the President

Judiciary Act of 1789 Established a federal court system

13 district courts 3 circuit courts

State laws remain, but federal courts have power to reverse state decisions

National Debt The amount of money the national

government owes.

Bonds Paper notes

promising to repay the money in a certain time.

During the American Revolution the government sold bonds to help pay for the war effort.

WWII War Bond

Speculator A person who risks their own money with the

hope of making a profit in the future.

Financial Problems Should the government pay off its debt

to other countries? Should the government pay off its debt

that it had borrowed from the people in the form of bonds?

National Debt Alexander Hamilton - pay off all debt

Pay off debt to other nations = improve the financial reputation and respect of the country

Pay off debt it owed its bond holders.

Pay off all state debts = would provide states with a vested interest in the success of the country

National Debt Opposition to Hamilton

Original bond owners had sold their bonds to speculators at less then the face value.

Southern states had less debt then Northern states and felt that it was unfair for them to have to pay the same as Northern states.

“Do Now” Write down and answer the following

questions in your notes.1. Speculators often bought old war bonds at

10 cents on the dollar and later sold them at full values, making huge profits.

• A speculator buys a bond worth $50.00. At 10 cents per dollar, how much did he pay for the bond? What was his profit?

• If he bought 100 bonds what would his profit be?

Speculators profits1. How much did he pay

* $50.00 x .10 =?

= $5.00

2. What was his profit?• $50.00-$5.00 =

= $45.00

3. If he bought 100 bonds what would his profit be?• $45.00 x 100 =

=4,500.00

8.2 Early Challenges Objectives

How did the federal government assert its power in the West?

Why did the United States try to stay out of European conflicts?

Neutrality not choosing a side The United States tried to maintain its

neutrality in the conflict between France and Britain.

Impressment Forcing people into military service During Great Britain’s war with France,

Great Britain used a policy of Impressment with American sailors.

“Do Now” In your notes, write down and answer

the following questions. How did the federal government assert its

power in the West? How did the United States try to stay out of

European conflicts

How did the federal government assert its power over the west?

In the Battle of Fallen Timbers, Washington sent an army into Northwest territory

Army lead by Anthony Wayne defeated Shawnee Chief Blue jacket and his army. Defeat crushed the Native Americans hopes of

keeping their land Treaty of Greenville 1795

Native Americans agreed to surrender most of the land in present-day Ohio

How did the United States try to stay out of European conflicts?

Washington issued the Proclamation of Neutrality Prohibited American citizens from fighting

in the French and British War Barred French and British warships from

American ports

How did the United States try to stay out of European conflicts?

• Washington sent John Jay (U.S. Chief Justice) to England to negotiate a peaceful settlement to end British Impressment of U.S. sailors

• Jay’s Treaty– Britain agreed to withdraw from American soil– Britain had to pay damage for ships they seized– American ships allowed to trade with British colonies in

Caribbean– Settled all debts from before 1776

• People not happy with Treaty– Treaty did not deal with the British policy of Impressment

Washington’s Farewell Address

• Warned future leaders against…– Political Parties– Permanent Alliances

• Federalist• Alexander Hamilton

– Rule by wealthy class

– Strong federal gov’t– British Alliance– National Bank– Protective tariffs

Political Parties

• Democratic-Republican• Thomas Jefferson

– Rule by the people– Strong state gov’t– French Alliance– State Bank– Free Trade

Partisan To favor one side of an issue

Unconstitutional When something is unconstitutional it is

inconsistent with the Constitution. In other words the Constitution does not

allow it.

Implied Powers Powers that were note expressly forbidden in

the Constitution Hamilton

Believed implied powers are powers that are to be used to help government carry out the expressed powers.

Thomas Jefferson & James Madison Believed implied powers are powers that are to be

used only when they are absolutely necessary to carry out the expressed powers

Caucus

Alien Immigrants living in the country who

were not citizens. 1790’s many Europeans came to U.S.

Alien acts Made it difficult for aliens (immigrants) to

become citizens Gave the President the power to throw anyone

he wanted out of the United States

Sedition Activities that are aimed at weakening

established government. Sedition act

Made it a crime to criticize the government

Alien and Sedition Acts 1798 U.S. congress passed laws to

protect the nation;s security. Laws came to be known as the Alien

and Sedition Acts.

Alien and Sedition Acts Naturalization Act - required immigrants to be

residents of the U.S. for 14 years to be eligible for Citizenship.

Alien Acts - Allowed the president to imprison immigrants, or send those he considered dangerous out of the country.

Sedition Act - Made it a crime to speak, write, or publish “false, scandalous, and malicious” criticisms of the gov’t.

Led to the movement to allow states the power to overturn Federal Laws.

Nullify To legally overturn The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

Claimed that the Alien and Sedition acts were unconstitutional

Kentucky Resolution Gave states the power to nullify federal laws if

they were considered unconstitutional

States’ Rights The principle that limits the federal

government to those powers clearly assigned to it by the Constitution and reserving to the states all other powers not expressly forbidden to them.

Keep an eye out for the issue of States’ Rights as you read the next few Chapters.