Chapter 2, Section 4:

Launching the New Nation With George Washington the first president, the

United States begins creating a working

government for its new nation.

CA Social Science Content Standards: 11.1.3

Opening Activity:

In a paragraph discuss

how you would handle

disputes with friends. How

would you handle disputes

with strangers? How do

you think the United States

should handle disputes

with other countries today?

Taking Notes

Define the following terms:

Judiciary Act of 1789 two-party system XYZ Affair

Alexander Hamilton Democratic-Republican Alien & Sedition Acts

cabinet protective tariff nullification

Federalists Democratic-Republicans

Directions:

In the chart below, list the leaders, beliefs, and goals of the country’s first

political parties.

I. Washington Heads the New Government

A. Judiciary Act of 1789

-Judiciary Act of 1789

federal courts are

superior to state courts.

B. Washington Shapes the Executive Branch

-Congress creates three executive department to help president

govern.

-Thomas Jefferson heads Department of State, foreign affairs.

-Henry Knox heads Department of War, military

matters.

-Alexander Hamilton heads Department of

Treasury, finances.

-Cabinet—these department heads become

president’s chief advisors.

C. Hamilton and Jefferson: Two Conflicting Visions

-Jefferson favors weak central government and farming economy.

-Hamilton favors strong central government and commercial

economy.

D. Hamilton’s Economic Plan

-Hamilton wants to pay off national debts from the Revolution.

-He also wants a national bank to print money, handle taxes.

-James Madison and others say government lacks power to create bank.

-Hamilton favors loose, Madison strict interpretation of Constitution.

James Madison

E. The First Political Parties

-Two-party system—two political groups within the government.

-Federalists favor Hamilton, want strong central government.

-Democratic-Republicans favor Jefferson, want strong state

governments.

F. The Whiskey Rebellion

-Protective tariff—import tax to encourage American production.

-An excise tax on whiskey angered whisky producers.

-Pennsylvania producers attacked tax collectors; federal militia

responds with 13,000 men—known as Whiskey Rebellion—first

use of armed force to assert federal authority.

II. Challenges at Home and Abroad

A. Addressing Foreign Affairs

-French monarchy overthrown (1789); France at war with Britain (1793).

-Federalists support Britain, Democratic-Republicans support France.

-Washington keeps country neutral warns against alliances.

-Pinckney’s Treaty aka Treaty of San Lorenzo (1795)—treaty with Spain which allows American expansion west of the Appalachians.

B. Challenges in the Northwest

-British still maintained forts in territory.

-Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794) U.S. military defeats Native

Americans.

Painting of the 1795 Treaty of Greenville

C. Jay’s Treaty

-British evacuate Northwest Territory posts but continue fur trade—

didn’t want to fight U.S. and the French—Jay’s Treaty (1794).

-Did not settle Caribbean trade dispute—U.S. ships did not have

free passage in Caribbean; treaty barely passes Senate.

III. Adams Provokes Criticism

A. Parties and Sectionalism

-Federalist John Adams becomes president 1796 election.

-Democratic-Republican Jefferson becomes vice-president.

B. Adams Tries to Avoid War

-France seizes U.S. ships bound for Britain to retaliate for U.S.

treaty with Britain.

-XYZ Affair—low-level French officials (Adam’s called X, Y, Z)

demand bribe from Americans to see the French foreign minister.

-Undeclared naval war—U.S. and

France seize each other’s ships;

Federalists want war—Adams

rejects war, smoothes things over

with France.

The five headed monster: Depicting the French Directory “Cinque-tetes, or the Paris Monster, Money, Money, Money!!”

The three men: U.S. representatives: Elbridge Gerry, Charles Pinckney, and John Marshall “Cease bawling, monster! We

will not give you six-pence!”

C. The Alien and Sedition Act

-Federalists curb critics of government, pass Alien and Sedition

Acts:

*Restrict citizenship, free speech; aimed at Democratic-

Republicans.

*Raise residency requirements (from 5 to 14 years), allow

jailing or deportation.

*Allow jailing or fining people expressing anti-government

views.

D. Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

-Jefferson, Madison organize state opposition in Kentucky and

Virginia.

-Nullification—when a state invalidates laws it deems

unconstitutional.

-Nullification dies out with lack of support but was key issue in

1800 presidential election—nullification comes up again in 1832.

Review Questions

1. The nullification theory declared that a __________ had the right to declare a federal law invalid.

2. States’ ___________ promoted the concept of nullification.

3. The ___________ Act of 1789 stated that the federal courts are superior to state courts.

4. The ____________ nearly lead the United States into war with France.

5. The _______________ Acts restricted citizenship and freedom of speech.

6. The Virginia and Kentucky resolutions stated the concept of _______________.

Words:

rights Judiciary Alien and Sedition

XYZ Affair nullification state