Chapter 9, Section 2

Challenges to the New Government

Trouble brewed in the Trans-Appalachian West- the land between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River.

Conflict arose between competition for land claims.

The 1783 Treaty of Paris tried to address this issue, but years later Spain, Britain, the Netherlands, U.S., and the Native Americans all laid claims to parts of the territory.

Problems at Home

Strongest resistance to white settlement came form the Native Americans in the Northwest Territory.

Tribes in this area hope to unit and form an independent nation.

The British who still occupied forts in the area, continued to aid and support the Natives.

Problems at Home cont…

On August 20, 1794, a force of about 2,000 Natives were defeated by American forces.

The Battlefield was covered with trees that had been struck down in a storm. The defeat would be named Battle of Fallen Timbers.

12 Native tribes would sign the Treaty Of Greenville, agreeing to cede much of present day Ohio and well as numerous ports and outposts in Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana.

Native Americans are Defeated

Congress levied a tax on the manufacturing of whiskey.

The tax hit small, backcountry farmers the hardest.

When the whiskey tax was passed, outraged farmers from Pennsylvania to Georgia resisted.

Trouble in the Backcountry

Summer of 1794, a group of Pennsylvanian farmers staged the Whiskey Rebellion.

Attacked and burned the home of the regional tax collector.

Pres. Washington ordered 13,000 federal troops to put down the revolt.

Pres. Washington proved that the new federal government would act quickly in a time of crisis.

Farmers Revolt

In 1789, a financial crisis led the French people to rebel against their government. French revolutionaries demanded liberty and

equality.

French citizens revolted against King Louis XVI because they were forced to pay heavy taxes, while the nobles paid none.

French citizens wanted to limit the power of the king and to be guaranteed personal freedoms.

Problem Abroad- Troubles in France

At first, most Americans supported the French Revolution because France had supported the colonists during the American Revolution.

During the 1790’s, a radical group gained control of France and the Revolution became very violent.

King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette were beheaded.

During this “Reign of Terror”, tens of thousands of French citizens were executed.

The French Revolution

Some Americans- including Thomas Jefferson- continued to support the French.

Others Americans- Alexander Hamilton & John Adams- disagreed.

In April 1793, Washington declared that the U.S. would remain neutral. Congress passed a law

forbidding the U.S. to help either Britain or France.

France and Britain at War

Britain made it hard for the U.S. to remain neutral.

The British began seizing American cargo ships carrying goods from the French West Indies.

Chief Justice John Jay went to England to discuss the seizing of American ships.

Neutrality

Britain agreed to pay for damages for seized American ships.

America agreed to pay debts to Britain that were owed from before the Revolution.

Britain agreed to give up forts in the Ohio Valley.

Treaty did nothing to protect American trading ships.

Jay’s Treaty

U.S. diplomat Thomas Pinckney helped reduce tensions along the frontier boarders.

In 1795, he negotiated and signed a peace treaty with Spain.Americans had the right to travel

freely on the Mississippi River.U.S. goods could be stored at the

port of New Orleans free of custom duties.

Spain accepted the 31st parallel as the northern boundary of Florida and the southern boundary of the U.S.

Pinckney’s Treaty