launching the new government george washington took the oath of office as president on april 30,...
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Launching the New GovernmentGeorge Washington took the oath of office as
President on April 30, 1789.A debate began on what to call the head of
the new government.Washington insisted he only be called Mr.
President.Congress approved three departments:
Department of State, Department of War, and a Treasury Department.
Washington as PresidentThe national
treasury was empty.Congress placed an
excise tax on whiskey and other “luxury” goods.
Excise tax: tax on the production or sale of a product.
Washington as PresidentSettlers living west of the Appalachian
Mountains began protesting the excise tax. Congress lowered the excise tax in 1793;
most farmers began paying the tax.Tax rebels of western Pennsylvania tarred
and feathered tax collectors.At the urging of Alexander Hamilton,
Washington led 13,000 state militia troops to crush the rebels.
French RevolutionIn 1789, the French people rebelled against
their king.Many Americans were thrilled with the
revolution, especially Thomas Jefferson and his followers (Democratic-Republicans).
France’s revolutionary governments began lopping off the heads of wealthy nobles.
Hamilton and his followers (Federalists) were appalled by the bloodshed.
Washington’s Farewell AddressWashington ran for a second term of office in
1792.Washington warned of two threats to the
nation’s future……problems with other countries…and “the spirit of party.”Washington argued that fighting between
political parties would tear the young nation apart.
Three states added during Washington’s presidency: Kentucky, Tennessee, and Vermont.
Alexander Hamilton and the Federalist PartyBorn in the West Indies;
sent to New York as a teen to get an education
Became George Washington’s personal assistant during the Revolutionary War.
Married Elizabeth Schuyler; was elected to represent New York in Congress thanks to his wife’s family.
Alexander Hamilton and the Federalist PartyHamilton had all too often seen people put
their own interests and personal profit above patriotism and the needs of the country.
Hamilton and the Federalists believed people were basically selfish and out for themselves.
Federalists did not trust any form of government that gave too much power to the common people.
Alexander Hamilton and the Federalist PartyFederalists believed that the country should
be run by “the best people”—educated, wealthy, public-spirited men like themselves.
Federalist favored a strong national government.
Federalists believed the rights of states were not nearly as important as national power and unity.
Alexander Hamilton and the FederalistsIn 1790, the nation’s economy was still based
mainly on agriculture. Hamilton wanted to expand the economy and increase the nation’s wealth by using the power of the federal government to promote business, manufacturing, and trade.
Congress had to pay off all war debts as quickly as possible.
Hamilton compromised with southern states by having the capital city (Washington D.C.) placed in the south in exchange for support to his plan.
Alexander Hamilton and the FederalistsHamilton also wished to create a national bank.The national bank would help collect taxes, keep
funds safe, print paper money, and make loans to business-people to build new factories and ships.
Does the Constitution provide Congress the power to establish a bank?
Hamilton pointed out that the “elastic clause” allowed Congress to “make all laws which shall be necessary and proper.”
Hamilton had his bank approved and the Bank of the United States established.
Alexander Hamilton and the FederalistsMost Federalists supported Britain when a
war broke out between Britain and France in 1793.
Some Federalists were merchants and sippers hose business depended on trade with Britain.
Hamilton supported Britain because he wished the United States would one day be what Britain had become: a powerful and respected nation that could defend itself against any enemy.
Thomas Jefferson and the Republican PartyDisagreed with the
Federalists on nearly everything.
Born in Virginia; Entered college at age 16.
Became a tobacco planter.
Entered Virginia politics after establishing himself as a planter.
Thomas Jefferson and the Republican PartyAssumed that informed citizens could make
good decisions for themselves and their country.
Jefferson had greatly respected farmers and planters.
“State a problem to a ploughman and a professor and the former will decide it often better than the latter.”
Thomas Jefferson and the Republican PartyRepublicans favored democracy over any other
form of government.Believed that Federalist ideas about government
came close to monarchy.The best government was the one that governed
least.Insisted on strict interpretation of the Constitution.Any powers added to the Constitution were
unconstitutional and dangerous.Favored strong state governments because state
governments were closer to the people.
Thomas Jefferson and the Republican PartyFavored an economy based on agriculture.Opposed any measure to encourage the
growth of business and manufacturing.Republicans supported France arguing that
few thousand noble heads was a small price to pay for freedom.
Edmond Genet was sent to the United States by France as a representative.
Eventually Genet was sent back to France.
The Presidency of John AdamsJohn Adams was
elected President in 1796 by three electoral votes.
Adams was a Federalist; Thomas Jefferson became his Vice President.
The Presidency of John AdamsFederalists in Congress
passed four controversial laws known as the Alien and Sedition Acts.
Alien Acts: lengthened the time it took for an immigrant to become a citizen with the right to vote from 5 to 14 years, and allowed the president to either jail or deport aliens who were suspected of causing trouble.
Alien: people who come from other countries and are not yet citizens.
Sedition Act: made sedition a crime.
Sedition: the crime of encouraging rebellion against the government.
The law included printing, writing, or speaking in a scandalous or malicious way against the government, Congress, or the President.
The Sedition Act was used to punish Republican newspaper editors.
Twenty-five people were arrested; ten convicted of printing seditious opinions.
The Presidency of John AdamsRepublicans viewed the Sedition Act as an attack on
the rights of free speech and free press.Jefferson and James Madison drew up a set of
resolutions opposing the Alien and Sedition Acts and sent them to state legislatures.
States should nullify the laws.Only Kentucky and Virginia adopted the resolution
based on states’ rights.States’ rights: all rights kept by the states under the
Constitution. Supporters of states’ rights sometimes argued that states were not obliged to honor federal laws that they believed violated the Constitution.
Virginia and Kentucky ResolutionsStates’ Rights theory: The states created
the Constitution, and in doing so gave up certain rights. Rights not specifically given to the federal government remained with the states. One of the most important is the right to judge whether the federal government is using it power properly.
New National CapitalThe federal
government moved to the city of Washington in the District of Columbia in the fall of 1800.
Abigail Adams described the new “President’s House” as a “castle” in which “not one room or chamber is finished.”
Election of 1800Federalist: John Adams and Charles Pickney
Republicans: Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr
Many Federalists would have supported Alexander Hamilton rather than John Adams.
Why was Alexander Hamilton unable to run for President?
Deadlock and New AmendmentJohn Adams clearly lost the election, but to
whom?Because each Republican elector voted for
Jefferson and Burr, they tied.The election was sent to the House, where it
also tied.After 6 days and 35 ballots, Federalist
Alexander Hamilton broke the tie and supported Thomas Jefferson.
The Twelfth Amendment was added in 1804.