New GovernmentDiffering Opinions on governing the New Nation

PRESIDENT WASHINGTON

• George Washington- unanimous choice to be nation’s 1st President• The Constitution had provided a framework for government, but the

creation of the government now fell in Washington’s hands

• “We are in a wilderness without a single footstep to guide us”- James Madison

• Washington and Congress passed Judiciary Act of 1789• Constitution remained “Supreme Law of Land”• Established federal and district courts

PRESIDENTIAL CABINET

• Thomas Jefferson• Chosen by Washington as the

Secretary of the State

• Proponent of weaker federal government, with strong state and local governments

• Distrusted the wealthy

• Alexander Hamilton• Chosen by Washington as the

Secretary of the Treasury

• Believed in strong central government

• Government should be led by educated, upper-class citizens

Political Parties Emerge

• “However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.”

- George Washington• Do you agree with Washington?

2 POLITICAL PARTIES

• Due to the differing viewpoints on Washington’s Cabinet, a two-party political system emerged

• Federalists (Alexander Hamilton) favored strong central government

• Democratic-Republicans (Thomas Jefferson) favored strong state and local governments

• Example: Southern Colonies

Election of 1796

• Washington: leery of political division, did not seek 3rd term• Federalist Candidate: Vice President John Adams• Democratic-Republican Candidate: Thomas Jefferson

• Constitution- stated that loser of Presidential Campaign becomes V.P• Adams wins election by 3 votes; Jefferson must be V.P according to Const.• Problems?

Tensions With France

• 1789- French Revolution occurs• Overthrow of King Louis XVI sparks French attempt at Republicanism (FAIL)

• November 1794- John Jay (Supreme Court Chief Justice) negotiated treaty with Great Britain over Northwest Territory• British agreed to evacuate trading posts in NW (were fighting France at time)• Allowed British to continue fur trading on American side of border w/ CA

• Problem: France regarded Jay’s Treaty as violation of US-French alliance• France began to seize U.S ships bound for England

XYZ AFFAIR

• Adams: Sends 3 men to Paris to negotiate with French Foreign Minister Talleyrand• France: sends 3 low-level gov. officials• Demands $250K to see Talleyrand

• Congress has power to declare war• Est’d Navy in 1798; seized French ships for 2 years

• Federalists called for war with France; Adams refused

ALIEN AND SEDITION ACTS

• Alien Acts• Increased Residence

Requirements for Citizenship from 5 years to 14 years• Allowed President to deport/jail

any alien considered “undesirable”

• Many immigrants supported the Democratic-Republican party

• Sedition Act• Imposed fines and jail terms for

individuals attempting to defame government• Any “false, scandalous, and

malicious statements” about government were punishable

• Democratic-Republicans dubbed these acts a violation of 1st Amendment rights

Democratic-Republican Response

• Led by Jefferson and Madison; Dem-Rep’s sought appeal at the state level• Saw Alien and Sedition Acts as abuse of power on behalf of Fed Gov

• Jefferson: proposed legislation approved in Kentucky• Madison: proposed legislation approved in Virginia• Kentucky Resolution: claimed states had right to nullify (consider void)

Congressional acts that the states determined to be unconstitutional• Problem: Constitution is “supreme law of the land.”

• Today: any state laws that oppose federal laws?