Chapter 10 Launching the New Ship of State

Chapter 10 Launching the New Ship of State, 1789– 1800

I. Growing Pains • U. S. population doubled every twenty-five years – America’s population was still 90% rural • All but 5% lived east of the Appalachian Mountains • Population concerns – Western people were dubiously loyal – The mouth of the Mississippi lay in Spanish hands

II. Washington for President • Washington unanimously elected in 1789 – Washington establishing the first cabinet • Secretary of State—Thomas Jefferson • Secretary of the Treasury—Alexander Hamilton • Secretary of War—Henry Knox

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III. The Bill of Rights • First job of the new government – Bill of Rights, 10 adopted amendments (1791) • The Judiciary Act of 1789 – Organized the Supreme & federal court system

U. S Bill of Rights (Proposed 1789, ratified 1791) (12 amendments proposed, 10 approved)

James Madison –”Father of the Constitution” (And main author of the Bill of Rights)

IV. Hamilton Revives the Corpse of Public Credit • Fiscal policies of administration favored wealthy – Wanted to make USA a good financial investment • Funding at par accepted by Congress ($54 m) • Urged Congress towards Assumption ($21. 5 m) – Feds would assume debts of states • Shift wealthy creditors loyalty from the states to fed

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V. Customs Duties and Excise Taxes • The national debt was $75 million • Money to come from tariffs (customs duties) – The first tariff law imposed 8% (1789) • Hamilton sought additional internal revenue – An excise tax on a few items, notably whiskey

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VII. Mutinous Moonshiners in Pennsylvania • The Whiskey Rebellion – Flared up in southwestern Pennsylvania – Big challenge for the new national government – Washington summoned the militias – Troops put down western Pennsylvania insurrection

VIII. The Emergence of Political Parties • Hamilton’s ideas cause an organized opposition • Founders had not envisioned political parties • U. S developed a two-party system – Democratic-Republicans (Jefferson) – Federalists (Hamilton) • Political competition key to a sound democracy – The party out of power is ‘the loyal opposition’

IX. The Impact of the French Revolution • French Revolution (1789 -1815) – U. S. excited that democracy was spreading – U. S. worried about the Reign of Terror

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X. Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation • U. S signed mutual aid treaty with France (1778) • Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation (1794) – Started isolationist tradition – Upset Jeffersonians (Democratic-Republicans) – Made Federalist happy

XI. Embroilments with Britain • GB had trading / military posts on U. S. soil – British fur trade – Armed/supported an Indian buffer state • Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794) – General “Mad Anthony” Wayne routed the Miamis – Led to Treaty of Greenville, (1795) • British Impressment of American sailors – Incensed patriotic Americans

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XII. Jay’s Treaty and Washington’s Farewell • Jay’s Treaty with Britain (1794) – British concessions to U. S. were minimal • Pinckney’s Treaty with Spain (1795) – Granted the Americans everything • Navigation of Mississippi, land in western Florida • Washington decided to retire – Establishing a two-term tradition for U. S. presidents – His Farewell Address to the nation in 1796 • Advised the avoidance of “permanent alliances”

XIII. John Adams Becomes President • Federalists supported John Adams • Dem-Rep wanted Thomas Jefferson • Election of 1796 Results – Adams wins electoral vote 71 to 68 – Adams wins popular vote 35, 726 to 32, 115 – Jefferson, as runner up, became vice-president • 12 th Amendment would change this – President & VP would run as a team

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XIV. Unofficial Fighting with France • The French were infuriated by Jay’s Treaty – French warships began to seize American ships • Adams attempted an agreement w/ the French – Negotiations failed b/c of the XYZ Affair • Fighting mostly in West Indies (1798 -1800) – Mostly attacks on merchant vessels

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XV. Adams Puts Patriotism Above Party • The Convention of 1800 – Ended French 1778 treaty (Federalist unhappy) – Agreed to pay damage claims of American shippers – Adams deserves credit for belated push for peace • Preparation of peaceful purchase of Louisiana in 3 years

XVI. The Federalist Witch Hunt • Federalists try to muffle the Jeffersonian foes – First, aimed at pro-Jeffersonian “aliens” • Raised citizenship requirement from 5 years to 14 – Second, Alien Laws • Non-citizens could be deported for cause (never enforced) – Third, Sedition Act • Law limited speech and press

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XVII. The Virginia (Madison) and Kentucky (Jefferson) Resolutions • The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions – Promoted extreme states’ rights view of the union • Both stressed the compacts theory – The states contracted to create a federal gov’t

XVIII. Federalists Versus Democratic-Republicans • The presidential contest of 1800 – Federalists vs Democratic-Republicans – Conflicts over domestic politics – Conflicts over foreign policy • Undermined the unity of the Revolutionary era

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