FIRST FIVE PRESIDENTS George Washington Domestic Policies Creation

FIRST FIVE PRESIDENTS

George Washington

Domestic Policies � Creation of the Cabinet to help make decisions. � Suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion

Whiskey Rebellion � Congress imposed a tax on the manufacture of Whiskey (1791) � Enraged Western farmers � Whiskey was used as a medium of exchange � 1794 – A rebellion erupted � Western Pennsylvania farmers terrorized tax collectors, stopped court proceedings, robbed the mail, destroyed whiskey-making stills � Establish the authority of the federal government � Sent 15, 000 troops to crush the Whiskey Rebellion. � Huge army caused rebels to disperse without a fight.

Foreign Policies � French Revolution erupted in 1789 �Federalists – opposed the French �Democratic-Republicans – supported the French � Jay’s Treaty � Pinckney’s Treaty

Jay’s Treaty � British navy began intercepting all neutral ships carrying goods to French. � Did not want to fight Britain/U. S. � Jay’s Treaty: �Britain had the right to seize cargoes bound for French ports �Issue submitted to international arbitration �U. S. : Most-favored nation status (merchants not discriminated against)

Pinckney’s Treaty � Negotiations with Spain (still controlled Florida, and West of the Mississippi) � AKA Treaty of San Lorenzo � Granted the United States the right to navigate the Mississippi and to deposit goods at the port of New Orleans. � **CONTROL OF THE MISSISSIPPI**

Washington’s Farewell Address � Warned against: Sectionalism – to avoid dividing the country into North against South or East against West. � Warned against: Political Parties � Warned against: Foreign Relations

John Adams

Domestic Policies � Alien and Sedition Acts � Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions

Alien & Sedition Acts � Aliens – people living in the country who were not citizens �Many recent immigrants were from France (anti- British) would vote for Democratic-Republicans. Made immigrants wait 14 years before becoming citizens (to weaken Republican support) � Gave the president power to deport any alien deemed dangerous to the U. S. � Sedition – incitement to rebellion. � �Federal crime to utter or print anything “false, scandalous” against the government.

Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions � The idea that since states had created the Constitution, they could declare federal laws unconstitutional � Interposition – stop the illegal action by the federal government. � Nullification – the states could nullify (declare invalid) any federal law � Secretly written by Jefferson and Madison (against Alien & Sedition Acts)

Foreign Policy � XYZ Affair � Quasi-War: France had begun stopping American ships and seizing their goods if they were going to Britain � Undeclared war at sea: suspended trade with France and directed navy to capture armed French ships.

XYZ Affair � Neutrality toward conflict in Europe � French navy was seizing American ships at sea. � French diplomats (identified as X, Y, Z) demanded bribes for their assistance in stopping the French government.

Election of 1800

Turning Point � Federalists had controlled the army, presidency, and Congress � Power could be peacefully transferred between parties. � Adams (Federalist) Jefferson (Democratic-Republican)

Thomas Jefferson

Domestic Policies � Marbury v. Madison � Louisiana Purchase � Lewis and Clark Expedition

Louisiana Purchase � The U. S. bought Louisiana from France for $11. 25 million. � U. S. more than doubled in size � Gained control of entire Mississippi

Lewis and Clark Expedition � Secret expedition to find a route to the Pacific Ocean � Chose: Meriweather Lewis (private secretary) and William Clark to lead the expedition

Foreign Policies � Concerned with keeping the U. S. out of the war between Britain and France � Napoleon had crowned himself Emperor of France � Impressment of American sailors and cargo ships delivering goods to France.

James Madison

Domestic Policies � Native Americans in the Great Lake regions were persuaded by leader (Tecumseh) to fight the settlers.

Foreign Policies � War sea of 1812 – defending U. S. rights at

James Monroe

Domestic Policies � “Era of Good Feelings” - harmony in national politics – The Republicans � Sectional disputes – �Slavery: Missouri Compromise �Party Politics – Democratic-Republican party split � Mc. Culloch v. Maryland � Gibbons v. Ogden

Foreign Policies � Monroe Doctrine – �Western Hemisphere was closed to any further colonization by a European power �U. S. would firmly oppose attempts by a European power to intervene in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere �The U. S. would not involve itself politically in the affairs of Europe �Isolationist/Neutral Sentiment