Launching A New Nation Pages 282 301 Section

Launching A New Nation! Pages 282 - 301

Section 1 – Washington Takes Office • How did President Washington set the course for the new nation? • How do modern-day President’s inaugurations differ from Washington’s? • What were the new executive departments? • Why was there such a large public/government debt? • How do compromises play an early role in the creation of our nation? • What was the cause of the Whiskey Rebellion?

The First President! • George Washington become our first President in April 1789. • Washington travels for eight days from his home in Virginia to New York City. • Washington’s inauguration is held on the steps of Federal Hall in New York City. • An inauguration is a ceremony in which the President takes the oath of office.

Washington’s Precedents • At his inauguration, Washington sets his first precedent by saying, “so help me god, ” at the end of his oath of office. • A precedent is an example to be followed by other in the future. George Washington set many precedents as the first President. • Washington would go on to set more precedents during his reign as president. Some would fade, but many would be very significant.

Executive Branch • To help advise the president Congress issued three new executive departments. • These departments were not created in the Constitution, but Congress felt they were necessary to assist the president. • Congress set up three departments for the executive branch: Treasury, State, and War.

The Cabinet! • These three new departments became known as the Cabinet. • The Cabinet members are nominated by the President. Their job is to advise the President in specific areas. • The first Cabinet positions were: – Secretary of Treasury (Alexander Hamilton) – Secretary of State (Thomas Jefferson) – Secretary of War (Henry Knox) – Attorney General (Edmund Randolph).

Responsibilities/Assignments of the Cabinet positions • The Cabinet members have specific responsibilities or assignments to focus on for the president. • Secretary of Treasury: Responsible for economic affairs • Secretary of State – Manage relations with foreign countries • Secretary of War – Oversee military activities • Attorney General – Advise the President on legal matters

Congress expands the Federal Government • Another major move Congress took to expand the Federal Government was the Judiciary Act of 1789. • The Judiciary Act of 1789 provided for a Supreme Court of 6 justices, and established the nation’s court system. • Since the Judiciary Act of 1789, we have added more justices to the Supreme Court. • The President has the power to expand the Supreme Court by adding new justices.

Economic Crisis • The major focus for the Federal government was the national debt. • The nation was deeply in debt, due to the money it borrowed during the American Revolution. • The United States had to borrow money from countries like France and Spain to purchase weapons, supplies and other materials. • Whenever a person or government borrows money they are required to pay it back. (DEBT)

How do government borrow money? • Government’s borrow money just like individuals borrow money to purchase a new car or house. • Instead of calling this process a loan, it is called a bond. • The government issues bonds and banks, organizations, people and countries purchase these bonds. • A bond is a certificate issued by a government for an amount of money that the government promises to pay back with interest.

Alexander Hamilton’s Plan • Alexander Hamilton was in charge of organizing a plan to pay off all the bonds the United States government issued. • His plan consisted of three-parts: – 1. The Federal Government would fully pay all the federal and state debts. – 2. The Federal Government would charter a National Bank for depositing government funds. – 3. The Federal Government would impose a high tax on goods imported into the country.

Need for Compromise! • The South was upset with Hamilton’s plan. • Majority of the southern states already made good on their debt. (They had paid off all of their debt) • They felt each state should be responsible for the debt they took on during the war. • Hamilton’s plan called for the nation to unite and pay off this debt together! • In order to come to an agreement a compromise was reached. • The South agreed to have the Federal Government repay the wartime debt in exchange for the nation’s capital to be built in the South.

National Bank • The second portion of Hamilton’s plan also caused an uproar. • Hamilton’s plan called for the creation of a privately owned bank of the United States. It would provide a safe place to deposit government funds. • The bank would be able to issue paper money that would serve as a national currency. • Many people felt creating a bank for the federal government was unconstitutional! • Unconstitutional is an action that is not permitted by the Constitution.

The Whiskey Rebellion! • The third step of Hamilton’s plan nearly created another Shays’ Rebellion! • Hamilton’s third step was impose a high tax on goods imported into the country. • However, tax would only focus on cities near the Atlantic Ocean. • So, Congress came up with an additional tax. They focused on taxing individuals living in the back country. • Congress imposed a tax on all whiskey in hopes this tax would raise funds for the Treasury.

Whiskey Rebellion! • Farmers were outraged by this new tax! • Farmers compared the whiskey tax to the hated taxes that Britain had imposed on the Colonies before the American Revolution. • Many farmers organized protests and refused to pay the tax. • The farmers rebelled when officials in Western Pennsylvania tried to collect the whiskey tax. • They formed militias and started acting local courts and tax collectors. (Very similar to Shays’ Rebellion) • The Federal Government took action. Washington assembled a militia and led 13, 000 troops to western Pennsylvania to put down the rebellion. • The Western Pennsylvanian Farmers fled without a fight. The federal government pardoned all the leaders that were captured.

What was the government’s reaction to the Whiskey Rebellion? • Washington responded to the Whiskey Rebellion by sending the militia to Pennsylvania • When the rebels heard that 13, 000 troops were marching against them, they soon fled • Washington later pardoned the leaders of the Whiskey Rebellion

Section 2 – The Birth of Political Parties • How did two political parties emerge? • Why did many of the nation’s leaders dislike political parties? • How did Federalists and Republicans differ? • Which party won the presidency in 1796?

Factions • A faction was an organized political group. • Many of the nation’s leaders dislike political parties. • They saw factions as selfish groups that would be unconcerned with the well-being of the whole nation.

Republican Party of the 1700’s • Republicans felt that people should have political power. • Favored strong state government. • Emphasized agriculture. • Favored strict interpretation of Constitution. • Were Pro-French. • Opposed National Bank. • Opposed protective tariff.

Federalists Party • Federalists felt that the wealthy and educated should lead. • Favored strong central government. • Emphasized manufacturing, shipping, and trade. • Favored loose interpretation of Constitution. • Were Pro-British. • Favored National Bank. • Favored protective tariff.

Political Party Leaders • The leader of the Republican party was Thomas Jefferson. • The leader of the Federalists party was Alexander Hamilton.

Precedent • A precedent is an example to be followed by others in the future. (Type of Tradition. ) • In 1796, George Washington most significant precedent was his decision not to seek a third term. • This precedent was not broken until 1940. • This precedent was broken during the Great Depression in the United States and the beginning of World War II. The President who served a third term and then a fourth was Franklin D. Roosevelt.

1796’s Presidential Election • 1796, the President and Vice President were not elected together. • Instead, the candidate with the most votes became President and the second-place candidate became Vice President. • In 1796, John Adams became our second president. • His vice president was Thomas Jefferson. • John Adams was the Federalists nominee, so the Federalists remained in control of the presidency. • (George Washington was considered a Federalist. )

Section 2 – The Birth of Political Parties • How did two political parties emerge? • Why did many of the nation’s leaders dislike political parties? • How did Federalists and Republicans differ? • Which party won the presidency in 1796?

Section III – Troubles at Home and Abroad • How did the actions of Britain and France affect the United States? • How were the conflicting claims of settlers and Native Americans resolved? • What were Washington’s chief accomplishments?

Conflicts with Native Americans • The United States federal government tried to force Native Americans in the Northwest Territory to sell their lands. • In the 1790’s the Northwest Territory became a major issue. Native Americans were attacking settlers who were moving into Native American territories. • The United States government responded by sending in military forces to establish their claim to the land.

Winning the Northwest Territory • After suffering earlier setbacks the United States military forces were able to defeat the Native Americans at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. • This battle led to the Treaty of Greenville, where Native American nations gave up most of their lands in the Northwest Territory.

Foreign Affairs • In 1796, when war broke out between France and Britain the United States chose to remain neutral – NOT favoring either side in the dispute. • The United States wanted to trade with both sides. • However, each European country feared such trade would benefit the other. • Both countries began stopping American ships and seizing their cargoes.

Impressments • The action of impressments was used by the British. • The British were seizing the sailors and forcing them to serve in the British navy. • As United States’ trading ships sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, British navy ships would stop them and take their sailors.

Jay Treaty • Washington sent John Jay to Britain to solve the issues of trade and impressments. • Jay returned with a treaty in 1795. • In the treaty, the United States agreed to pay debts owed to British merchants. • In return, Britain agreed to pay for the ships it had seized. • Britain also agreed to withdraw troops from the Northwest Territory and stop aiding Native Americans.

Reactions to the Jay Treaty • The Jay Treaty was designed to heal relations with Britain. • The treaty mainly focused on settling disputes of trade. However, the treaty did secure the Northwest Territory for the United States. • The Republicans were upset over the Jay Treaty (treaty with Britain in 1795). • While the Federalists welcomed the treaty, because it kept peace with Britain.

Washington Farewell Address • In 1796, President Washington published his farewell address to the American people. • First, Washington warned against political divisions in the United States. • The second point of Washington’s Farewell Address was to stay out of affairs in Europe.

Washington’s Presidency • Washington’s most significant accomplishments as President were: – The United States now had a functioning federal government. – The economy was improving. – Washington had avoided war. – The British had been forced to leave their forts in the Northwest Territory.

Section III – Troubles at Home and Abroad • How did the actions of Britain and France affect the United States? • How were the conflicting claims of settlers and Native Americans resolved? • What were Washington’s chief accomplishments?

Section IV – The Presidency of John Adams • How did problems with France intensify the split between the Federalists and Republicans? • How did Adams settle differences with France? • What did the Alien and Sedition acts do? • Why did the issue of states’ rights arise at this time?

Conflicts with France • The French were angered by United States neutrality in the war between France and Britain. • France had hoped for the United States support, because the French helped the Americans during the American Revolution.

X, Y, Z Affair • In response to the French seizing American merchant ships, John Adams sent individuals to come up with an agreement with the French government. • President John Adams sent individuals to come up with an agreement with the French government. • The X, Y, Z affair was when agents of the French government demanded that the United States pay a bribe of $250, 000.

Expanding the Executive Branch • John Adams convinced Congress to increase the size of the army and rebuild the navy. • Adams also convinced Congress to establish a separate executive department for the navy, which expanded the Presidential Cabinet.

Alien Act • The act directed at immigrants was the Alien Act. • The Alien Act increased the duration from 5 to 14 years that a person had to live in the United States to become a citizen.

Sedition Act • Sedition is an action/plan designed to overthrow a government. • The Sedition Act was the harshest law limiting free speech. • The Sedition Act made it a crime for anyone to write or say anything insulting or false about the President, Congress or the government.

Reaction to Sedition Act • The Republicans disagreed with the Sedition Act, because they felt the act violated the Constitution, especially the First Amendment, which guarantees freedoms of speech.

Resolutions • Virginia’s and Kentucky’s resolutions stated that the Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional. • They declared that states had the right to declare laws passed by Congress to be unconstitutional.

States’ Rights • When a state declares it will nullify a law passed by Congress, the state means it will NOT enforce the specific law. • The idea of states’ rights was the idea that the union binding “these United States” is an agreement between the states and that they therefore can overrule federal law.

Section IV – The Presidency of John Adams • How did problems with France intensify the split between the Federalists and Republicans? • How did Adams settle differences with France? • What did the Alien and Sedition acts do? • Why did the issue of states’ rights arise at this time?