The Federalist Era

Section 1: Establishing the New Government April 30, 1789 – Washington becomes Pres. Electoral votes – top vote was Pres. and next largest Vice Pres. which was John Adams Problems – no navy; small army; Indians attacking frontier; pirates harming trade; had war debt Washington – started cabinet

Election of 1789

Judiciary Act of 1789 Created office of attorney general Supreme Court – 1 chief justice and 5 associate justices (today total of 9) Set up lower federal courts which are the circuit and district John Jay – 1 st chief justice

National debt – money a govt. owes Alexander Hamilton – aide to Washington; delegate to Continental Congress; secretary of treasury; wanted debt paid by fed. Govt. Southerners led by Jefferson had already paid their debt; didn’t want to pay again D.C. – became capital in exchange for south helping to pay war debt

National Bank Handled federal money Collected taxes Issued paper money Loans to help growth of businesses Many opposed national bank

Excise tax – taxes on goods made, sold, and used within country Tariffs – taxes on certain manufactured goods imported into country Whiskey Rebellion – farmers angry over tax on whiskey; put down by militia

Section 2: Dealing with Other Nations Britain supported Indian attacks Battle of Fallen Timbers – Wayne defeated 800 Indians; opened Northwest Territory Treaty of Greenville (1795) – Indians surrendered most of land in OH

Spain – controls MS River (gained from French and Indian War) Barbary Coast (north Africa) – pirates from Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli seized American ships; USA had to pay tribute (protection money)

Treaty of Alliance – 1778; America and France were to aid each other in war King Louis XVI Ben Franklin

Neutral – take no sides; Washington wanted this for America Hamilton sides with Washington; Jefferson supported war Proclamation of Neutrality – America trades with France and Britain Britain seized American ships and impressed sailors

Jay Treaty (1794) Jay negotiates with Britain Britain withdrew from NW Territory American ships could trade in West Indies Disputed boundaries between U.S. and Canada settled U.S. would pay private debts Britain didn’t agree to stop seizing ships Treaty barely passed in Senate

Thomas Pinckney (1795) American envoy to Spain American ships allowed to use lower MS River and New Orleans Southern boundary - 31 st parallel and MS River -western boundary

Washington Set standard for future presidents and govt. Retired to Mount Vernon Cautioned to stay clear of permanent alliances with foreign countries Against political parties Warned of rivalry between North and South

Section 3 Political Parties Develop

Federalists Led by Hamilton Rep. wealthy Americans Supported strong national govt. Manufactured goods emphasized Pro Britain Loose construction (interpretation) of Constitution Supported national bank and tariffs

Democratic-Republicans Led by Jefferson and Madison Called Republicans but not same as today Wanted weaker fed. Govt. Represented common people; mostly in South Emphasized agriculture Dim view of cities Supported France Strict construction of Constitution Supported state banks and free trade

Political party – similar ideas and beliefs Hamilton – influenced many of Washington’s decisions; Jefferson resigned as Secretary of State because of views Gazette of the United States – Federalists’ newspaper; praised Washington National Gazette – Dem.-Rep. newspaper; criticized Washington’s administration

Election of 1796 Federalists – John Adams- Pres.and Thomas Pinckney- VP Democrat-Rep. – Jefferson for Pres. and Aaron Burr- VP Caucus – private meeting held to choose candidates Pres. – top vote getter; VP – second highest Put rivals in office; Adams (federalist) as Pres. and Jefferson (Dem.-Rep.) was VP 12 th Amendment in 1804 changes this situation

Section 4: Troubled Times for John Adams Adams – thought VP was insignificant job Adams sends Marshall, Pickney, and Gerry to France to meet with 3 French agents (XYZ) wanted $250,000 and $ 10 million loan to be paid to Talleyrand, French foreign minister for peace “Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute”; U.S. prepares for war

Bonaparte – French leader; fighting with Britain; peace with France in 1800

Aliens – foreigners living in USA Naturalization Act – required 14 instead of 5 years to become US citizen Alien Act – Pres. allowed to deport or imprison foreigners considered dangerous Alien Enemies Act – US govt. could arrest and deport all aliens who were citizens of countries at war with USA

Sedition Act – crime to speak or write critically about Pres, Congress, fed. govt.; goal to silence criticism KY and VA Resolutions of 1798 – Alien & Sedition Acts violated Constitution States’ Rights Theory – each state could determine if fed. govt. went beyond power Federalists viewed only Supreme Court could determine constitutionality; KY and VA disagreed

Election of 1800 Jefferson & Burr versus Adams & Pinckney Jefferson and Burr got same number of votes Tie break went to House of Rep. Hamilton for Jefferson (disliked Burr) After voting 35 times, Jefferson wins

“ Midnight judges” – Adams appointed John Marshall as Chief Justice Pierre Charles L’Enfant – architect of D.C.; located on land given by MD and VA; Adams first to live in White House