9.2 CHALLENGES TO THE NEW GOVERNMENT

VOCABULARY Battle of Fallen Timbers battle between Native Americans and American forces Treaty of Greenville treaty in which 12 Native American tribes ceded control of much of Ohio and Indiana to the U.S. government Whiskey Rebellion protest against the government’s tax on whiskey by backcountry farmers French Revolution- revolution overthrowing the government in France that began in 1787 and ended in violence and mass executions Jay’s Treaty- agreement that ended the dispute with retain over American shipping during the French Revolution Pinckney’s Treaty treaty with Spain allowing U.S. commercial use of the Mississippi River Cede- surrender, or give up Northwest Territory- area bounded by the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and the Great Lakes Neutral- not siding with any other country in dispute

CHALLENGES TO THE NEW GOVERNMENT Before we learned that George Washington faced many challenges during his presidency. Now we will learn that Washington established central authority at home and avoided war abroad.

PROBLEMS AT HOME Key Question: How did two crises reveal the power of the national government? Crisis 1: Competing claims to territory in the Trans-Appalachian West (land between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River). The 1783 Treaty of Paris had tried to resolve these claims, but some years later Spain, Britain, the U.S., and Native Americans all claimed parts of the area. Crisis 2: Whiskey Rebellion protest against the government’s tax on whiskey by backcountry farmers.

CHALLENGES TO THE NEW GOVERNMENT 1. Problem at Home Competing Claims to Territory: Native Americans in the Northwest Territory wanted their own nation and defeated federal troops in battles in 1790 and Solution President Washington sent troops to the Northwest Territory to defend American interests. General Anthony (“Mad Anthony”) Wayne and his troops defeated the Native Americans at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in The natives were upset the British did not help them, but the British did not want war with the U.S. So, twelve Native American tribes signed The Treaty of Greenville (1795). They ceded, or surrendered, much of the land in present-day Ohio and parts of Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana to U.S. government officials.

PROBLEMS AT HOME

CHALLENGES TO THE NEW GOVERNMENT 2. Problem at Home Whiskey Rebellion: In 1794, a group of farmers in western Pennsylvania led an uprising in protest of the whiskey tax. Farmers depended on distilling corn into whiskey since it was more profitable than raw grain, it was used like money to trade for other goods, and was easy to transport across the Appalachians. Some rebels attacked and burned the home of a regional tax collector while others threatened an armed attack on Pittsburgh. Solution Washington sent troops to put down the rebellion and to show that the federal government would enforce the law along the western frontier. Thirteen thousand soldiers marched into western PA to put down the uprising. The rebels scattered, but federal troops caught a group of 20 accused leaders. Two men were charged with treason and sentenced to hang, but Washington pardoned them.

PROBLEMS ABROAD Key Question: Why did events in Europe create problems for America? Event 1: The French Revolution, war in Europe. Event 2: Disputes with Spain

CHALLENGES TO THE NEW GOVERNMENT 3. Problem Abroad War in Europe: In 1789, a financial crisis led the French to rebel against their government, called The French Revolution. Afraid for their own monarchies, other European countries joined the fight against the French revolutionaries. France responded by declaring war on Britain, as well as Holland and Spain. The British made it difficult for the U.S. to remain neutral. The British seized American cargo ships coming from the French West Indies. Thomas Jefferson personally supported the French and was highly criticized by the Federalists. Jefferson was also tired of President Washington always favoring Hamilton’s idea’s. In 1793, Jefferson resigned as secretary of state. Solution In what became known as “Jay’s Treaty,” Chief Justice John Jay traveled to England in 1794 to persuade the British to pay damages for the U.S. vessels they had seized. The British also agreed to leave the Ohio Valley by 1796 to avoid future tension there. (The British received news of the U.S. victory in the Battle of Fallen Timbers). Some U.S. citizens were not pleased with Jay’s Treaty since it failed to open up the profitable British Caribbean trade to Americans. It also allowed the British to continue their fur trade on the American side of the U.S.- Canadian border.

JOHN JAY Responsible for Jay’s Treaty. Jay’s Treaty- agreement that ended the dispute with Britain over American shipping during the French Revolution.

CHALLENGES TO THE NEW GOVERNMENT 4. Problem Abroad Disputes with Spain: Tensions arose on the frontier over the boundaries between Spanish lands and the United States. Spain controlled the port of New Orleans, which guards the mouth of the Mississippi River. Solution Pinckney’s Treaty (1795) set the northern boundary of Florida and the southern boundary of the U.S. at the 31 st parallel. It gave Americans the right to travel freely on the Mississippi River and store goods at the port of New Orleans.

THOMAS PINCKNEY Responsible for Pinckney’s Treaty. Pinckney’s Treaty treaty with Spain allowing U.S. commercial use of the Mississippi River.

Americans were given a sense of security over how the U.S. dealt with these challenges. More Americans were moving west. Next Issue: Washington announced he would not run again for President. Americans were divided over how the nation should be governed.