4-6: George Washington and the 1790s

Objectives NAT 2.0 Explain how interpretations of the Constitution and debates over rights, liberties, and definitions of citizenship have affected American values, politics, and society. NAT 3.0 Analyze how ideas about national identity changed in response to U.S. involvement in international conflicts and the growth of the United States. CUL 2.0 Explain how artistic, philosophical, and scientific ideas have developed and shaped society and institutions. CUL 4.0 Explain how different group identities, including racial, ethnic, class, and regional identities, have emerged and changed over time. MIG 2.0 Analyze causes of internal migration and patterns of settlement in what would become the United States, and explain how migration has affected American life.

Objectives WOR 1.0 Explain how cultural interaction, cooperation, competition, and conflict between empires, nations, and peoples have influenced political, economic, and social developments in North America. WOR 2.0 Analyze the reasons for and results of U.S. diplomatic, economic, and military initiatives in North America and overseas. POL 1.0 Explain how and why political ideas, beliefs, institutions, party systems, and alignments have developed and changed. POL 3.0 Explain how different beliefs about the federal government’s role in U.S. social and economic life have affected political debates and policies. WXT 1.0 Explain how different labor systems developed in North America and the United States, and explain their effects on workers’ lives and U.S. society.

Key Concepts The American Revolution’s democratic and republican ideals inspired new experiments with different forms of government. Migration within North America and competition over resources, boundaries, and trade intensified conflicts among peoples and nations.

Organizing the Government Executive Branch The Cabinet Treasury (Hamilton) State (Jefferson) War (Knox) Justice (Randolph) Judicial Branch Judiciary Act of 1789 6 Supreme Court justices Congress creates inferior courts The original presidential cabinet consisted of Alexander Hamilton (Secretary of the Treasury), Thomas Jefferson (Secretary of State—foreign affairs), Henry Knox (Secretary of War), and Edmund Randolph (Attorney General—law enforcement)

Hamilton’s Financial Program Purpose Promote economic growth Proposals National bank Tariff National debt Excise tax on liquor Subsidize manufacturing The aims of Hamilton’s policies were to promote economic growth and strengthen the new nation’s finances. Hamilton gave financial interests such as Eastern merchants a stake in the new government. He believed “a national debt, if not excessive, will be to us a national blessing. It will be a powerful cement to our union.” A national bank, according to Hamilton, would be a depository for federal funds, would receive tax funds paid by the people, would loan money to the government or businessmen, and would issue sound paper money backed by specie (gold and silver)

Hamilton’s Financial Program Controversy with Jefferson Strict vs. loose interpretation of the Constitution Hamilton (Loose) Implied powers What the Constitution does not forbid, it permits Jefferson (Strict) Enumerated powers What the Constitution does not permit, it forbids

Washington Administration, 1789-1797 Foreign Difficulties French Revolution Proclamation of Neutrality Citizen Genet Affair Jay Treaty Pinckney Treaty Domestic Difficulties Whiskey Rebellion Government credibility After the French Revolution, the French Empire went to war with many European powers in 1792, prompting many Americans to want to take sides. Washington’s response to the Napoleonic Wars was to remain neutral from the conflict, trying to avoid entangling military alliances with Europe. American merchants traded with both sides, although the most lucrative business was carried on with the French West Indies. This brought retaliation by the British, who began to seize American merchant ships and impress their crews into service with the British navy. French official Edmund Genet violated Washington’s policy of neutrality by trying to encourage popular support among Americans for the French government, embarrassing the Washington administration. Negotiated by John Jay and the British in an effort to settle the conflict at sea as well as curtail British agitation of their Indian allies on the western borders, the agreement prevented war, but resolved very few issues. The Pinckney Treaty with Spain opened the Mississippi River to American traffic as well as granted America the right of deposit in New Orleans. The 31st parallel was recognized as the boundary of Florida. The Whiskey Rebellion began when indebted western farmers refused to pay the excise tax on whiskey, which was the backbone of Hamilton’s revenue program. When a group of Pennsylvania farmers terrorized tax collectors, President Washington ordered a force of 15,000 militia-men, evaporating the rebellion. Washington’s response to the Whiskey Rebellion strengthened the credibility of the young government.

Washington Administration, 1789-1797 Farewell Address Warnings against... Foreign entanglements Trade agreements okay Treaties not okay Political parties Sectionalism