Early America ( )

Main Ideas Washington & the new national government Managing national debt & banks Political parties Expanding west Conflict & change

Washington & the New National Government Question to consider: – What steps did Washington take to make the new government work?

Washington & the New National Government Washington inaugurated April 30, 1789 Setting up an executive office – Congress created three Cabinet departments to help the President: – Members of the Cabinet advised the President and directed their departments. Washington set a precedent by choosing well-known leaders to serve in the Cabinet: Thomas Jefferson = Sec. of State Alexander Hamilton = Sec. of Treasury Henry Knox = Sec. of War

Washington & the New National Government Setting up a judicial branch – The Constitution created a judicial branch but did not specify its format – Judiciary Act of 1789 created the Supreme Court, along w/ a circuit of federal and district courts Appeal process: – decisions made by a state court could be appealed to a federal court on constitutional issues Federal supremacy: – federal laws > state laws – Marbury v. Madison  judicial review (S. Court can declare laws & acts of Congress “unconstitutional”)

Managing National Debt & Banks Questions to consider: – What was Hamilton’s plan to reduce the nation’s debt and build the economy? – What were the causes and results of the Whiskey Rebellion?

Managing National Debt & Banks The problem – The U.S. had a huge national debt—the total amount of money that a government owes to others. – The national & state governments had borrowed by issuing bonds—certificates that promise to repay the money loaned, plus interest, on a certain date. Hamilton’s plan – Establish a national bank funded by the gov’t AND private investors – Buy up old bonds, issue new ones to keep trust of investors & have money for debt repayment

Managing National Debt & Banks The Debate – Madison argued that Congress could not make a national bank if the Constitution didn’t set one up; plus many southern states had already paid THEIR debts – Strict vs. loose interpretation of the Constitution Strict: if the Constitution doesn’t say it, you can’t do it Loose interpretation: How does the “necessary and proper” clause fit in? – Congress can make any laws or set up institutions that are “necessary and proper” for the country The compromise – Hamilton promised to support putting the nation’s capital in the South if southerners agreed to his plan for repaying state debts.

Managing National Debt & Banks Whiskey Rebellion – Causes To raise money for the Treasury, Congress approved an excise tax – tax on a product’s manufacture & sale – on whiskey Farmers who grew corn said was easier to get their product to market & make a profit if they turned their corn into whiskey. – What did they do? They rebelled, marching in protest and tarring and feathering tax collectors. – How did the federal gov’t respond? Sent 13,000 militiamen (national army) to squash the rebellion

Political Parties Many competing views in early America led to creation of separate parties – groups with similar ideologies and political goals Federalists – called for a strong central gov’t (Hamilton) Democratic-Republicans – wanted strong state gov’t (Jefferson) – Theory of this party is called “Jeffersonian republicanism”

Political Parties Election of 1800 – 1 st time P & VP had the same number of votes – tie-breaker Election of 1824 – rift in the Republican party – “Jacksonians” accused another republican, Henry Clay, of helping the other party win (he was appointed Sec. of State by Adams); corruption scandal – Clay & his faction became the National Republican Party – Jackson & his faction became the Democratic Party Spoils system = hiring supporters and friends to government positions

Presidents – Jefferson (pg. 75, ) – Madison (pg. 114) – Monroe (pg ) – Jackson (pg )