The Early Years The 1st Presidents And their Administrations

George Washington Mr. President  Elected unanimously elected by the electoral college in 1789  No Federal laws  No Courts  No staff  No treasury  No taxes  With much debt  Weak army

Washington creates a Cabinet  Vice President: John Adams  Secretary of State: Thomas Jefferson  Sec. of the Treasury: Alexander Hamilton  Secretary of War: Henry Knox  Attorney General Edmund Randolph

Congress passes legislation  Judiciary Act of 1789 – Set the number of Supreme Court judges at 6 and established 3 circuit courts and 13 district courts. John Jay is the 1 st Chief Justice.  Revenue laws – necessary to raise income for the government. –A tariff on imported goods –A tonnage duty on goods entering U.S. ports

Problems: National Debt Crisis  National debt is 43,000,000  State debt is $22,000,000  Foreign debt is $12,000,000

Alexander Hamilton  4 point Financial Program –Full payment of foreign and national debt: sell U.S. bonds –Assumption of state debt: South objects because they had paid most of their debt –An excise(tax) on whiskey –A federal bank opposed by Madison and Jefferson

Whiskey Rebellion of 1794  Whiskey is vital to the economy  25% tax set by Alexander Hamilton  West Pennsylvania refuses to pay  George Washington and Hamilton use 15,000 troops to end the rebellion  20 put in prison; 2 charged with treason but pardoned  Asserts the U.S. government’s power

Federalists vs. Democratic Republicans  Hamilton  Strong federal gov’t  Loose interpretation of the constitution  Industrial economy  Urban based society  Gov’t aids business  Pro-British  George Washington and John Adams  Jefferson  States’ rights  Strict interpretation of the constitution  Agrarian economy  Rural based society  Gov’t stays out of business  Pushed for the Bill of Rights  Pro French  Madison and Monroe

Federalist Features  Rule by the best people; leaders from upper social and economic classes  Hostile to the extension of democracy  A protective tariff  Expand the gov’t  Restrictions on free speech and press  Opposes individualism  Society’s needs over individual rights  East coast based  Support of the financial and banking leaders

Democratic Republican Features  Rule by the informed masses  Supported equality and personal liberty  Friendly towards the extension of democracy  Feared wealth could corrupt American ideals  No special favors for business or manufacturers  Agriculture base over commerce  Rejected industrialization and commerce  Reduce the size of the federal gov’t.  Concentration in the south

Washington’s Farewell Address Served Two Terms  Lists 3 Dangers: –The rise in political factions (parties) –Geographic differences (sectionalism) –European rivalries Stay neutral “Avoid entangling alliances”  Printed in the newspaper

John Adams  Electoral vote against Jefferson –A Federalist President w/a Democratic Republican Vice President  XYZ Affair: “Millions for defense but not one cent for tribute.” –French become hostile after US treaty (Jay Treaty) w/Britain –US ships seized by French privateers –Adams sends diplomats to negotiate a treaty—French foreign minister refuses to see them –Agents X,Y, Z meet them demanding money –Result:  Undeclared naval war with France sparks war fever –Adams’ popularity increases  Alien and Sedition Act: 1.Aliens –expels foreigners declared to be dangerous to the peace and safety of the U.S. 2. Sedition- limits free speech against the government.

Election of 1800 The passing of power from one political party to another  Nasty campaign between Adams and Jefferson  Electoral Votes: Jefferson—73; Adams—65; Burr—73  Electoral deadlock between Jefferson and Burr  House votes…  Jefferson elected in the 35 th ballot: Hamilton changes his vote. Leads to the 12 th amendment (President/Vice President on separate ballots)

Election of 1800 The passing of power from one political party to another  Adams appoints “midnight judges” –Judiciary Act of 1801—sets up regional courts –Adams makes 100s of appointments...all Federalists and shuts Jefferson out of the process  Adams refuses to attend Jefferson’s inauguration  The power of change within the system –Decentralizes power –Removes heavy taxes –Downsizes the military –Allows the Bank of the U.S. to continue

Jefferson’s Administration  Marbury v. Madison –Jefferson gets Congress to repeal Judicial Act of 1801—asks Madison not to deliver the letters of appointment –Marbury (one of the judges) sues and loses –Establishes Judicial Review  Louisiana Purchase France gives up land west of the MI river for 15 million. Doubles the size of the U.S.  Lewis and Clark expedition (St. Louis to Northwest Pacific Ocean)  Other: –Belief in the common man –Repeal of alien and sedition acts

Lewis and Clark  Jefferson wanted to know more about lands west of the Mississippi  Persuades Congress to sponsor an expedition  Mission: –find a route across the Rocky Mts. to the Pacific Ocean –Learn as much as possible

Lewis and Clark  Instructions: Learn about Native Americans Treat them in a friendly manner Collect plant and animals specimens Chart the geography  Left St. Louis—Spring 1804  Reached Pacific—18 months and 4,000 miles later  Arrived back in St. Louis—September 1806

Lewis and Clark  Sacagawea –Wife of a French trapper hired as a guide –Interprets and helps in their survival –Sister to the chief of the Shoshone tribe Aids them in securing horses, supplies, and provides directions over Rockies  Result of their Journey: –Brings back valuable information –Inspires those eager to move westward

Madison’s Administration  War of 1812  The impressment (kidnapping) of U.S. sailors by England  White House (President’s Mansion) is burned by the English  Star Spangled Banner written—Francis Scott Key  War in a Stalemate  Battle of New Orleans fought after the war was over. Andrew Jackson becomes a national hero.

Monroe’s Administration  Era of Good Feelings –Nationalism –Lack of strong political party rivalry –Political differences fade  Creates the 2 nd bank of the U.S.  Economic Panic of 1819-too much debt owed to London banks; 1 st economic depression

Missouri Compromise of 1820  1818 Missouri petitions for statehood –11 slave states –11 free states Missouri enters the U.S. as a slave state Maine enters the U.S. as a free state Slavery prohibited in the rest of the Louisiana territory North of 36’ and 30”

 1819 Adams-Onis Treaty with Spain –After Jackson invades West Flordia –U.S. acquires Florida—gives up claims to Spanish Texas  1823 Monroe Doctrine –Europe should stay out of the American continent. No more colonization.  1824 American System of Henry Clay –1. Protective tariffs –2. Federal funds for internal improvements –3. National Bank Monroe’s Administration

Evolution of Major Political Parties TimeHamiltonJeffersonians 1792 FederalistsDemocratic- Republicans 1820 One party Era of Good Feelings 1825 National Republicans Jacksonian Democrats 1834WhigsDemocrats 1854Republicans

Virginia Dynasty Thomas Jefferson James Madison James Monroe