Constitution and New Republic,

Philadelphia Convention 1787  Washington agrees to preside only after Shays’ Rebellion  Complete overhaul of federal gov’t on the agenda  Weaknesses of Articles of Confederation obvious  Fear of centralized gov’t still strong

Madison and the Virginia Plan  Madison, Randolph and other Virginians dominate early proceedings  Executive, legislative, and judicial branches called for by Randolph –Bicameral Congress (2 houses) Lower house by population Lower chooses upper house

Small States Respond (New Jersey Plan)  Patterson calls for unicameral Congress (one house) –Equal representation for all states –Increased taxing/interstate power  VA Plan supporters knew they had to compromise with the small states to ensure ratification

The Great Compromise  Bicameral Congress created –House of Reps. (Lower House) elected based on population 3/5 compromise –Senate (Upper House) equal representation for all states

Dodging the Issue  Southern delegates worry about the legality of slavery and the fed. gov’t interfering with it  Slave trade allowed to continue until 1808  No heavy taxing on imported slaves

Federalists  Hamilton, Madison, and Jay publish The Federalist Papers  Thought a stronger, more centralized gov’t was needed  Abandoned the ideas of the Articles of Confederation  Feared chaos and the power of the people

Anti-Federalists  Jefferson led this group  Feared concentrated power  Trusted the will of the people  Thought Constitution was too removed from the people  Demanded a bill of rights

Bill of Rights  Appeased the Anti-Federalists  #1-9 stop Congress from impinging on rights  #10 Powers not mentioned reserved to the state gov’ts

Washington takes the oath of office

Washington’s Presidency  Received all electoral votes  Adams (Federalist) becomes Vice President  Remained “neutral” in politics (actually, supported Federalists)

Forming the First Cabinet  Hamilton –Sec. of Treasury  Knox –Sec. of War  Randolph –Attorney General  Jefferson –Sec. of State  Tried to balance regions and viewpoints  Rift develops between Hamilton and Jefferson

Hamilton’s Financial Program  Washington supported  Tried to gain support of the elite  Gov’t should assume public debt and state debt  Taxes raised by whiskey tax  Create a National Bank to stabilize financial structure

Opposition to Federalist Program  VA protests assuming state debts –Future capital is moved to Washington DC as compromise  Small farmers protest taxes  National Bank –“Loose” interpretation of Constitution troubled Jefferson, Madison, and others –Passed over protests

Beginnings of Political Parties  Constitution does not mention parties  Washington opposed them  These early squabbles created allies and enemies Federalists Republicans (Anti-Federalist)

Securing the Frontier  Northwest Ordinance was not enough  Land claims sorted out  Whiskey Rebellion in Pennsylvania put down by federal gov’t. when President Washington sent federal troops to stop it

Whiskey Rebellion Flag

Foreign Difficulties  Britain and France engaged in war  American neutrality declared –“Citizen Genet” –British impressment –Jay’s Treaty w/ Britain (Federalist influenced) –Pinckney’s Treaty w/ Spain (US can use the Mississippi)

Pinckney’s Treaty

John Adams’ Presidency  Washington’s Farewell Address  One-term Federalist, elected in 1796 over Jefferson (became VP)  Federalists were splintering

The Quasi War with France  XYZ Affair outrages Americans  Undeclared naval warfare  Eventually tensions cool

Alien and Sedition Acts  Federalists attempt to quiet Republican Opposition  Alien Act –Harder for foreigners (tended to be Republican) to become citizens  Sedition Act –Punished anti-gov’t activities (writings and otherwise)

The “Revolution” of 1800  Rematch from 1796  Bitter campaigns  Jefferson elected after 36 counts  Republicans now control executive and legislative branches of gov’t.  Federalists control judicial branch –Adams appoints “midnight” judges