1. #16 Chapter 2 Section 4 Notes
Launching the New Nation
OBJECTIVE: Understand the challenges that the new American government faced.

2. I. Washington Heads the New Government:
George Washington elected President 1789.
Commander in Chief of Army and Navy.
Judiciary Act of 1789: Established national courts system.
Congress creates 3 Executive Departments to help President govern.
Thomas Jefferson: Department of State (foreign affairs).
Henry Knox: Department of War (military matters).
Alexander Hamilton: Department of Treasury (finances).
Cabinet: these department heads become the President’s chief advisors.

3. Hamilton and Jefferson: Two Conflicting Visions
Jefferson favors weak national government and farming economy.
Hamilton favors strong national government and commercial economy.

4. Alexander Hamilton’s Economic Plan
Pay off national debt from the Revolution.
Wants national bank to print money and handle taxes.
James Madison (House of Rep from Virginia) says government lacks power to create bank.
Hamilton favors loose, Madison strict interpretation of Constitution.

5. The First Political Parties
Two-party system: two political groups within the government.
Federalists (North) favor Hamilton, want strong national government.
Democratic-Republicans (South) favor Jefferson, want strong state governments.

6. The Whiskey Rebellion
An excise tax levied on whiskey angers whiskey producers.
Pennsylvania producers attack tax collectors, national militia responds.
Example of the national government intervening in state affairs.

7. Shays or Whiskey??? SHAYS REBELLION p. 67 WHISKEY REBELLION p.76
LOCATION
CONFLICT
RESULT

8. II. Challenges at Home and Abroad
Addressing Foreign Affairs
French monarchy overthrown (1789); France at war with Britain (1793).
Federalists support Britain, Democratic-Republicans support France.
Washington keeps country neutral and warns against alliances.

9. III. Adams Provokes Criticism
Federalist John Adams becomes President.
Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson becomes Vice-President.

10. Adams Tries to Avoid War
France seizes U.S. ships to retaliate for U.S. treaty with Britain.
XYZ Affair: low-level French officials demand bribe from the Americans.
Americans are insulted, some want war vs. France.
President Adams rejects war.

11. The Alien and Sedition Acts
Federalists curb critics of the government; pass Alien and Sedition Acts:
Restrict citizenship, free speech; aimed at Democratic-Republicans.
Raise residency requirements; allows jailing, fining, or deportation of people expressing anti-government views.

12. Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
Jefferson and Madison organize state opposition to Alien and Sedition Acts in Kentucky and Virginia.
Nullification: when a state invalidates laws it deems unconstitutional.
Should nullification be allowed?