1. The Federalist Period: Washington & Adams
The New Nation
The Federalist Period:
Washington & Adams

2. Main Objectives:
Assess the impact of major domestic issues and conflicts in the US from
Explain the significance of George Washington's role as the first president and list the achievements of his presidency.
Describe domestic and foreign issues during John Adams’ presidency.
Discuss the importance of the Election of 1800.
First American Flag
Hamilton
Jefferson
John Marshall
Madison
Aaron Burr
John Adams
Washington
Chief Little Turtle

3. Washington is chosen as our first president.
Why Washington?
Leader of the Continental Army during the Revolution
Most Americans had confidence and trust in Washington
Washington’s Vice President was John Adams of Massachusetts

4. Domestic Issues of Washington’s Administration

5. Establishing the Judiciary
Judiciary Act of 1789: Established the federal court system, made up of the Supreme Court, Federal District Courts, & Circuit Courts of Appeals.
1st Supreme Court had six justices
John Jay was appointed the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

6. Washington as President
Created the first Cabinet: a group of advisors to assist the president in making policy decisions.
First Cabinet consisted of 4 Departments
Department of State – Thomas Jefferson
Department of Treasury – Alexander Hamilton
Department of War – Henry Knox
Attorney General – Edmund Randolph
* The cabinet was Washington’s creation, it was not mentioned in the Constitution.
* Tried to balance regional viewpoints and differing opinions, however a riff develops between Hamilton and Jefferson

7. Securing the Nation’s Finances
The US started out with a national debt of $52 million.
Sec. of Treasury Hamilton devised the following Financial Plan:
Assume states’ debts into the national debt (southern states did not like this because they had already paid most of their debts)
Create a National Bank (the Bank of the United States) to regulate state banks and align business interests with the federal government
Pass Excise Taxes: taxes on goods produced in the US
Pass Tariffs: taxes on imported goods, to raise revenue in addition to domestic taxes
Develop an economy based on manufacturing, rather than agriculture
Alexander Hamilton

8. Disagreement over Hamilton’s Financial Plan
Southerners disliked the plan because most southern states had paid their individual debts – they would now be taxed to pay northern state debts
The Constitution did not grant the federal government authority to create a National Bank – Loose Construction vs. Strict Construction
Southern farmers thought the plan favored northern merchants at their expense
Rural farmers opposed the excise tax on whiskey
Debate over Hamilton’s Financial Plan would eventually lead to the formation of the first Political Parties in the US.

9. Hamilton’s Plan is Adopted
Despite objections by Sec. of State Thomas Jefferson, President Washington accepted Hamilton’s Plan
The nation’s capital would be moved from New York City to the District of Columbia as a compromise with Southern states
Jefferson was the first president to occupy the presidency in DC 1800
National Capitol in 1800 in District of Columbia

10. Formation of Political Parties
Federalists
Founded by Alexander Hamilton
Believed in a strong central government
Wanted an economy based on manufacturing
Supported the creation of a National Bank
Supported Britain in its conflict with France
Believed educated elite should control government
Loose interpretation of the Constitution
Democratic-Republicans
Founded by Thomas Jefferson
Believed in limited central government; strong state governments
Wanted an economy based on agriculture -“Agrarian” society
Believed the creation of the bank was unconstitutional
Supported French revolutionaries in the French Rev.
Believed “common” men should have say in government (property owners)
Strict interpretation of the Constitution

11. Whiskey Rebellion 1794
An excise tax had been placed on whiskey to raise revenue
Pennsylvania farmers distilled grain into whiskey and felt the tax was unfair. They refused to pay the tax and were violent with tax collectors
President Washington sent in federal troops to collect the tax
Washington’s actions proved the power of the federal government over the states, and it’s power to enforce taxes

12. Native American Conflicts
Great Britain offered weapons to Native Americans
in the Ohio River Valley following the American
Revolution to stop US expansion east. This led to
armed conflicts between the US and Natives.
:Miami Confederacy led by Little Turtle
Defeat US troops led by Arthur St. Clair in Ohio
River Valley
1794: Gen. Anthony Wayne defeats the Miami
Confederacy at the Battle of Fallen Timbers
1795:Treaty of Greenville: Native Americans gave
up most of their lands in present day Ohio in
exchange for yearly payments & goods.
-opened Northwest Territory to American
settlement
-established trend of Native Americans giving up
ancestral lands to the US government
General “Mad” Anthony Wayne
Ohio River Valley

13. Foreign Issues of Washington’s
Administration

14. French Revolution 1789-French Revolution begins in France
Federalists wanted to support Britain
Democratic Republicans wanted to support France
Washington issued the Neutrality Proclamation of 1793 which stated the US would not become involved on either side of the conflict
Washington established the foreign policy of Isolationism, which would keep the US out of foreign matters for the most part until World War I.

15. Important Foreign Treaties
Jay’s Treaty: (1794) John Jay was supposed to negotiate an end to Britain’s violation of American shipping, but Britain only agreed to vacate British forts in the Northwest Territory-something they had agreed to several years earlier
Pinckney’s Treaty: (1795) Thomas Pinckney negotiated with Spain for American use of the Mississippi River and New Orleans for trade, and moved the northern boundary of Spanish Florida to the 31st parallel

16. Washington’s Farewell Address
Decided not to run for a 3rd term
Warned against making foreign
alliances
“ISOLATIONISM”
Warned against the formation of
political parties because he thought
they would harm the government.
*Federalist & Democratic-Republican parties had already
formed during Washington’s administration.

17. Washington’s Presidential Legacy
Only president unanimously elected
by the Electoral College
Established the first Cabinet
Used military force to establish national
supremacy during Whiskey Rebellion
4. Established two-term tradition for future
presidents
Began foreign policy of Isolationism
Warned against political parties

18. Election of 1796 Candidates: John Adams - Federalist
Thomas Jefferson
Candidates:
John Adams - Federalist
Thomas Jefferson – Democratic Republican
Adams narrowly defeated Jefferson & became president
Jefferson won the 2nd most votes & became vice president
The president and vice president belonged to different political parties which led to conflict

19. Alien & Sedition Acts 1798 John Adams’ Administration
Alien Act: allowed government to deport
immigrants for being critical of the
government. Immigrants must live in the
US 14 years before they can become
citizens
*most immigrants became members of
the Democratic-Republican Party*
Sedition Act: made it illegal to criticize or
discredit the federal government either in
written or oral form
*intended to silence Democratic-
Republican criticism of the Federalist
government*
1st Amendment
Speech
Press
Immigrant

20. Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions
Written by Thomas Jefferson & James Madison
Response to the Alien & Sedition Acts
Introduced the idea of NULLIFICATION :
*states can refuse to enforce federal laws they deem to
be unconstitutional*
Based on idea of protecting States’ Rights
Most states did not join in
with the Resolutions, which
disappointed the authors
Jefferson & Madison – Authors of the Virginia and Kentucky
Resolution as a response to the Alien & Sedition Acts.

21. XYZ Affair
France was upset over American neutrality during the French Revolution & Jay’s Treaty.
France began seizing American ships in 1796
President Adams sent diplomats to meet with French Prime Minister Talleyrand
3 low-level French officials (X, Y, & Z) demanded a bribe of $250,000 from the US
Americans were angered & called for war
Army & navy were expanded and there were battles between US and French warships (though war was never declared)
Adams remained Isolationist, refused to declare war, & eventually sent new diplomats to France to make peace, which hurt him in the Election of 1800

22. Election of 1800
Despite increasing unpopularity, John Adams ran for re-election in 1800
Thomas Jefferson opposed Adams in the election
Thomas Jefferson ran with a running-mate: Aaron Burr
Jefferson & Burr tied in votes in the Electoral College forcing the election into the
House of Representatives
Jefferson was elected president by the House in 1800
Jefferson claimed the Election of 1800 was a “Revolution” – it was the first
peaceful transfer of government power from one political party to another
12th Amendment was passed in 1804 to change the voting process in the
Electoral College requiring electors to vote for president & vice president
separately

23. Adams Leaves Office Thomas Jefferson’s election marked an end to the
Adams’ final act in office: Midnight Appointments – created new federal judgeships with the
intention of appointing Federalist judges to ensure Federalists controlled at least one branch
of government
Adams’ act led to Marbury v. Madison (1803) in which John Marshall ruled part of the
Judiciary Act of 1789 was unconstitutional. The concept of JUDICIAL REVIEW was
established, which allowed the Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of laws and
Congressional actions
Thomas Jefferson’s election marked an end to the
Federalist Era.