Chapter 6

The New Republic

New Republic

Hamilton – favored strong national gov. – believed it could accomplish great things

Washington – established precedents for future administrations…what was the role of each branch, each official, etc.?

Great dignity and strong personalityNY to Philadelphia for 10 yearsNew capital – DC; L’Enfant designed to display

power and authority

Sec. 1 – Govt. & Party Politics

Proper role of the new govt. still not determined and not tested

Cabinet: Jefferson (State), Hamilton (Treasury), Knox (War), Randolph (Attorney General)

Judiciary Act 1789 – Set up 13 federal courts, 3 circuit (appeals) courts and 6-member Supreme Court

Hamilton’s Plan

Alexander Hamilton (Fed.) proposed plan to strengthen national power & develop a commercial and industrial economy

Fed. govt. would pay off national debt ($52 million) and state debts ($25 million)

Would restore credit and establish trustworthiness abroad

Funded with government bonds which would pay interest to investors

Hamilton’s Plan cont.

Proposed excise taxes and high tariffs to pay interest

Placed tax on whiskeyHoped to pay off slowly so countries would

take continued interest in U.S. (long term investment)

Got Southern support in exchange for capital near VA & MD

Bank of U.S. established 1791

Hamilton’s Plan cont.

Loose construction of the Constitution – broad interpretation

Alarmed critics (Jefferson) – strict construction of Constitution – only those powers stated in Constitution; no “stretching” of powers

Believed Federalists had betrayed the ideals of the Revolution

Opponents of Hamilton’s plan

Resented interference by fed govternment in state affairs

Resented new taxesWashington’s elegant style, taxes, tariffs,

federal interference, Bank, seemed like a return to the British monarchy – alarmed people

Jefferson disagreed with Federalist Washington, eventually resigned his post

Whiskey Rebellion

Made from corn and exported – key to farmers’ economy

Many refused to pay taxFollowed the tradition of Stamp Act and

Shay’s Rebellion – attacked collectorsWashington & Hamilton determined to stop

the rebellion; gathered troops and marched on W. Pennsylvania – rebellion dissolved

**Showed world that government would enforce the laws (unlike Shays)

Two Party System

Whiskey Rebellion highlighted tensionsFederalists had sent 12,000 troops to suppress

rebellion (overkill?)Emerged into two parties:Federalists – Hamilton, Adams; northern

merchantsDemocratic-Republicans – Jefferson, Madison;

farmersBut supporters from all parts of country

Section 2 – Foreign Policy

British had kept forts – Ohio River, Great Lakes

Gave weapons to Indians to resist expansionBattle of Fallen Timbers – General Anthony

Wayne defeated Native AmericansTreaty of Greenville - Ceded most of Ohio

territory; opened N.W. Territory

French Revolution - 1789

Liberty, Equality, FraternityDeteriorated into a “reign of terror” where

thousands lost their lives, including King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

Divided U.S.Federalists opposed it as extremist;

anarchists who would destroy the social order

French Revolution cont.

Anti-Feds supported it as an extension of the Am. Rev., Republican ideals; applauded its rejection of kings

Americans torn between British who ruled the seas, or France who had helped us in the Revolution

Chose neutrality – remained U.S. policy for a century

Treaties with Britain and Spain

Washington decided it was in our best interest to support Britain

Jay Treaty - Chief Justice John Jay negotiated treaty to remove remaining British troops/forts in NW territory, pay pre-war debts, expand trade

Americans furious – a betrayal of France, sell-out to British

Pinckney Treaty – with Spain; guaranteed shipping rights on Miss. River; established northern boundary of Florida

Washington’s Farewell

After 2 terms, declined to run again to avoid perception of being a “king.” (another precedent)

Achievements: Indian defeat, western lands opened for settlement, Whiskey rebellion suppressed, kept nation out of war, improved economy and foreign trade, helped pay national debt

Farewell Address – warned against “entangling alliances” and political parties

Foreign Policy

John Adams – 2nd Pres (Fed) lacked prestige of GW; faced growing divisions in U.S.

Drift towards war w/France – angry over Jay’s treaty w/Britain; began seizing Am. ships

XYZ Affair – Adams sent officials to Paris, met by officials demanding bribe ($250K) and loan of $10 million; outraged Americans, “Millions for defense but not one cent for tribute.”

Undeclared war, fired on, seized ships

Alien and Sedition Acts

Alien – Pres. could imprison or deport immigrants who criticized govt.– Most immigrants supported Dem-Rep.

Sedition – Made it a crime for citizens who published or said anything false, scandalous about the govt.

Silenced much Republican opposition with this

VA and KY Resolutions

Response to A & S acts – Rep. believed they violated Constitutional right to free speech

VA & KY Resolutions declared the Sedition Act unconstitutional

Nullification is a defiance of federal powerGrowing tensions in U.S. – State power vs.

Federal power is a sign of things to come...

Election of 1800

Jefferson wins electionAaron Burr, running mate got same number of

votesWent to the House to decideHamilton (congressman) preferred Jefferson so

swayed vote to himLater Burr killed Hamilton in a duel for

slandering him 1804 amendment

Section 3 - Jefferson

Election of 1800 a “revolution” in government principles according to Jefferson

Known now as Jeffersonian Republicans or Republicans (NOT the modern Republican party)

Jeffersonian democracyReduced military, streamlined government

bureaucracy, increased trade, sale of western lands

More common style than the aristocratic Federalists, but Jefferson was wealthy, educated and refined

The Marshall Court

John Marshall new Chief JusticeEstablished judicial review in Marbury v.

Madison – courts can determine constitutionality of laws

Helped build prestige and power of CourtEstablished federal authority over state authorityLoose constructionist - increased power of court

tremendously; not stated anywhere in Constitution

Marbury v. Madison

John Adams appointed William Marbury (Federalist) as federal judge

Left office before delivery of appointmentNew Sec. of State Madison comes in

(Republican) and refuses to deliver appointment

Marbury wants a writ of mandamus – under Judiciary Act, the delivery would be required

Marbury v. Madison cont.

Court rules in favor of Madison (makes Republicans happy) but declares Judiciary Act unconstitutional

Gives court massive powers (not what Republicans wanted)!

Said Marbury deserved the appointment but the act was unconstitutional so tough luck

Set important precedent & continued to overturn state laws

Loose constructionist

Louisiana Purchase - 1803

Napoleon sold all French claims to U.S. for $15 million – Louisiana Purchase

Political dilemma: Jefferson concerned over the purchase and spending public funds

He is a STRICT CONSTUCTIONIST!Contradicted his principles about govt. power but

signed anyway, doubled size of the U.S.Lewis & Clark expedition; 2 years, reached

Pacific; helped by Sacajawea

Foreign Troubles

British began kidnapping American sailors to serve in British military – impressment (at war with France); interfering with trade also

British Leopard attacked ChesapeakeEmbargo of 1807 as punishment – outlawed trade

w/ foreign countriesNew Englanders hated embargo; bankrupted

merchants, hurt farmers who couldn’t exportHurt his 2nd term, retired to Monticello unpopular

Section 4 – War of 1812

Unpopular embargo replaced If either country (GB or Fr) recognized neutrality, we

would renew sanctions on other country France agreed – sanctions on GB More battles w/Native Americans (dishonest

treaties); Americans believed GB supplying weapons Tecumseh defeated at Tippecanoe (lost momentum) War Hawks – Clay and Calhoun called for war

against GB (impressments humiliating) to restore national honor

War of 1812 cont

Called for invasion of CanadaWould stop British supply of weapons and throw

them out of N. AmericaWar breaks out 1812 Invasion of Canada failsNavy did surprisingly well thoughBattle of Lake Erie – victory for U.S.Andrew Jackson crushed Creek Indians of

Alabama, killed Tecumseh, invaded Florida and defeated Seminole Indians

War of 1812 cont.

Major attacks by British (including New Orleans)

Burned White House (Madison flees – Dolly saves picture of George) & Capitol

Ft. McHenry (Baltimore) – Francis Scott Key wrote Star Spangled Banner

Flag still on display at SmithsonianAmericans win on Lake Champlain

Cont.

Not all supported war (Federalists) – capital burned, treasury depleted, trade stopped due to blockade (“Mr. Madison’s war”)

Napoleon defeated, no need for impressment; both sides weary from war

Treaty of Ghent – ended war 1815 Andrew Jackson’s important Battle of New Orleans – two

weeks after treaty! Created illusion that this had led to British defeat

Hartford Convention 1814 – Federalists had looked weak & defeatist in opposing war; wanted to consider leaving nation (secession), failed

Post War - results

Surge of national pride (nationalism)Nation continues to grow – settlement spreads

westEnd of Federalist partySettlers going into Florida too, conflicts with

Seminoles; fugitive slaves heading to FloridaSpain cedes Florida to U.S. – Adams – Onis

Treaty of 1819*Showed the nation would endure