The New Republic

An Age of Political Passion, 1789-1800

Launching the New Government

• Choosing the 1st President– Electoral College 2/4/1789

• Washington President• Adams Vice-President

• Completing the Constitution– James Madison-VA (F)

• Recognized the political necessity of amendments

• 12 went to States/10 Bill of Rights• Cured most fears of Anti-Federalists

• Filling Out the Branches of Government– Constitution doesn’t mention a cabinet for

executive but GW puts one in place establishing precedent of advisors for a president• Sec of State: Jefferson- Republican• Sec of Treasury: Hamilton-Federalist• Sec of War: Knox• Attorney Gen: Edmund Randolph• Chief Justice: John Jay

– Gdub’s choices included a wide section of the political spectrum

– Anti-Federalist feared that the Const. created a large, expensive, and bureaucratic• 350 total for the Federal Govt.• Couple of buildings near Wall Street

Ha Ha I beat you Anti-Federalist

James Monroe!!! Now, the Constitution

will be more Fed. Friendly!!!

Yes, I am George Mason and I am

somewhat happy with the Bill of Rights.

TJ you only get only 5

employees.

Hamilton’s Ambitious Program

• Hamilton’s Vision for the New Republic– America a powerful nation w/ strong government

and strong commercial economy (like Great Britain) – Very controversial views: conflict w/ Anti-Federalist

& Madison & TJ• Elitist who view democracy w/ suspicion.• Class divisions• Must have ties to rich & powerful that most be tied to

the new govt.

– Successful lawyer & powerful friends in NY merchant business & influential politician

• Hamilton's Financial Plan– Congress requested report on new Economy

• “Report on Public Credit”– $11 Million to Foreign / $ 63 Million to Citizens– Assumption of the State's Debt

» Consolidate State and Fed debt (Ties them to the new govt)

» Buy old govt. money (notes) and replace with new notes at equal or better value (create better credit)

» Sell new govt. bonds (create int’l credit)– Whiskey Tax

– Wanted a permanently funded national debt– Most Controversial issue was the speculation in the

paper notes (Poor sold notes early to speculators who would benefitted with Ham’s plan)

– Dinner Compromise at Jefferson’s Home• Capital move to Potomac River in exchange of Hamilton's

Plan

Hamilton’s Ambitious Program

• Madison's Opposition– His desire to preserve the

constitutional system– His vision of republican

agrarian society differed than Ham’s powerful merchant state

– Beginning of Parties• Federalist # 10 vs. “A Candid

State of Parties”– Two Parties Republican Party

vs. Anti-Republican Party (Federalist)

Hamilton’s Ambitious Program

• Ham’s Report on Bank of the United States – Bolster confidence in govt. securities (only 3

private banks), loans, and stable currency– Govt & private owned– Tie wealthy to new govt.– Opposition: Loose interpretation vs. Strict

interpretationMadison = Strict “spirit of 1787” & protect state’s &

people’s rightsHamilton = Loose “necessary and proper” & implied

powers• Still a controversial issue!!!!

– Federalist controlled Congress & Washington did not veto: B.U.S. Charter created

• Ham’s Report on Mint– Federal Currency

• Ham’s Report on Manufactures– Protective tariff to protect infant US

industries

• George Washington sided almost always with Hamilton and against Madison and Jefferson

Hamilton’s Ambitious Program

• Jefferson vs. Hamilton: Contrasting Visions of the Republic

Conflicts at Home and Abroad

• French Revolution in America– Republicans supported the

Revolution– Federalists denounced the

excess

• Adams vs. Clinton: A Contest for VP– Both parties unified behind

Gdub but went after other Federalist, Adams

– Division begins Anti-Fed George Clinton carried South

Conflicts at Home and Abroad

• Diplomatic Controversies and Triumphs– British Problems

• US vessels no longer under British protection

• British remained in NW Forts & stirring up trouble with Indians

• Confiscated our ships, cargo, and men trading with France

• Jay’s Treaty of 1795– G.B. compensate for confiscation &

vacate forts (Didn’t do both)– Denied US right to be neutral and trade

w/ France– Republicans were outraged with

generous terms– Best case scenario: Jay negotiated

with Britain from a position of weakness

– Spanish Problems• Controlled Mississippi River & N.O.• Pinckney Treaty 1795

– Access to River and New Orleans– Pinckney negotiated with Spain from a

position of strength (Spain feared that US wanted Florida!!!)

Conflicts at Home and Abroad

• Violence along the Frontier– Pan-Indian War along frontier

• Two major defeats for US Army and failure to secure peace

• Gen. Mad Anthony Wayne defeated the tribes at the Battle of Fallen Timbers 1794

• Treaty Of Greenville Indians out of Ohio River Valley for settlement

– Whiskey Rebellion-1794• Resentment against Hamilton's tax on

whiskey• Backcountry farmers turned grain

into whiskey for transportation and for profit

• Peaceful turns violence (500 march on tax collector’s house/two killed and house burned, oh here we go again!!!)

• Gdub sent militia to put down rebellion after failed attempts (150 arrested/two treasons and pardoned)

Stormy Presidency of John Adams

• Washington’s Farewell – Sets precedent by not seeking

a third term– Sets precedent of peaceful

handing over of power– Election of 1796

• Federalist-John Adams & Pinckney

• Republicans-Jefferson & Burr

– Washington’s Farewell Address• Warned against political parties

and ‘foreign entanglements’ • Set a tone of ‘isolationism’ for

the next 100 years!

Stormy Presidency of John Adams

• John Adams as President “Big shoes to fill” Really!!!”– Thomas Jefferson VP due to original

Constitution not predicting the rise of parties (1st Pres/2nd VP)

– Hamilton had attempted to unseat Adams (Federalist divided)

• XYZ Affair and Quasi-War with France– Crisis was reaching a head with France

over British favoritism• France recalled ambassadors• Seized our ships that traded w/GB

– Adams sent diplomats to negotiate peace• French Directory required a

$250,000 bribe before talking, $12 million loan and Adams to apologize

– Galvanized support to declare war on France/Adams resisted pressure from Hamilton's cronies

– Undeclared Naval War/Quasi-War 1798-1800• Adams created new Department of

Navy• Tripled the size of army/ Washington

w/ Hamilton as aide (controversial)

VS.

Stormy Presidency of John Adams

• Alien and Sedition Acts– Protect America from the danger of foreign

and domestic subversion– Federalist viewpoint

• Alien Acts Parts 1-3 Directed against Aliens/made it more difficult to become citizen/eased deportation

• Sedition Act- Directed against US citizens: illegal to speak against policies of government (Prez and Congress, but not VP)

• Federalists targeted 25 individuals ALL Republican sympathizers (printers, politicians, and public figures)

– Republican view point• Alien Parts 1-3- Weakened Republican voter

base…French and Irish Immigrants• Sedition Act- Aimed at weakening free speech of

anti-Federalists and their election opportunities

– Madison & Jefferson respond with Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions• Jefferson introduced that states could nullify

unconstitutional laws.• State’s Rights Theory• Federalist New England voted down and stated

that Federal Courts have the final say not states on the constitutionality of laws

“No Stamp Act, No Sedition, no Alien

Bills, no Land Tax (to pay for new army):

downfall to the Tyrants of America,

peace and retirement to the

President, long live the Vice-President”

You get a $400 fine and 18 months for that one…

Stormy Presidency of John Adams

• Disputed Election of 1800– Jefferson defeats Adams in election

of 1800 because Federalist had raised taxes to prepare for a war with France that never came…Feds also had split over war with France and didn’t fully support Adams…Alien and Sedition were incredibly unpopular

– Federalist Legacy• Hamilton's financial policies/loose

interpretation• Precedents of Washington’s

administration• NO WAR with France• Preserved democratic gains of the

Revolution• Opposition to Hamiltonian Federalists

created first two-party system– John Adams steps aside– Friends burry the old hatchet