US Government Under George Washington

• The text discusses in great detail the foundation and early challenges of the US Government under George Washington, delving into domestic policies, economic strategies, and responses to international affairs, alongside the political shifts leading up to the election of 1800 and Thomas Jefferson's presidency.

George Washington

• He was viewed as an honest hero of the Revolution and was initially wanted to retire.
• Washington was convinced to run for president by friends.

Electoral College

• The Electoral College included delegates from 11 states that had ratified the Constitution.
• They met in January 1789 to elect the President of the US.
• George Washington was unanimously elected, and John Adams became Vice President.

First Lady Martha Washington

• Martha Washington entertained guests and attended social events with George.
• She managed the presidential household with style.

Republican Motherhood

• The Republican Motherhood idea emphasized women's role in teaching their children to be good citizens.
• Judith Sargent Murray and Abigail Adams were among those who supported the idea.
• Expectations for women were varied, with some not expecting participation in politics or business, but others hoping for more women to be involved.

Organizing the Government

• A precedent is defined as an action or decision that serves as an example in the future.
• The First Congress created departments in the executive branch.

Cabinet Members

• Thomas Jefferson was previously Ambassador to France and served as Secretary of State.
• Alexander Hamilton was the Secretary of Treasury.
• Henry Knox was the Secretary of War.
• Edmund Randolph was the Attorney General

Judiciary Act of 1789

• The Judiciary Act established the federal court system, including the locations for courts.
• It created 3 levels of federal courts and defined their powers and relationship to state courts.
• The Act also established federal district courts and circuit courts of appeals.
• Presidential nominees for federal judgeships are subject to Senate approval/rejection.

American Expectations for the Nation

• The population in 1790 was almost 4 million people
• Americans expected improved trade, free from too many restrictions and protection and a stable economy.
• The concept of one nation was a new idea.
• Most people lived in the countryside and worked farms.
• Farmers wanted fair tax laws plus the right to settle western lands, and no interference from government in daily lives and townspeople wanted help with businesses, simpler trade laws, and laws protecting them from foreign competitors.

United States of America

• Small cities existed with only NYC and Philadelphia having populations exceeding 25,000.
• NYC was the first capital of the US and represented the spirit of a new nation.
• Although Badly damaged, the city was already recovering from Revolutionary War damage and signs of British rule were being Removed

New York Stock Exchange

• NYC had a bustling economy.
• In 1792, approximately 24 stockbrokers on Wall Street signed an agreement, which formed the foundation for today's New York Stock Exchange.
• NYSE is the largest market for securities, or stocks, in the world.
• NYC's population topped 33,000 by 1790, growing rapidly and reflecting the potential future of the new nation.

Alexander Hamilton

• Alexander Hamilton was gifted in economics.
• As a teen, he helped run a shipping company in the British West Indies, he was sent to American colonies by family friends for education, and married into a wealthy NY family.
• He served as Washington's aide in the Revolution and as a delegate to four Continental Congresses.
• Hamilton later became Washington's Secretary of Treasury.

National Dept

• National Debt was Hamilton's biggest challenge
• The US owed about $11.7 million to foreign countries and $40.4 million to US citizens.
• US sold bonds during the Revolution to raise money, which were certificates of debt that carry a promise to buy back with interest added
• Desperate bondholders sold to speculators for less than their original value and speculators are people who buy items at low prices in hopes of a profit later.

Hamilton's Economic Plan

• Hamilton wanted to take on foreign & domestic debt by replacing creditors' old, low-value bonds with new, interest-bearing bonds, to build investor confidence in the stability of the new nation.
• Jefferson felt speculators should not be rewarded for taking advantage of desperate people.
• Hamilton’s plan sought to take over most of the states' $25 million Revolutionary War debts, which would free up state money for business and trade.
• This was controversial because states like VA and NC did not have many war debts; Patrick Henry felt it exceeded Congressional power to pay state debts.

Hamilton vs. Jefferson - Politics

• Hamilton believed in a strong federal government, while Jefferson wanted to protect the power of the states.
• Hamilton had little faith in average people, but Jefferson believed in others capacity to rule the country.

Hamilton's Economic Plan: Compromise

• The compromise was agreed to and promoted by Jefferson and Madison, which was to move the nation's capital to the South.
• The capital was first moved to Philadelphia, PA from 1791-1801.
• Washington later chose a place along the Potomac River, which included part of both MD & VA, later named Washington, DC.

Hamilton's Economic Plan: Gain Revenue

• To gain revenue the plan was to pass a tariff to both bring in revenue and help American manufacturers.
• This was opposed by Thomas Jefferson who wanted to protect farmers.

Hamilton vs. Jefferson – Economics

• The two economists were in disagreement
• Hamilton wanted new forms of economic growth and promoted manufacturing and business.
• Jefferson wanted to promote farming and believed farmers were the most independent voters.
• Hamilton wanted to pass higher protective tariffs, taxes that would raise the prices of foreign products to encourage Americans to buy U.S. goods.
• Jefferson opposed higher tariffs because he wanted to help farmers by keeping costs of goods low.

Hamilton's Economic Plan: Stabilize the Banking System

• The system would create a national bank where the government could safely deposit its money and make loans to the government and businesses and a national mint to make coins and issue the country's own currency and this was opposed by Jefferson and Madison.

Hamilton's Economic Plan: Proposed Compromise

• To limit the bank by a 20-year charter allowing Congress to reconsider and ask each state to start its own bank to prevent monopoly by the national bank.
• President Washington and Congress agreed with Hamilton and hoped the bank would stabilize the US economy and in February 1791, Congress enacted the charter for the Bank of the United States, the country's first national bank.

Hamilton vs. Jefferson - National Bank

• Hamilton was a loose constructionist of the Constitution and believed in "reasonable actions" by the federal government.
• Jefferson was a strict constructionist of the Constitution believing that if the Constitution does not say it, the power does not exist.
• Hamilton quoted the elastic clause to show Congress can "make all laws which shall be necessary and proper" to govern the nation.
• Jefferson (and Madison) believed a national bank gave too much power to the federal government and was unconstitutional, the term necessary does not equal convenient.

French Revolution

• The Bastille was a hated fortress & prison, a mighty symbol of royal power.
• It was attacked & captured by French people on 7/14/1789 as one of first acts of the French Revolution, a rebellion against the king and inspired by the American Revolution.
• It resulted in the overthrow and beheading of King Louis XVI & Queen Marie-Antoinette (1793) and in the establishment of a republican government.

American Response to the French Revolution

• Some worried about French violent riots and attacks on traditional authority.
• War between France and Great Britain caused to split on which side to support.
• Congress and Washington's cabinet were divided.
• Neutrality Proclamation said that the US would not take sides with any warring European countries.
• James Madison and others believed the president had exceeded his authority.

The French Question

• Edmond Genet, France's new representative to the US asked American privateers, private ships hired by a country to attack its enemies, to help France fight England and was told he was violating US neutrality.
• Even Jefferson, a supporter of the French Revolution agreed permitting French to use American privateers against England was unwise.

Hamilton vs. Jefferson - Foreign Policy

• Hamilton was pro-British and hoped to strengthen trading ties w/Britain, the most powerful trading nation at the time.
• Jefferson was pro-French and upset the US did not support France as they had supported the US, and he believed Hamilton had too much influence on the president's foreign policy and was interfering with Jefferson's role as secretary of state.
• Jefferson resigned from Washington's cabinet in 1793.

Other Threats to Neutrality

• British seized hundreds of neutral US merchant ships carrying food to French West Indies, assisted British officers helped Native Americans fight settlers.
• Washington sends Chief Justice John Jay to London to negotiate compromise.

Jay's Treaty (1794)

• Britain agreed to pay damages for seized ships and to abandon forts on the northwestern frontier, while the in return the US agreed to pay debts owed to British.

Response to Jay’s Treaty

• Violent protests and some thought the treaty hurt trade & did not punish Britain enough.
• Southerners wanted repaid for slaves freed by British during the Revolution.
• Washington reluctantly urged Senate approval of the treaty as best that could be done.

Spain

• There was a disputed border between US & Florida and closed port of New Orleans to US trade in 1784
• Ambassador Thomas Pinckney was sent by Washington to meet with Spanish officials to reopen New Orleans for trade, asked for right of deposit – no cargo fees – in New Orleans
• Pinckney remained patient when Spanish minister Manuel de Godoy stalled to gain advantage

Pinckney's Treaty (1795)

• It settled border and trade disputes, recognizing the US southern boundary as 31° north latitude and reopened the port at New Orleans to American ships and gave right of deposit
• The nation saw a new opened frontier to more expansion and this treaty was considered largely a success.
• Commander General Anthony Wayne was given command by Washington (1792) arriving in Ohio (1793).

General Anthony Wayne

• Wayne led men sick with smallpox & influenza, moved north & built Fort Greenville, remained for winter and built additional forts for protection & supply storage.
• Responded to Little Turtle's supply train attack by attacking NA towns & burning crops

End of Conflict

• British aid to NA ended.
• Little Turtle encouraged peaceful resolution.
• Wayne's troops defeated NA in the Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794) with an area named for where many trees were destroyed by a tornado.
• Broken strength of NA forces in the region when Wayne's forces burned NA villages & fields.

End of Conflict

• The war soon ended with Treaty of Greenville (1795), gave US claim to most NA lands in Northwest Territory, guaranteed safety of citizens there, provided $20,000 worth of goods to NA, acknowledging NA claim to lands still held.

The Whiskey Rebellion

• In 1791, Congress passed a tax on whiskey, part of Hamilton's plan to raise money for debt and test the power of the federal government to control state actions.

Reaction in the West

• There was bitter pushback about tax in western parts of states like PA, VA & NC and anger about a belief that the federal government did not protect settlers against NA attacks and did not allow enough opportunities for trade.
• Whiskey was easier for farmers to transport and equated to cash since it was rare, they believed the tax was aimed specifically at farmers, and disliked the distance to district courts where cases were tried.

Whiskey Rebellion Escalates

• Washington proclaimed law must be followed in 1792 although initially, protests were expressed peacefully.
• By 1794, fighting broke out and protestors refused to pay tax, with collectors being tarred and feathered by protestors.
• The new Sons of Liberty incidents spread to other states.

Washington's Response to Whiskey Rebellion

• There where fears that the rebels threatened the federal government's authority.
• The decision was made to make people understand the Constitution gave Congress the right to pass and enforce tax, Washington personally led army in military action against rebellion – first and only time a president has done this.
• Approaching western PA in November 1794 with 13,000 men, it ended without a battle as most rebels fled.

Washington Says Farewell

• Decided not to run for a third term because he was "Tired of public life”.
• He wanted to remind Americans that the people were the true leaders and set the precedent of two terms until Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
• Washington wrote his Farewell Address was written with the help of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison

Washington's Farewell Address

• Washington spoke of dangers to the American republic like foreign ties & domestic political conflict.
• He warned against forming permanent ties with other countries to avoid being drawn into war and believed disagreements between political groups weakened government – political unity was key to national success.
• Emphasized the need to Work out differences and protect independence and warned against too much public debt.

The Election of 1796

• The Election marked a New Era in US Politics being the first time more than one candidate was, and first time an election was dominated by the political rivalries of two parties.
• Political Parties are groups that help elect people and shape policies
• The Federalist Party was founded with help of Alexander Hamilton, supported a strong central government, supported industry and trade, generally supported by businesspeople in cities.
• Candidates were John Adams – not well liked in South and West but hoped for support given his years of service and Thomas Pinckney.
• The Democratic-Republican Party was founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, called members Republicans, wanted to limit the federal government's power, generally supported by farmers in more isolated areas.
• Candidates were Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr.

The Election of 1796 John Adams

• A leading Patriot, a foreign diplomat, a respected statesman who was hardworking, honest, and intelligent.
• Was not as dignified or physically imposing as Washington, and was cold and distant.
• It was considered unseemly to campaign for yourself.

John Adams and France

• Improving relations was one of Adams' first goals due to the the ongoing war between France and Great Britain.
• French harassing and seizing US ships so Adams Sends diplomats to Paris to negotiate a treaty protecting US shipping.

XYZ Affair

• US diplomats learned French foreign minister Talleyrand would not speak to them and instead met three French agents – X, Y & Z whom demanded a $250,000 bribe and a $12 million loan to the French government before discussion of a treaty
• US diplomats refused prompting Adams to use a report by the representatives using He used only X, Y & Z for the three French agents in reports to Congress that the diplomatic mission failed.
• This outraged Federalists demanded war with France, rallying, “Millions for defense but not one cent for tribute!”.

Adams’ Preparations for War

• He asks Congress to expand navy to > 30 ships and to create a peacetime army fearing a war France was una voidable (Congress agrees to both measures).
• To everyone surprise Adams stuns Federalists by not asking for declaration of war as he worries about the cost;
• Seeks to re open peace talks.

Peace Efforts

• and undecalred naval war beigns in the Caribean

Alien and Sedition Acts

• Include 4 laws (1798) that were claimed was to protect US while in actuality these whre Intended to crush opposition to war.
• The Sedition Act was the most controversial, forbidding publishing or voicing criticism of the federal government and Effectively canceling freedom of speech and freedom of the press

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

• Jefferson & Madison viewed acts as a misuse of governments' power.
• Wrote resolutions passed by the KY legislature in 1798 & VA legislature in 1799.
• It argued that Alien and Sedition Acts unconstitutional, interfered with state government, and pressured Congress to repeal the acts which Congress allowed to expire within a few years.

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

• and supported the idea of nullification, the constitutional theory that individual states can invalidate or cancel federal laws they deem unconstitutional leading up to the civil war

Election of 1800

• Federalist Party Candidates: 1) John Adams 2) Charles C. Pinckney (brother of Thomas)
• Democratic Republican Candidates: 1) Thomas Jefferson 2) Aaron Burr
• Was and still is considered “unseemly” campaign for yourself.
• The bitter insults were hurled by supporters of both sides’ parties.

Election of 1800

• Adams' supporters claimed Jefferson was pro-French radical allowing French Revolution violence would come to US if Jefferson won sought to destroy organized religion based on his interest in science and philosophy.
• Jefferson's supporters claimed Adams wanted to crown himself king evidenced by the Alien & Sedition Acts and would use the new permanent army to limit Americans' rights.
• The election results lead to all tied votes, the Thetie in ties result would be decided by Congress

Federalist party candidates

• John Adams – 65 Votes
• Charles C. Pinckney - 64 votes

Democratic republican party

• Thomas Jefferson – 73 Votes
• Aaron Burr - 73 Votes
• In Accordance With the constitution, the Thetie in ties result would be decided by Congress resulting in Jefferson securing victory on the third round

President Thomas Jefferson(1801-1809)

• the 12th Amendment as a result called for a separate ballot and would be ratified for presidential and vice presidential races.
• Tended to be less formal, walked to his 3/4/1801 inauguration, spoke softly, stressed need for limited government & protection of civil liberties
• He was Pleased the new national capital was independent of interests of any one state

Jefferson makes changes

• Chose James Madison as Secretary of State & Albert Gallatin as Secretary of Treasury.
• Wanted Alien & Sedition Acts to expire.
• Lowered military spending & reduced the size of the navy (cut to 7 active ships) hoping to repay national debt with $$ saved.
• He also asked Gallatin to find ways to eliminate domestic taxes like the whiskey tax, and was was advantaged by Democratic-Republican control of both houses of Congress that passed laws necessary to carry out these policies
• total number of govenment personel was said to be only 700 personnel

Primary functions of federal government were to

• Protect the the nation against foreign threats, deliver mail, collect customs duties
• However, Jefferson agreed that Hamilton's BUS should remain.

The Louisiana Purchase (1803)

• and at this time there was No port on Gulf of Mexico for US and the Port of New Orleans was previously controlled by Spain but secret treaty gave Louisiana back to France in 1801
• To counter the threat of Jefferson's fears of closed New Orleans he sent James Monroe sent to Paris to try to purchase it despite the risk Constitution doesn't say anything about purchasing foreign land.
• France offers to sell the entire territory for $15 million – about 3 cents/acre

###The Louisiana Purchase continued

• Monroe agreeing to purchase lead to more than doubling the land area and this was done in 1803.
• Although Jefferson and some Federalists in Congress challenged the constitutionality and had quick approval.

Lewis & Clark

• Jefferson asked Meriwether Lewis, his secretary, to lead an expedition to gather information on the new territory.
• Lewis then enlisted experienced frontiersman William Clark to join him as co-leader to lead the Corps of Discovery with 30 frontier soldiers with York, Clark's skilled slave and huner
• Also Sacagawea, a Shoshone Indian woman who agreed to guide the expedition when it reached Shoshone land near the Rocky Mountains as well

Lewis & Clark (continued)

• The expedition left St. Louis in May 1804, reached present-day North Dakota by October, reached the Pacific Ocean in November 1805, returnedto St. Louis by September 1806

Midnight Judges

• The Republicans controlled the presidency and Congress.
• Federalists passed Judiciary Act of 1801 just before control of Congress was lost.
• 16 new judges were selected by President Adams, whose position expired and it earned the the title of packing of the judiciary.

Marbury v. Madison

• Justices were appoited with documents before Adam's departure, but William Marbury not receiving his documents led to a case of non delivery now James Madison's resposiblility.
• Jefferson dismissed the the apointments as ivlaid and this led to Chief Justice John Marshall appointed by Adams ruling the parts od the 1789 Judiciary act as unconstitutional.

Marbury v. Madison: Ruling

• Justice Marshall denied authority to hear Marbury's case, but established the principle of judicial review, the power to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional.
• The ruling was later used to make the judiciary a stronger part of national government.