Notes & connections: details of issues, concepts, themes & events
1789 Washington inaugurated
1790 Capital moved from Philadelphia to New York
1791 Bill of Rights enacted
1791 First Bank of the United States
1793 Washington's 2nd term
1793 "Citizen Genet" episiode
1794 Whiskey Rebellion
1795 Jay's Treaty
1796 Pinckney's Treaty
1798: Alien & Sedition Acts
1798-99 Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
1800: Washington, D.C. opened
BIG IDEAS
Washington administration challenges & precedents
assertion of federal powers
Hamilton-Jefferson split
rise of political parties
Adams presidency
avoidance of war with France over the XYZ Affair & naval clashes w/ French ships
National Debt
Congress passed taxes to help pay Revolutionary War debts
1790 "Tariff of 1790" designed to reduce federal debt by taxing
1791 "Whiskey Act" imposed excise tax on sale of alcohol
Residence Act of 1790 set location of Washington, DC in the South in exchange for national assumption of state debts from the War (principally northern states)
Whiskey Rebellion 1794
Whiskey Act extremely unpopular
Washington asserted Federal power to enforce the tax
Hamilton "Report on Manufactures"
promoted activist Federal governance re. economy
European wars & domestic U.S. politics
pro-British or pro-French sentiments in U.S.
Washington Farewell Address
warned against political parties
warned against "foreign entanglements"
Adams presidency
avoided war with France
marked by severe political partisanship
Alien & Sedition Acts
"Midnight appointments"
Alien & Sedition Acts 1798
restricted naturalization (citizenship)
criminalized "false statements"
allowed imprisonment & deportation of "dangerous" non-citizens
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
state legislatures declared Alien & Sedition Acts unconstitutional
states rights & "strict construction" of Constitution
Washington presidency, 1789-1797
the reluctant President
click EXPAND for excerpt from Washington expressing his reluctance to become president
in 1788, Washington wrote:
I should unfeignedly rejoice, in case the Electors, by giving their votes to another person would save me from the dreaded dilemma of being forced to accept or refuse... If that may not be–I am, in the next place, earnestly desirous of searching out the truth, and knowing whether there does not exist a probability that the government would be just as happily and effectually carried into execution without my aid."
establish and protect the powers of the executive branch
ensure popular support for new government
tours of 1789, 1790, 1791 were designed to promote national unity, display presidency, and promote his policies
consolidate U.S. territory, especially regarding Northwest Territories and Southern borders with Spain
election of 1789
prior to the 12th amendment (1803), the President and Vice President were selected by 1st and 2nd place in the Electoral College, with each Elector casting two votes
Washington received a unanimous 69 votes (one from each Elector)
John Adams won 2nd place with 34 votes, with rest split between ten other candidates
Bill of Rights adopted 1791 (BOR)
agreement between Federalists and Anti-Federalist in adopting the Constitution in 1789
BOR limits federal power
application of BOR to state laws comes in late 19th/ early 20th centuries
= “incorporation” of the Bill of Rights
Constitution was for the federal government only
14th amendment starts the process of “incorporating” the Constitution, esp. BOR into state law
Hamilton-Jefferson split
thought to be largely over enactment of the First National Bank
Jefferson vehemently opposed a national bank, fearing its impact on sectional divisions
Washington reluctantly signed the bill following Hamilton's advice
Residence Act of 1790
location was disputed
deal made for Maryland-Virginia border in exchange for assuming national debt
Virginia wanted the location
Hamilton and New York wanted national assumption of war debts
established permanent capitol along Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia
Congress wanted a "federal" district of its own governance so as not to rely on a state
named for George Washington
territory ceded by Virginian and Maryland
Hamilton's 1791 "Report on Manufactures"
argued for federal support of domestic industry, including
protective tariffs
promote skilled labor immigration
federal investment in transportation infrastructure
laid basis for basic political/ ideological split
=== rise of Political parties ===\
Founders used the term "faction" for aligned groups, whereas political parties have formal organziations and identies
arose in Washington's 2nd term based on existing political alliances and perspectives
Federalists:
Adams, Hamilton
pro-national bank, pro-Fed gov powers, interpret constitution loosely, pro industry & commerce, pro-British
party starts to die out after 1812 War (opposed)
Democratic-Republicans
Jefferson, Madison
anti-national bank, states’ rights, interpret constitution strictly, pro farming, pro-French
Constitutional interpretations
enumerated powers
= powers specifically listed in Constitution
ex. Article I, Section 8: Congress shall have the power to...
implied powers
“necessary and proper” = implied powers required to enforce enumerated powers
strict construction
= word for word interpretation
advocated by Jefferson and Madison
Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions called for it
broad or loose construction (interpretation)
= interpreted “necessary and proper” loosely, expansively
advocated by Adams and Hamilton
European conflicts
click EXPAND for list of French Revolution & Napoleonic era wars
1791-1798
War of First Coalition
European monarchies challenge France over the French Revolution
France somewhat expands geographically but loses overeaas territories
Spread of French Revolution ideology
Rise of Napoleon starting 1795
1799-1802
War of the Second Coalition
continued French victories
France invades Egypt
Napoleon consolidates power
1803-1815
2nd row 1st cell
Napoleonic Wars
broken into five "coalition" wars
France briefly conquers most of Europe
only Britain and Portugal maintain full independence
following disastrous 1812 invasion of Russia, Napoleon weakened and suffers defeat by energized "Sixth Coalition
Napoleon exiled to Elba, an island off coast of Italy, but returns a year later and starts the "Hundred Days War" (War of 7th coalition)
Napoleon defeated at Waterloo, Belgium in 1815 and is sent to the British island, St. Helena, in the south Atlantic ocean
various wars and clashes between European alliances centered around Britain and France
Americans were largely sympathetic with French Revolution (1789-1799)
especially as anti-British
however, partisan lines were drawn over European situation
partisanship grew into pro-British or pro-French sentiments
pro-British = Federalists, warned against radical change and extremes in French Revolution (not pro-monarchy)
Adams, Hamilton
pro-French = liberal, celebrating downfall of French monarchy and rise of democracy, ignoring its extremes; or simply anti-British,
Jefferson, Madison, Thomas Payne (who went to France to participate in the Revolution)
Citizen Genet affair, 1793
French government sent Edmond-Charles Genêt to the U.S. to
build support for its cause
tp promote anti-British sentiments & encourage American attacks on British merchant ships
he issued "letters of marque and reprisal," which legalized attacks on British ships on behalf of France
Washington was infuriated by the interference
issued the Proclamation of Neutrality on April 22, 1793 stating the America was neutral in the French / British conflict
Jay's Treaty (or "Jay Treaty")
Secretary of State John Jay negotiated a treaty with England that:
ensured US neutrality in British-French wars
opened US ports to British and British ports in Caribbean to Americans
British evacuated all remaining Western forts (was part of terms of Treaty of Paris, 1783, ending Revolutionary War)
= leaving Northwest territories to the U.S.
U.S. agreed to pay certain Revolutionary War debts
the Treaty was unpopular, especially in southern states
Senate approved the treaty and the House appropriated funding for its enactment, but only after bitter debate
the Jay Treaty episode further solidified the partisan/ ideological divide between Hamiltonians and Jeffersonians
in 1796, House of Representative demanded internal Executive branch documents regarding the Treaty
Washington refused to deliver them
= establishing "executive privilege"
"Pinckney's Treaty"
formal name: "Treaty of San Lorenzo"
agreement w/ Spain provided
US access to Mississippi River
removal of Spanish forts on US lands
promise from Spain to help stop Indian attacks on US settlers
Washington declines to run for a 3rd term
= important example of a leader stepping down from power and supporting a peaceful transfer of power
sets precedent for two-term limit for presidents
precedent was honored until FDR, although Teddy Roosevelt ran for a third term in 1912 (and lost)
Washington's "Farewell Address"
a "valedictory address" (via written statement) to the American people in order to articulate his most important advice:
follow the Constitution (rule of law) in order to ensure "that your union and brotherly affection may be perpetual"
especially in order to resolve differences
avoid "combinations and associations" (factions or alliances) that would subvert the Constitution and the national laws
avoid the "baneful effects of the spirit of party" (political parties)
warned against "a small but artful and enterprising minority" faction to seize power and subvert the Union
warned against "geographical discriminations" (sectional blocks)
avoid "foreign entanglements" (getting mixed up in the affairs of other countries, especially in Europe)
click EXPAND for excerpt from Washington's Farewell Address:
The unity of government which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you. It is justly so; for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad, of your safety, of your prosperity, of that very liberty which you so highly prize. But as it is easy to foresee that, from different causes and from different quarters, much pains will be taken, many artifices employed, to weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth; as this is the point in your political fortress against which the batteries of internal and external enemies will be most constantly and actively (though often covertly and insidiously) directed, it is of infinite moment that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national Union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment to it; accustoming yourselves to think and speak of it as of the palladium of your political safety and prosperity; watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety; discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion that it can in any event be abandoned; and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts
Congress imposed a "direct tax" upon all of the states
= a federal tax apportioned by population per state
the "Direct House Tax of 1798" was calculated by houses, lands, and slave ownership
the only time a direct tax was ever imposed by Congress
the tax was unpopular
in 1799, John Fries, a German-American, organized resistance to the tax in Pennsylvania
local militia captured tax "assessors" (who were to "assess" property values for the tax assessment)
Federal marshals arrested resistance leaders, but local groups liberated them
Adams ordered federal troops to arrest the insurgents
Fries and others were arrested and charged with treason
Adams granted amnesty to them in 1800
Washington DC opened as national capital, 1800
"Federal City" opened
capitol moved from New York
Adams first President to occupy the White House
Supreme Court was located in the Capitol building
initial population was 14,093
Midnight appointments
after election of 1800
last minute appointments by Adams for 60 federal positions at end of his administration to fill offices with loyalists/federalists
including appointment of John Marshall as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Jefferson mocked the appointees as "Midnight Judges"
several appointments were not delivered before end of Adams administration, including one to William Marbury
the new Jefferson administration refused to deliver them
in 1801 Marbury sued the government under grounds that he had been duly appointed
Leads to the "landmark" case, Marbury v. Madison that established judicial review (see below)
Other concepts & terms:
new States in 1790s
Vermont (territory ceded by New York) 1791
Kentucky (“western”), 1792
Tennessee (“western”), 1796
Northwest Territories and Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Northwest-territory-usa-1787
in 1878 the Continental Congress organized land ceded by England north of the Ohio River to the Great Lakes into a "territory"
was first post-colonial "incorporated territory" = formally organized and governed by Federal government
American settlers moving into the Territory sparked conflicts with Native tribes, known as the Northwest Indian War
Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne, commander of the American Army and Revolutionary War hero, defeated Native resistance at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794
Treaty of Greenville (1795) with the Western Confederacy, Native American Tribes led by the Delaware (tribe), formally opened the Territory to settlement
Federalists
Democratic-Republicans
Leaders
Adams, Hamilton
Jefferson, Madison
Policies
pro-national bank, pro-Fed gov powers, interpret constitution loosely, pro industry & commerce, pro-British
anti-national bank, states’ rights, interpret constitution strictly, pro farming, pro-French
Notes
party diminishes after War of 1812 War which it opposed and due to Monroe's adoption of some Federalist policies (bank, tariff: see Era of Good Feelings)
becomes Democratic party; Jefferson considered its founder
1800-1810 Jefferson & Madison administrations
PERIOD / TIMELINE
Major Events, Concepts & Themes
Notes & connections: details of issues, concepts, themes & events
timeline here
1800 Revolution of 1800
1801-1805 Jefferson presidency 1st term
1802 Louisiana Purchase
1805-1809 Jefferson presidency 2nd term
1809-1813 Madison presidency 1st term
18
18
18
BIG IDEAS
Jefferson presidency
settled partisan rancor from Adams presidency and election of 1800
roll-back of Federalist policies
Louisiana Purchase
Marbury v Madison
landmark case establishes judicial review
European wars continued impact on domestic U.S. politics
trade disruption, embargoes, blockades
Revolution of 1800
marked peaceful transition of power despite bitter partisanship
Jefferson inaugural address
subsection 2
Major Events here
Revolution of 1800
the election of 1800 was bitter
Democratic-Republican party (Jefferson and Burr) accused Federalists of being monarchists
Federalists accused Jefferson of loyalty to radical French revolutionaries
pamphlets
first transition of power from one faction to another without violence
electoral college results:
Jefferson & Burr tied with 73 votes
Adams won 65 votes
Federalists majority in the House ultimately decided for Jefferson
Jefferson Inaugural Address, 1801
sought to reconcile bitterness between parties/factions
“We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists”
roll-back of Federalist policies
the new Democratic-Republican dominated Congress:
repealed the Alien and Sedition Act
abolished internal taxes
reduced the size of the army and navy
despite reservations, Jefferson agreed to keep the First Bank of the United States
Supreme Court maintained Federalist ideologies under Chief Justice John Marshall
Louisiana Purchase, 1802
Secretary of State James Monroe was sent to France to negotiate purchase of Louisiana Territory
under Napoleon, the French had acquired Louisiana from the Spanish
the French army sent to put down the rebellion was the largest European army ever sent to the Americas
with loss of Haiti, the French no longer needed New Orleans as a shipping point for Haitian trade
France offered to sell it for $15 million
Federalists opposed it because it would eventually add more southern states
Jefferson based power to purchase on executive powers of diplomacy
Essex Junto
group of New England Federalists who advocated secession by New England (and against the 1780 Massachusetts constitution)
were sympathetic to England and opposed trade restrictions which severely impaired the New England economy
most organizers were from Essex County, MA
John Adams and John Hancock called them the "Essex Junto" as an insult
principal leader Rep. Thomas Pickering vehemently opposed Jefferson's anti-British trade acts
the Junto wanted Hamilton to join, but he refused to join their movement and plots
in 1804 they approached Aaron Burr who was sympathetic
supported the """Hartford Convention which met in 1814-15 in opposition to the War of 1812
during the war, the group was called the "Blue Lights" because they used blue lights to warn British warships of American vessels that were trying to run the British blockade or as a signal to the British to smuggle goods with them
events and personalities regarding the Essex Junto led to the Burr-Hamilton duel of 1804, in which Burr killed Hamilton
12th Amendment to the Constitution, 1804
in response to the contested election of 1800
(Jefferson and Burr tied in electoral college vote, so the House of Representatives decided the election)
also in response to partisanship during Adams administration:
President Adams was Federalist
Vice President Jefferson was Democratic-Republican
also in response to Vice Presidency of Aaron Burr under Jefferson
Burr and Jefferson were both Democratic-Republicans
but Jefferson and Burr did not get along, and Jefferson did not consult Burr on Administration decisions
made sense to combine President and Vice President candidates as a single ticket
so the Electoral College votes are for combined "ticket" of President and Vice President candidates
European blockades of US ports
British-French conflict again disrupts U.S. trade and politics in 1805
blockades of U.S. ports by both French and British
British commences impressment of US sailors
= seizing American sailors to serve of British warships
British claimed any sailor born in England or had previously served on a British warship had to serve Britain
the Chesapeake-Leopard affair sparked U.S. outrage over British impressment
the British HMS Leopard boarded the U.S. Chesapeake and took four crew members and hanged one for desertion
New England trade economy collapses
Non-importation Act of 1806 = embargo on British goods in response to British impressment of American sailors
Embargo Act of 1807 = US response to blockades, shut down trade
Non-Intercourse Act of 1809 reopened trade w/ other nations except Britain and France
ongoing tensions over trade, blockades, and impressment will lead to the War of 1812
Macon's Bill no. 2" 1808 reopens U.S. trade with Britain and France
France agrees to trade with the U.S. in exchange for not trading with Britain
British respond
Madison presidency, 1809-1817
1810s Madison & Monroe administrations
PERIOD / TIMELINE
Major Events, Concepts & Themes
Notes & connections: details of issues, concepts, themes & events
timeline here
1809-1813 Madison presidency 1st term
1812-1815 War of 1812
1813-1817 Madison presidency 2nd term
1816 Election of James Monroe
1817-1821 Monroe presidency 1st term
>>
note spacing between lines using <br><br> code
BIG IDEASFrench/ British blockades
British impressment of U.S. sailors
Indian Wars in Northwest Territories
border dispute w/ Canada
War of 1812
Monroe & the ""Era of Good Feelings"
>>
subsection
>>
subsection
>>
=== subheading
>>details
=== subheading
>>details
=== subheading
>>details
=== subheading
>>details
xx adminstrations
PERIOD / TIMELINE
Major Events, Concepts & Themes
Notes & connections: details of issues, concepts, themes & events
timeline here
18xx xxxx
>>
>>
note spacing between lines using <br><br> code
BIG IDEASsubsection
>>
subsection
>>
subsection
>>
subsection
>>
=== subheading
>>details
=== subheading
>>details
=== subheading
>>details
=== subheading
>>details
= xx administrations
PERIOD / TIMELINE
Major Events, Concepts & Themes
Notes & connections: details of issues, concepts, themes & events
timeline here
18xx xxxx
>>
>>
note spacing between lines using <br><br> code
BIG IDEASsubsection
>>
subsection
>>
subsection
>>
subsection
>>
=== subheading
>>details
=== subheading
>>details
=== subheading
>>details
=== subheading
>>details
xx administrations
PERIOD / TIMELINE
Major Events, Concepts & Themes
Notes & connections: details of issues, concepts, themes & events
timeline here
18xx xxxx
>>
>>
note spacing between lines using <br><br> code
BIG IDEASsubsection
>>
subsection
>>
subsection
>>
subsection
>>
=== subheading
>>details
=== subheading
>>details
=== subheading
>>details
=== subheading
>>details
xx administrations
PERIOD / TIMELINE
Major Events, Concepts & Themes
Notes & connections: details of issues, concepts, themes & events
timeline here
18xx xxxx
>>
>>
note spacing between lines using <br><br> code
BIG IDEASsubsection
>>
subsection
>>
subsection
>>
subsection
>>
=== subheading
>>details
=== subheading
>>details
=== subheading
>>details
=== subheading
>>details
xx administrations
PERIOD / TIMELINE
Major Events, Concepts & Themes
Notes & connections: details of issues, concepts, themes & events
timeline here
18xx xxxx
>>
>>
note spacing between lines using <br><br> code
BIG IDEASsubsection
>>
subsection
>>
subsection
>>
subsection
>>
=== subheading
>>details
=== subheading
>>details
=== subheading
>>details
=== subheading
>>details
xx administrations
PERIOD / TIMELINE
Major Events, Concepts & Themes
Notes & connections: details of issues, concepts, themes & events