history

Judiciary Act of 1789

legislation passed by Congress that created the federal court system

Cabinet

group of officials who head government departments and advise the President

Bank of the us

a commercial bank that is authorized for use under the federal government

Democratic-Republicans

An early political party headed by Thomas Jefferson; stood for less centralized government; roots of Anti-Federalists.

Alexander Hamilton

First Secretary of the Treasury. He advocated creation of a national bank, assumption of state debts by the federal government, and a tariff system to pay off the national debt.

two-party system

A political system dominated by two major parties

Protective Tariff

A tax on imported goods that raises the price of imports so people will buy domestic goods

excise tax

a tax on the production, sale, or consumption of goods produced within a country. Notably, was put on whiskey.

Neutrality

to support neither side; neutral

Edmond Genet

French diplomat who tried to get American support and soldiers against the British

Thomas Pickney

U.S. minister to Great Britain, also wrote the Pickney Treaty with Spain

Little Turtle

Cheiftain of the Miami Tribe. Headed a confederacy of Native American groups

John Jay

First chief justice of the Supreme Court

Sectionalism

Placing interest to one's own region of the country, rather than to the nation as a whole

XYZ Affair

An insult to the American delegation when they were supposed to be meeting French foreign minister, Talleyrand, but instead they were sent 3 officials Adams called "X,Y, and Z" that demanded $250,000 as a bribe to see Talleyrand.

Alien Act and Sedition Acts

Made it harder to become a citizen and deported any immigrant deemed dangerous; jailed anyone who said and acted of anything bad about the government

Nullification

A right by the states to nullify, or consider void, any act of Congress by declaring unconstitutional.

Whiskey Rebellion

In 1794, farmers in Pennsylvania rebelled against Hamilton's excise tax on whiskey.