2.1 - Forging a Nation: The Federalist Era

Bill of Rights

1st 10 amendments, drafted  (12) by James Madison and approved by congress  (1791)

Alexander Hamilton

Secretary of Treasury, proposes financial plan the benefit northern aristocrats

Thomas Jefferson

Secretary of State, opposes Hamilton’s financial plan

Bank of the United States

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created as a result of Hamilton’s financial plan, Thomas Jefferson did not think the constitution gave them the power to make one but Hamilton argued that Article 1, Sect. 8 justified it through the Necessary and Proper Clause - an act that created an expansion of power

Federalists

people who support Hamilton’s vision, strong nat’l gov’t, support Britain and oppose (seen by other party as aristocrats who don’t want revolution)

Federalists

people who supported Hamilton’s vision for a strong central gov’t

Republicans

people who supported Thomas Jefferson vision for the US, support French Revolution (seen by other party as over enthusiastic)

1789

French Revolution started in

John Adams

elected Vice President in 1788, president 1796 - 1800

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions\

were political statements drafted in 1798 and 1799 in which the Kentucky and Virginia legislatures took the position that the federal Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional, and states should have the right to nullify national laws that were unconstitutional

Alien Acts

president has power to arrest and deport aliens suspected of treasonable beliefs

Sedition Acts

* Writing, printing or saying false scandalous, or malicious statements agains the gov’t punishable by fines and imprisonment

* Over 25 Republicans were arrested.

1798

When where the Alien and Sedition Acts passed

Revenue and Credit

Hamilton’s Financial Report (1790) focus on the need for…

Hamilton’s Financial Plan

1. Federal Assumption of state’s debts - states w/ big debt benefit, states w/ lil debt hurt

2. issuing bonds - basically loaning the gov’t money

3. creation of national bank - Federal Deposit, 20% stock owned by nat’l gov’t, 80% by wealthy private shareholders

4. new taxes - on rural farmers

5. tariffs - tax on imports, hurts American consumers

anti-federalists

Thomas Jefferson and James Madison

Compromise

Republican support in exchange for creation of a national capital closest to southern interests

(not actually a keyword)

Hamilton’s Vision

• Urban

• Commercial

• Industrial

• Engaged in world affairs

Jefferson’s vision

• agricultural

• Self-sufficient

• Rural

• Isolationists

Quasi War

War between the French ships attacking American merchant vessels trading with Britain (makes France the enemy)

Election of 1796

• John Adams Vs Thomas Jefferson

  • Adams (federalist) wins the most votes and becomes president

  • Jefferson (republicans) wins the second most votes becomes vice-president