Chapter 8: Securing the Republic 1791–1815 - U.S. Politics, Foreign Policy, and Expansion

Why did American leaders want to avoid political parties?

They feared factions would divide the nation and threaten unity.

Who was Jefferson in Washington's cabinet?

Secretary of State.

Who was Hamilton in Washington's cabinet?

Secretary of the Treasury.

What were Hamilton's immediate financial goals?

Establish credit, pay off debts, stabilize the economy.

What was Hamilton's long-term purpose?

Make the U.S. a commercial and military power like Britain.

Why did Hamilton want to pay national/state debts?

To build trust and tie wealthy creditors to the government.

Why did Hamilton want a new national debt?

To keep investors financially tied to America's success.

Why did Hamilton want a national bank?

Manage debt, issue currency, and support business.

How did Hamilton propose raising revenue?

With a whiskey tax.

Why did Hamilton want tariffs?

Protect American industry and encourage manufacturing.

Who supported Hamilton's plan?

Bankers, manufacturers, merchants.

Why did Madison & Jefferson oppose it?

Favored agrarian society, saw plan as enriching elites.

Why did Jefferson call it a plan for the wealthy?

Believed it favored northern financiers.

Why was the South against Hamilton's plan?

Few debts, less benefit, feared central power.

What is a 'strict constructionist'?

Someone who believed the Constitution should be interpreted literally (Jefferson's stance).

Why was the capital moved to the Potomac River?

Compromise to win southern support for Hamilton's plan.

Why did Jefferson support the French Revolution?

Saw it as an extension of liberty and republicanism.

How did Washington & Hamilton view it?

Feared chaos, leaned toward Britain.

What did Washington's proclamation declare?

Neutrality (despite alliance with France).

What was impressment?

British seizing American sailors for their navy.

What was Jay's Treaty?

Treaty with Britain; settled trade issues, angered many, spurred political opposition.

What were the first two parties?

Federalists and Republicans.

Federalists' beliefs/supporters?

Strong central government; bankers, merchants, elites.

What caused the Whiskey Rebellion?

Hamilton's whiskey tax.

Outcome of the Whiskey Rebellion?

Washington led troops, rebellion crushed, showed federal power.

Republicans' beliefs/supporters?

Agrarian society, states' rights; farmers, southerners.

How did parties criticize each other?

Federalists called Republicans anarchists; Republicans called Federalists monarchists.

How did citizens become more politically aware?

Newspapers, meetings, debates.

Role of post office/press?

Spread political news widely.

What were Democratic-Republican societies?

Political clubs promoting debate; seen by Federalists as dangerous.

What did Mary Wollstonecraft call for?

Equal education and rights for women.

Why was Judith Sargent Murray important?

Argued women had equal intellectual potential.

How did the Constitution treat women?

Ignored their political role.

What precedent did Washington set stepping down?

Peaceful transfer of power.

Two warnings in his Farewell Address?

Avoid political parties & foreign alliances.

Election of 1796 candidates?

Federalist John Adams vs. Republican Thomas Jefferson.

Who won president & VP?

Adams (President), Jefferson (Vice President).

What was the XYZ Affair?

French demanded bribes to negotiate; angered Americans.

What was the Quasi-War?

Undeclared naval war with France; ended peacefully.

Why were the Alien & Sedition Acts passed?

Federalists wanted to silence Republican critics.

Purpose of the Naturalization Act?

Lengthened time to become a citizen.

Purpose of the Alien Act?

Allowed deportation of foreigners deemed dangerous.

Purpose of the Sedition Act?

Criminalized criticism of the government.

Who was targeted under these acts?

Republican newspapers, immigrants, critics.

Who wrote the Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions?

Jefferson (Kentucky), Madison (Virginia).

What did the Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions call for?

States could nullify unconstitutional laws.

Why were people horrified by the Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions?

Threatened national unity.

How did Republicans mobilize voters in the Revolution of 1800?

Used newspapers, rallies, grassroots organizing.

Why was the election decided in the House in 1800?

Electoral tie between Jefferson & Burr.

Hamilton's role in the Revolution of 1800?

Backed Jefferson over Burr.

Who became president after the Revolution of 1800?

Thomas Jefferson.

What did Americans believe about politics after the Revolution of 1800?

That power could change hands peacefully.

What was the irony of 1800?

"Jefferson and Liberty" celebrated while slavery remained.

How did Congress respond to emancipation petitions?

Ignored them.

Why were Jeffersonians horrified by the Haitian Revolution?

Feared slave uprisings in America.

Who was Toussaint Louverture?

Leader of Haitian Revolution, former slave.

Outcome of Haitian Revolution?

Haiti gained independence (1804).

How did it inspire enslaved Americans?

Gave hope for rebellion and freedom.

How did white Haitians react to the Haitian Revolution?

Many fled to U.S., spreading fear of revolt.

What was Gabriel's plan?

Enslaved uprising in Virginia.

Gabriel's plan

Enslaved uprising in Virginia.

Outcome of Gabriel's Rebellion

Plot discovered; leaders executed.

Virginia legislature's response to rebellion

Stricter slave laws and repression.

Jefferson's quote on unity

Promised unity and inclusiveness.

Jefferson's actions in office

Repealed Sedition Act, cut taxes, reduced military, limited government.

John Marshall

Chief Justice, strong Federalist.

Marbury v. Madison

Judicial review—the Court can declare laws unconstitutional.

Jefferson's conviction abandoned for Louisiana Purchase

Strict constitutional interpretation.

Reason for Napoleon selling Louisiana

Needed money for wars, lost Haiti.

Jefferson's plan vs. reality regarding Louisiana

Wanted agrarian land, but U.S. became more expansive.

Goals of Lewis & Clark

Scientific discovery, trade, diplomacy.

Significance of Sacajawea

Shoshone guide who helped expedition.

Native American responses to U.S. expansion

Some traded/helped; most resisted U.S. control.

Change in slavery in Louisiana under U.S. control

Harsher laws, free people of color lost rights.

Barbary pirates

Attacked U.S. ships, demanded tribute.

Jefferson's refusal during Barbary Wars

Paying tribute.

Outcome of Barbary Wars

U.S. navy fought, proved American power.

Reason for France & Britain blockading U.S. trade

Napoleonic Wars.

Impressment

British forcing U.S. sailors into service.

Reason for Jefferson passing Embargo of 1807

To hurt Britain/France by banning U.S. exports.

Impact of the Embargo of 1807

Hurt American economy, especially merchants.

Reason for Madison reimposing embargo on Britain

Britain continued violating U.S. neutrality.

War Hawks

Young Republicans (Clay, Calhoun) pushing for war with Britain.

Reasons for Madison declaring war

British impressment, attacks on trade, support for Native resistance.

Opposition to the War of 1812

New England, merchants.

Support for the War of 1812

South, West, War Hawks.

British successes in the War of 1812

Captured D.C., burned White House.

Significance of Fort McHenry

Inspired Francis Scott Key to write "Star-Spangled Banner."

Outcome of Battle of Horseshoe Bend

Andrew Jackson defeated Creek Nation.

Significance of Treaty of Ghent

Ended war, restored prewar boundaries, no major changes.

Significance of Battle of New Orleans

Jackson's huge victory, boosted nationalism (fought after treaty).

Post-war movement of settlers

Westward expansion into Native lands.

What the war reaffirmed for the U.S.

Independence and unity.

What the war affirmed for Canada

Survival and distinct identity.

Fate of the Federalist Party

Collapsed after Hartford Convention (looked unpatriotic).