Early American Presidents

Judiciary Act of 1789

A law passed by the first Congress to establish the federal court system.

Cabinet

A group of advisers to the president.

George Washington

1st President of the United States; commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution (1732-1799)

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist. Created the First National Bank.

Thomas Jefferson

3rd President of the United States. Democrat-Republican.

Bank of the United States

Proposed by Alexander Hamilton as the basis of his economic plan. This would be a way to collect taxes collected and make a strong national currency.

District of Columbia

Area set aside along the banks of the Potomac River for the new national capital, Washington, D.C.

Federalists

One of the first political parties. Supported a strong national government and a national bank.

Democrat, Republican

One of the first political parties to form. This party objected to political power remaining in the hands of the wealthy, wanted to retain states power.

two-party system

An electoral system with two dominant parties that compete in national elections.

Whiskey Rebellion

1794 protest against the government's tax on whiskey by back country farmers. Suppressed by Washington - showed power of Federal Government.

Sectionalism

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

Alien and Sedition Acts

acts passed by federalists giving the government power to imprison or deport foreign citizens and prosecute critics of the government

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

Resolutions passed in 1798 that attacked the Alien and Sedition Acts as being unconstitutional. Said states could ignore laws they deemed unconstitutional.

Washington's Farewell Address

He warned against the dangers of political parties and foreign alliances.

Aaron Burr

Jefferson's Vice President; killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel

Marshall Court

Asserted federal power over states (McCulloch v. Maryland, Gibbons v. Ogden, Cohens v Virginia); judicial branch determined the meaning of Constitution (Marbury v. Madison)

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established judicial review; "midnight judges;" John Marshall; power of the Supreme Court.

Judicial Review (Marbury v. Madison)

The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional

Lousiana purchase

Land purchased from France doubling the size of the U.S.

Louis and Clark

Sent by Thomas Jefferson to Explore west of the Mississippi River (The Louisina Purchase)

Sacajawea

native american woman who served as a guide an interpreter for the lewis and clark expedition

War of 1812

A war (1812-1814) between the United States and England which was trying to interfere with American trade with France.