Unit 3 - Four Presidents

History (Everett)

First 4 presidents in order

1. George Washington

2. John Adams

3. Thomas Jefferson

4. James Madison

Where was Washington sworn in as Pres

NYC (Capitol city)

Building judicial branch (who’s presidency?)

(W) First tasks, building federal court system

• Supreme court have a chief of justice & 5 associate judges

• Section 25 - Allowed state court decisions to be appealed to a federal court

Building executive branch (who’s presidency?)

(W)

• Secretary of State (Jefferson)

• Secretary of War (Henry Knox)

• Secretary of the Treasury (Hamilton)

Major domestic issues under Washington

• Assumption of state debt 

• National Bank Debate

• Political parties

• Whiskey Rebellion

Assumption of state debt (who’s presidency?)

(W)

• States were in alot of debt

• Hamilton wanted fed gov to take over the debt. 

- Cons - increase gov’s debt & Southern states already paid and worried taxes would go up to pay Northern debts.

- Pros - W make creditors support fed gov

National Bank Pros and Cons (who’s presidency?)

W

• Hamilton wanted National bank

- issue paper money

- handle tax receipts

- handled other gov funds

• Jefferson opposed

- Create unhealthy alliance between rich + Fed Gov

- Nothing in constitution that allows for it

IT PASSED

What ways did Hamilton convince southerners to accept National Bank (who’s presidency?)

Proposed moving the capitol from NYC to the South (Washington D.C.)

Democratic - Republicans

Favored stronger state gov and strict construction of constituiton

Federalists

Favored strong central gov and loose construction of constitution

What question did political parties form over

Power + Size of the federal government

Washington thoughts on Political Parties

He hated them and believed they’d tear the country apart

Whiskey Rebellion (who’s presidency?)

W

• Congress passed protective tariff

• Hamilton wanted an excise tax on whiskey

• Farmers in Western PA refused to pay, beat up federal marshals + threatened to leave the country (Secede)

• Washington responded by sending in 15,000 Militiamen

• Significance - Consolidation of federal power in domestic affairs

Washingtons foreign policy issues

• France

• Great Britain

• Native Americans

• Spain

Washington’s foreign policy Issue (France)

• Most Americans first supported the French Revolution but got scared when Radicals took over

• US & France had alliance created by the Treaty of 1778 (during Revolutionary War). F expected help

• DR: wanted to support French

• Federalists: wanted to support British

• Citizen Genet: tried to recruit Americans for the war against Great Britain (which violated American neutrality

Washington’s foreign policy response (France)

• -Washington issued a declaration of neutrality (the US would not support either side) in 1793

  -Genet was allowed to stay and became a US citizen

Washington’s foreign policy Issue (Native Americans)

• Pioneers were moving into the newly won territory

• NA never accepted the terms of the Treaty of Paris

• Native Americans continued to claim their tribal lands and demanded negotiation with US

• Native Americans attacked white settlers

• Fights with the Miami tribe in which NA won

Washington’s foreign policy response (Native Americans)

Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794)

• Washington sent General Anthony Wayne to lead federal troops against NA

• Defeated Miami Confederacy (Alliance of fighting NA tribes)

• Ended Native American resistance in Ohio

• Treaty of Greenville - NA Agree to give up most land claims in OH for goods + annual payment of $10k

Washington’s foreign policy Issue (Great Britain)

• British and Americans disputed who would control territory west of the Appalachian Mts

• British were still in forts in the Northwest Territory (after Battle of Fallen Timbers Americans built a fort nearby too)

Washington’s foreign policy response (Great Britain)

Jays Treaty (1794)

• Due to victory at Fallen Timbers, British agreed to evacuate their posts in the Northwest Territory

• British were allowed to continue their fur trade on the American side of the US-Canadian border

Washington’s foreign policy Issue (Spain)

• Americans wanted land claims west of the Appalachians and shipping rights on the Mississippi river

• Spain agreed to meet with US minister Thomas Pinckney when it feared British retaliation for it signing a treaty with France

Washington’s foreign policy response (Spain)

Pinckney’s Treaty (Treaty of San Lorenzo - 1795)

• Spain gave up claims east of the Mississippi river (except Florida)

• Recognized 31st parallel as US border

• Opened MS river to US citizens and gave access to the port of New Orleans

Election of 1796

• John Adams (F) vs T. Jefferson (DR)

• First partisan election (Based on political parties)

Why was the electoral college flawed

• Each elector cast 2 votes foor pres

• Candidate with most votes becomes pres; candidate with 2nd most becomes pres

• John Adams becomes pres 

• Jefferson becomes vice pres

• 12 amendment fixes this

Concerns for Adams presidency

• Has to fill Washington’s shoes

• Hated by Hamilton

• Inherited violent quarrel with France

Jay’s treaty (1794) (Who’s presidency?)

W

• Treaty between U.S and GB; increased trade between the countries; British agreed to abandon their forts and Americans agreed to pay off their debt

- Angers France; start seizing US ships

Adams goal with France

Avoid war

XYZ Affair (Who’s presidency?)

J.A. 

• Adams sent envoys to France to meet with foreign minister (Talleyrand)

• Envoys were approached by 3 “go betweens” (X,Y,Z)

• (x,y,z) Demanded a loan + bribe to meet with foreign minister

• Results in Anti - French fever across US

- Feds delighted (Strengthened feds because DR supported French)

- Undeclared Naval Quasi-War breaks out (US + F)

• Congress creates department of the Navy

Alien & Sedation Acts (1798) (Who’s presidency?)

J.A.

• Goal; Minimize voice of DR

• Made citizenship harder —> From 5 yrs to 14 yr

• Can deport immigrants (not citizens) in times of hostilities

• Ppl who spoke out against gov could be in Jail up to 5 yrs 5k fine

Alien & Sedation Acts Response (Who’s presidency?)

J.A.

• Kentucky + Virginia Resolutions (Jefferson and Madison’s response)

- Says that the 13 states entered a compact to form the fed gov

- States should be the judge of wether the federal gov has surpassed its powers

- Nullified Alien & Sedation Acts

Election of 1800

AKA revolution of 1800

• Jefferson wins (Jefferson + Burr tie)

• Significant cuz first peaceful, democratic transfer of power from one political party to another

• Feds in decline

Midnight Judges

Judiciary act of 1801; Reorganized federal court system

• Adams last night in office, appointed 16 federal judges to pack the courts

• Called midnight judges

• Packed with federalist leaning judges (Adams wanted to control future federal judicial decisions)

• Resulted in one of most important Supreme Court Cases

- Marbury vs. Madison - set up concept of judicial review

Peace with France after Adams

Convention of 1800: Annulled the 22 yr alliance between US and F

• Ends Quasi-War

• Allows US to re-firm Neutrality