Unit #5 Washington and Adams’ Presidencies Notecards

Washington’s precedents

Called “Mr. President,” no military uniform, two-term limit, only president to lead troops

Hamilton’s Financial Plan

debts Assumed all debts: foreign, state, and private

Why assume foreign debt

Earn respect and trust from other countries

Why assume state debt

Show the U.S. was one nation under a strong federal government

Why assume private bond debt

Gain citizens’ trust in the new government

How Hamilton paid off debt

National Bank, new bonds, tariffs, Whiskey Tax

Hamilton’s “horse trade”

Southerners backed his plan if the capital was placed in Washington, D.C.

Hamilton’s duel & Enlightenment hypocrisy

People valued reason, but pride and violence still ruled actions

Federalists – social group

Wealthy elites

Anti-Federalists – social group

Farmers and common people

Federalists – view on Constitution

Supported strong national government

Anti-Federalists – view on Constitution

Feared too much power

Federalists – foreign country favored

Britain

Anti-Federalists – foreign country favored

France

Federalists – national bank

Supported

Anti-Federalists – national bank

Opposed

Federalists – regional support

North

Anti-Federalists – regional support

South

Citizen Genet

French ambassador trying to get U.S. help vs. Britain

Washington’s neutrality

To keep the U.S. out of foreign wars

Washington’s farewell advice

Avoid foreign alliances and political parties

Why Jefferson became Adams’s VP

Runner-up became VP; fixed by 12th Amendment

XYZ Affair

French officials demanded bribes to negotiate

“Millions for defense…” hypocritical

U.S. refused bribes but spent money on the military

Alien & Sedition Acts

Limited immigrants and punished criticism of the government

Why Alien & Sedition Acts angered Jefferson’s followers

Violated free speech and states’ rights

Jefferson’s secret response

Wrote the Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions

Would SNL have been illegal?

Yes — criticizing the government could be punished