Early National Period Study Guide

The Early National Period spans from 1776 to 1817.
Key events include the formation of the Constitution and leadership under the first four presidents of the United States: George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison.

The United States declared independence from Great Britain in 1776.
The Second Continental Congress led the nation during this period but lacked legitimate authority for declaring independence.
The first official government was established under the Articles of Confederation, approved in 1777 but taking effect in 1781 after unanimous consent from all states.

The Articles created a weak government primarily out of fear of a strong federal government that suppressed individual rights.
The confederation consisted of only one legislative branch; there was no executive or judicial branch.
Each state had one vote, regardless of population, leading to equal representation.
Amendments to the Articles required unanimous consent, making changes exceedingly difficult.
Enacting laws required three-quarter approval from the states, creating deadlocks in governance.

The Confederation Congress had four limited powers: 1. Settling disputes between states (e.g., a dispute over the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia). 2. Declaring war (preventing individual states from engaging in conflicts). 3. Signing peace treaties (to ensure unified foreign policy). 4. Raising funds by borrowing or printing money, but lacking the power to tax. - Example of governmental borrowing during the Revolutionary War - sought loans from wealthy individuals and foreign nations.

Financial issues arose because the Confederation Congress could not tax, leading to instability: - Extensive reliance on loans from influential figures like Ben Franklin and foreign nations. - Printing money without sufficient backing led to hyperinflation, e.g., the cost of bread spiked from 3 cents to over $100 in paper money by 1783.

By 1787, the inadequacies of the Articles prompted a Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
The resulting U.S. Constitution established a government with three branches: legislative (Congress), executive (President), and judicial (Supreme Court).
Key addition: the power to tax, which was crucial for governmental operation and military funding.
The Constitution aimed to create a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch from dominating the government. - Legislative approval required from both houses of Congress for laws, presidential veto power, judicial review by the courts.

The Preamble sets the purpose of government not only to guarantee freedoms but also to ensure national survival and rights for all citizens.
It implies that some individual rights may need to be sacrificed for the greater good.

The Constitution was approved in 1788 and became effective in 1789, requiring ratification from two-thirds of the states.

Washington was inaugurated as the first president in 1789 and established important precedents: - Served two terms (1789-1797), emphasizing the need for new leadership periodically. - The title “Mr. President” was chosen to maintain equality among citizens instead of royal-like titles.

The Federalist Party, led by Alexander Hamilton, believed in: 1. Exclusivity in voting rights for wealthy Caucasian men over 21, equating wealth with virtue. 2. An industrialized economy akin to Great Britain’s. 3. Strong ties with Great Britain in foreign policy.
The Democratic-Republican Party, founded by Thomas Jefferson, advocated for: 1. Broad suffrage for all Caucasian men over 21 regardless of wealth. 2. A predominantly agrarian society with a focus on small farms. 3. A preference for alliances with France over Britain.

Washington publicly opposed political parties and emphasized neutrality in foreign affairs. He believed loyalty should be to the nation rather than political factions.

John Adams, the only federalist president (1797-1801), faced issues arising from Jay's Treaty (1794) and conflicts with France leading to the Quasi-War.
Adams enacted the Alien and Sedition Acts (1798) to protect against perceived threats from immigrants and control dissent: - Alien Act: allowed the president to arrest foreigners without cause. - Naturalization Act: extended citizenship wait times from 4 to 12 years to limit Democratic-Republican influences. - Sedition Act: restricted freedom of speech against the government.

Marked the first transfer of power between political parties. Jefferson defeated Adams under the cloud of Sedition Act issues.
Jefferson and Burr tied in the electoral votes, leading to a decision by the House of Representatives, ultimately electing Jefferson as president.

Jefferson dealt with ongoing tensions with France and Britain during his presidency.
He implemented the Embargo Act of 1807, cutting off trade to solve impressment issues, which harmed the American economy.
The Non-Intercourse Act followed to allow trade with other nations but maintained restrictions with Britain and France.

Declared in 1812 due to continued impressment and maritime conflicts. Resulted in military engagements against British forces.
Battle of New Orleans (1815) after the treaty was signed, was perceived as a major victory despite being tactically irrelevant.
The Treaty of Ghent formally ended the war in 1814 reinstating pre-war boundaries without territorial gains.

The early national period represents the formative years of the United States, characterized by struggles with governance, financial instability, and the establishment of political ideology, leading to the eventual challenge of burgeoning national identity and sectional divisions.