us federalists
Class Attendance and Reminders
Instructor calls out names to ensure attendance: Ian, Brianna, Maria, Brandon, Malak, Merritt, Carlo, Liam, Analyn, Amy, Elizabeth, Isabella, Traslyn Ramirez, Louie, Kavissola, Harrison, Jasmine, Aliyah, Alex, Josiah, Allison, Jeremiah, and Trulissa.
Reminder about upcoming Quizzes 7 and 8 and expectations about research regarding tissue moments.
American History Overview
The American Revolutionary War Conclusion
Peace of Paris: Official ending of the American Revolutionary War, recognizing the United States as an independent nation.
The territory of the new United States extends to the Mississippi River, encompassing more than just the original 13 colonies.
Key Issues Facing the New Nation
Territorial Governance and Government Structure:
Two main challenges:
Management of land acquired (territorial governance).
Establishing a functional government structure.
Articles of Confederation:
Aimed to create a weaker government in contrast to British rule, perceived as oppressive.
Resulted in a government deemed too weak to handle national issues, particularly in foreign policy.
Each state operated independently, leading to complications in international dealings (e.g., trade deals requiring unanimous consent from all 13 states).
Problems with the Articles of Confederation
Lack of federal authority:
No executive branch or federal courts.
No centralized revenue system (no treasury); inability to settle war debts.
Individual states had their own currencies, complicating interstate commerce.
Specific issues outlined:
Debt: Outstanding debts could not be resolved due to financial system weaknesses.
Commercial limitations: Mississippi River access restricted by Spanish control.
Northwest Ordinance
Legislation to organize western territories, paving the way for statehood.
Encompassed land that would become Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and parts of Minnesota.
Established the precedent for transforming territories into states with an emphasis on prohibiting slavery, highlighting federal power to inform slavery policy.
Shays' Rebellion
An uprising led by Daniel Shays against financial policies in Massachusetts that favored wealthy creditors over struggling farmers.
Demonstrated the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, revealing discontent with strict taxation laws and preference for payment in gold over paper currency.
The rebellion emphasized the need for a stronger federal government to maintain order.
Transition to the Constitution
Emergence of Federalists (e.g., Hamilton, Madison, Jay) advocating for a stronger government structure.
Philadelphia Convention:
Rather than amending the Articles of Confederation, the decision was made to create a new Constitution.
Establishment of a bicameral (two-chamber) legislature:
Senate (equal representation from each state) and House of Representatives (based on population).
Three-Fifths Compromise:
Slaves counted as three-fifths of a person for population purposes in congressional representation.
Government Structure Defined by the Constitution
Inclusion of an executive branch, legislative branch, and judicial branch (contrasting earlier system that lacked these elements).
Importance of checks and balances delineated in the Constitution to prevent any single branch from gaining too much power.
Ratification of the Constitution
Requirement for ratification by at least nine out of thirteen states, resulting in heated debate between Federalists and Anti-Federalists.
Anti-Federalists argued states would lose their sovereignty and expressed concerns about a powerful central government, reminiscent of the monarchy they had just fought against.
Compromise reached with addition of a Bill of Rights to address individual liberties and mitigate fears of government overreach.
Federalist Papers
A series of essays authored by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay advocating for ratification of the Constitution and addressing concerns raised by Anti-Federalists.
Key States in Ratification:
Massachusetts initially conditioned its ratification on the promise of a Bill of Rights, influencing future states to demand similar provisions.
Establishment of the New Government (1788)
First presidential election resulted in George Washington becoming the first president and John Adams as vice president, with the electoral college system.
Creation of executive departments:
Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State, Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Knox as Secretary of War.
The significance of the Treasury department for managing national debt and economic stability highlighted.
Development of Judiciary Structure
The Judiciary Act of 1789 established federal court structure, including the Supreme Court and lower courts, outlining how the federal judicial system operates.
Bill of Rights
First ten amendments to the Constitution guaranteeing individual rights and limitations on government power.
Key Amendments
First Amendment: Guarantees freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and the right to petition the government.
Second Amendment: Addresses rights related to militias and the right to bear arms—originally emphasizing state militias.
Third Amendment: Prohibits the quartering of troops in private homes.
Fourth Amendment: Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.
Fifth Amendment: Guarantees rights in criminal cases, including protection against double jeopardy and self-incrimination.
Sixth Amendment: Right to a fair trial and legal counsel.
Seventh Amendment: Right to jury trials in civil cases.
Eighth Amendment: Prohibits excessive bail, fines, and cruel and unusual punishments.
Ninth Amendment: Affirms that the enumeration of certain rights in the Constitution does not diminish other rights retained by the people.
Tenth Amendment: Reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.
Finances and Economic Growth Under Hamilton
Establishing Public Credit: Hamilton’s strategy to restore faith in government ability to manage debt involves creating a national bank to centralize and regulate currency.
National Bank: Established in 1791, plays key role in stabilizing American economy through managing debts and facilitating loans.
Operated under a charter allowing it to function for 20 years, funded mostly by private investors, with government having minority ownership.
The bank facilitated land sales, generating revenue for the government and promoting economic activity.
Internal Revenue Streams: Introduction of excise taxes (e.g., on alcohol) and tariffs as means of generating income for the federal government.
Political Party Formation
Emergence of two political factions:
Federalists: Supported Hamilton's economic policies and a strong central government.
Democratic-Republicans: Founded by Jefferson and Madison opposing Federalists' views, advocating for agrarian interests and states' rights.
Political parties formed in a system not originally anticipated by the Founding Fathers, leading to a realignment of political ideology over time.
Foreign Relations Challenges
During the French Revolution, differing viewpoints between Hamilton and Jefferson on whether to support France or maintain neutrality due to trade ties with England.
Washington's administration sought a neutral stance in foreign affairs, setting a precedent for future American foreign policy.
Conclusion on Evolving U.S. History
Establishment of lasting governmental structures and foundational political principles ultimately shaped the course of American history.
Transitioning from a nascent government under the Articles to a robust constitutional republic reflects the complex challenges and ideological disagreements that defined early American governance.