Study Notes: US HIS UNIT 8
George Washington: Biography
Overview
First President of the United States.
Key figure in establishing the new government and its principles.
Delivered a Farewell Address warning against political factions and permanent foreign alliances.
Alexander Hamilton: Secretary of the Treasury
Financial Objectives
Raise money for current expenses through various financial strategies.
Known for the Tariff Act of 1789 aimed at generating revenue.
Debt Management Strategies
“Funding and Assumption”: A plan to manage the debts incurred during the American Revolution.
Proposed creating a national bank to stabilize the nation’s finances.
Objective: Establish the nation’s financial stability.
Aim to garner support from the country's powerful financial interests.
Encourage economic development through structured financial measures.
Components of Hamilton’s Program
Establishment of Creditworthiness: Create conditions that would encourage lending to the government by purchasing bonds.
Federal government would assume all state debts and pay them off at full face value.
Creation of New National Debt: Old debts replaced by new, interest-bearing bonds issued to government creditors.
Establishment of the Bank of the United States:
Modeled after the Bank of England.
Functions: Holds public funds, issues banknotes serving as currency, makes loans to the government.
Revenue Generation Strategies:
Introduction of a whiskey tax.
Imposing tariffs and providing government subsidies to enhance domestic manufacturing.
Whiskey Rebellion
Overview
An uprising against the new tax on whiskey which was part of Hamilton's economic program.
President Washington personally led federal troops to suppress the rebellion, asserting the authority of the federal government to enforce laws.
Opposition to Hamilton’s Policies
Support mainly came from financiers, manufacturers, and merchants.
Alarmed factions believed in alternative development paths, focused on agrarian society.
Tension between Hamiltonian views favoring ties with Britain vs. Madison and Jefferson’s preference for westward expansion.
Founders like Hamilton viewed a standing army as essential, while opponents saw it as conflicting with individual liberty.
Concerns about potential corruption from assuming state debts.
Southern states were less engaged in manufacturing development, leading to skepticism toward Hamilton's policies.
Jefferson contested the new bank's constitutionality; argued that Congress's authority to create a bank wasn't explicitly mentioned.
Brokered Agreement:
Jefferson allowed New York to adopt the financial program under the condition that the Potomac would become the new capital (moving from Philadelphia).
Other Revolutions
International Context
Reference to the French Revolution (1789):
Initially welcomed by nearly all Americans, inspired by their rebellion.
Radical turn: Execution of King Louis XVI raised concern among Federalists about anarchy.
British Interference:
Seized American ships trading with French West Indies.
Impressed American sailors for their navy.
American Demographics and Culture
Population Growth
Rapid growth of the American population in the 1780s.
Government sold significant land amounts to speculators for quick revenue.
Expansion of urban centers like Philadelphia and New York.
Emergence of a new, youthful culture marked by social changes, including rising divorce rates and social exploration.
Efforts to establish new trade markets in Asia took considerable time to cultivate.
Political Parties
Development of Early Political Parties
First Political Divisions: Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists (before the Constitution).
1790s Political Landscape: Federalists and Democratic-Republicans emerged.
Federalists
Supported George Washington’s administration and favored Hamilton’s economic program.
Typical supporters: prosperous farmers, lawyers, and established political leaders.
Elitist outlook, viewing society as a structured hierarchy, with public office reserved for economically privileged individuals.
Advocated for a strong central government, a commercial and industrial economy, and a loose interpretation of the Constitution.
Democratic-Republicans
Led by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson.
More sympathetic to the revolutionary efforts in France.
Advocated faith in democratic governance.
Support base primarily comprised wealthy southern planters.
Emphasized states' rights, an agrarian economy, and a strict interpretation of the Constitution.
Cultural Development of the Republic
Growth of Cultural Institutions
Newspapers and periodicals flourished.
The rise of fiction and educational books contributed to a literate society.
Establishment of museums and libraries mirrored the growing attachment to local communities.
Concern emerged about regions being viewed as ‘foreign’ to one another.
Formation of nearly 50 Democratic-Republican societies (salons) fostered public discourse.
Efforts in school-building sought to provide relief and education for needy populations.
Evolving Rights of Women
Advances in Women’s Rights
Mary Wollstonecraft published "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman."
While not directly challenging gender roles, she advocated for greater access to education and paid employment for women.
Suggested the need for women’s representation in government.
Judith Sargent Murray contributed essays under a pen name, emphasizing women's political participation.
The Constitution reflected gender biases by using the pronoun “He” in reference to officeholders, implying a male-centric political landscape.
Naturalization Act of 1790: Established limited citizenship rights, primarily benefiting white men.
John Adams Presidency
Overview
Key Events during Adams's Presidency:
Pros: Developed road and canal infrastructure, managed the first contested election, established a naval academy, and initiated the creation of a national observatory and national university.
Cons: Enacted the Alien and Sedition Acts which were controversial politically, reflecting the tension of his presidency.
The 12th Amendment was also introduced during his term.
XYZ Affair: A diplomatic incident between French and American diplomats that resulted in a limited, undeclared war known as the Quasi-War. This incident fueled fears of foreign influence and led to the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts.
Thomas Jefferson: Presidency Overview
Key Actions as President
1st President to inaugurate in Washington D.C.
Assumed office in 1801; aimed to dismantle Federalist influences.
Actions included:
Pardoning individuals imprisoned under the Sedition Act.
Reducing the size of government, including slashing military personnel.
Abolishing all taxes except for tariffs.
Ensured the US would not emulate a centralized European state model rooted in Hamilton's vision.
Judicial Review
Legal Milestone
Marbury v. Madison: Established the principle of judicial review, allowing the Supreme Court to invalidate legislation that conflicted with the Constitution.
Louisiana Purchase
Significance
Noted as one of the biggest government actions ever, expanding U.S. territory and positioning the nation for future growth.
Acquired from France under Napoleon Bonaparte in 1803, effectively doubling the size of the United States.
Gave the U.S. full control of the Mississippi River and the vital port of New Orleans.
Raised constitutional questions for President Jefferson, who typically favored a strict interpretation of the Constitution, regarding the presidential power to acquire new territory.
War of 1812
Overview
A defining conflict during the period, leading to significant changes in national policies and public perception of governance.
Causes: British impressment of American sailors, British support for Native American resistance against U.S. expansion, and the desire of 'War Hawks' in Congress for territorial expansion.
Outcomes: Ended with the Treaty of Ghent, but fostered a strong sense of national identity and unity. It effectively ended the Federalist Party's influence due to their opposition to the war and marked the rise of Andrew Jackson as a national hero.