GW and John Adams Presidency

Lesson 5.1 - Washington’s Presidency

Inauguration - official “swearing” in ceremony, GW got inaugurated April 30 1789 in NYC  

Precedent - An example that you can learn from (good or bad) 

Cabinet -  State (foreign affairs)- Thomas Jefferson, 

War (military) - Henry Knox, 

Attorney General (law)- Edmund Randolph

Treasury - (Alexander Hamilton) 

and added later Postmaster General (mail)- Samuel Osgood

Vice President - John Adams 

First chief justice of the supreme court - John Jay 

MODERN DAY 

State (foreign affairs) - Marco Rubio 

Defense  - Pete Hegseth 

Attorney General (law) - Pam Bondi

Treasury - Scott Bessent 

Judiciary Act of 1789 - Set up the Federal Court System , Supreme Court , Circuit Court of Appeals, District Court 

             AND…

6 Supreme Court Justices 

Attorney General office

Hamilton‘s Financial Plans - 

1. Assumption of State debts- country takes on all the state debts as 1 national debt and all states had to contribute to pay it 

2. National Bank 

3. High Tariffs (tax on imports)  

Debt - 14 debts- 1 National Debt, 13 State Debts

Bank - Hamilton suggested there be 1 national bank 

Tariffs - Hamilton suggested that there be a high tax on all things imported in the country 

The Whiskey Rebellion - the country put a tax on whiskey and there was an uprising of farmers in Pennsylvania. So Washington took nearly 13,000 men of the federal militia. 

The French Revolution - A period in time when France started to fight for their independence and wanted to overthrow the monarchy. 

France v. Britain (NOT THE FRENCH REVOLUTION)  -  War with Britain and France 

Neutrality Proclamation - A document issued by Washington said the U.S. would stay neutral in the war between France and Britain. It caused political tension, federalists supported it while the Democratic-Republicans were upset and wanted to help France.

Jay’s Treaty - An attempt to get Britain to pay for the ships that they seized. It made Britain withdraw Northwest Territory first and allowed the U.S to trade with British Caribbean colonies.  

George Washington’s Farewell Address -  

Lesson 5.2 - A Two-Party System Develops

Opposing factions in the Cabinet  - The Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans disagreed on economic policies, foreign relations, and the interpretation of the constitution, which were the first political parties in the United States 

Issues that divided Hamilton and Jefferson - 

 Hamilton

• Strong federal government 

• Supports Britain 

• Northern Supporters

• Loose interpretation of the Constitution 

• Advocated for a national bank

• Tariffs 

• Elite leadership positions 

Jefferson

• Strong state government

• Supports France

• Southern Supporters

• Strict interpretation of the Constitution                            

Federalists v. Republicans - 

Role of newspapers - newspapers spread information about the government. 

Lesson 5.3 - The Presidency of John Adams

Challenges facing John Adams - The signing of the Alien and Sedition Acts, which violated the first amendment and had significant backlash

• Political Opposition from the democratic republicans, especially Jefferson and his supporters

• Foreign Threats especially during the Quasi-War with france 

• Personal Struggles with his wife Abigail, and having a public life

What foreign policy problem was a big part of his administration - The US had just signed Jay’s Treaty with Britain, but France saw it as betrayal and started seizing American ships. So diplomats were sent to negotiate, but the Frenchmen (XYZ) started demanding millions of dollars in loans and bails to even meet with France, leading to many Americans being very upset. 

How John Adams dealt with it -  By starting to build up a Navy in case France waged war. Also even though many people were against it he avoided the war and eventually made peace with france 

Political Consequences - 

Alien Act- The president could expel (deport) any foreigner they believed to be dangerous to the country. This rule was made during the presidency of John Adams because the new law made immigrants wait 14 years and the Federalists passed this act because many of the recent immigrants supported Jefferson and the Democratic Republicans so this act would keep immigrants from voting for years. 

Naturalization Act - Increased the amount of time an immigrant had to live in the US to become a citizen. (I THINK, it increased from 2 to 5 years) 

Sedition Act - Citizens could be fined or jailed if they criticize the government or its officials. ( REPUBLICAN NEWSPAPERS) 

Kentucky and Virginia solutions - under these solutions the states claimed the power of “nullification” meaning they canceled the law made by the federal government in their own states. 

The Supreme Court cases

Engel v. Vitale  - First Amendment (Establishment Clause). School led prayer (non- denominational). 

The Issue: Does a state- sponsored prayer violate the First Amendment (Establishment Clause)? 

The Ruling: 6-1 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the state sponsored prayer was unconstitutional. 

Gideon v. Wainwright- Sixth Amendment (right to an attorney). Gideon (charged with breaking and entering) was denied the right to an attorney when saying he could not afford one. 

The Issue: Gideon stated that the states failure to provide him with a lawyer violated his Sixth Amendment. Before appointment to a lawyer was only in federal cases

The Ruling: 9-0 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that states have to appoint you with an attorney in the court of law. 

Ingraham v. Wright - James Ingraham and another student were beaten by a paddle as a punishment for misbehaving in school. 

The Issue: Does this case violate the 8th Amendment (cruel and unusual punishment).

The Ruling: 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court rules that public schools (different rules for private schools) have the right to use corporal punishment (hitting, smacking, beating, etc) without violating the 8th Amendment.