A New Nation Unit 4 American History. The Federalist Era A New Nation Unit 4.

A New Nation

Unit 4

American History

The Federalist Era

A New Nation

Unit 4

Washington’s Inauguration

The Washington Administration

The Unwritten Constitution

During the nations first years, policies and procedures for running the government efficiently came about.

These have become traditions, and are referred to as the “unwritten constitution”

The Washington Administration

The Cabinet The President appoints individuals to run certain

parts of the Executive Branch The first 3 were the Secretaries of State,

Treasury, and War Together, these positions are known as the

President’s “Cabinet” The Two-Term Tradition

Based on Washington’s precedent, the office of the President was informally limited to two terms only

The Washington Administration Foreign Policy

Jay’s Treaty A U.S. agreement with Great Britain – U.S. agreed

Britain could stop U.S. shipments to France, in return for a “most-favored nation” status in trading with Britain

Proclamation of Neutrality Washington’s precedent of having the U.S. try to stay

out of alliances with foreign powers – he urged the nation to remain as independent as it could

The Washington Administration

Hamilton Financial Plan

Why?: The nation needed economic stability and an ability to raise funds and pay debt

The Washington Administration

Bank of the United States (B.U.S.)

To act as the central bank of the United States Dominated by New Englanders Its creation was an example of “implied powers”

Led to the Whiskey Rebellion

The Washington Administration

The Whiskey Rebellion

In western Pennsylvania

Farmers rebelled against an excise tax on corn

Washington sent troops as a show of force

Showed Federal govt. could pass laws that state citizens had to follow

The Washington Administration

Excise Tax

A tax on certain products Hamilton wanted a tax on whiskey

Assumption

Hamilton urged the new government to pay off all debt from the Revolutionary War.

He said this would give the nation a good credit and status with both Americans and foreign nations

The Washington Administration

Washington’s Farewell Address In leaving office, President Washington warned

Americans about the following issues:

Getting too involved with other counties’ issues

The states sectionalizing and dividing the “nation”

Political parties becoming too important and divisive

Washington’s Farewell Address - Clip

Political Parties Form

Our current “Two party system” began at this time

Over the struggle for ratification of the constitution

Started with Federalists v. Anti-Federalists

Federalists remained the Federalist Party, the Anti-Federalists became known as the Republican Party (which is most closely related to today’s Democratic Party).

The Adams Administration

Unit 4

American History

Alien and Sedition Acts

Attempts by the Federalist party to strengthen themselves and weaken the Republican party

Laws were passed making it harder for foreigners to become Americans

Also made it against the law to print anything against the U.S. government

What right does this violate??

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

These two resolutions were reactions against the Alien and Sedition Acts

They basically said that states could declare federal laws invalid if they were unconstitutional

Important Elections

Each of these two elections were important in establishing the early direction that the new U.S. government would go in – and if it would even survive or not

1796 Won by the Federalists (John Adams-President) Allowed the policies of Washington and Hamilton to

continue and strengthen the nation

Important Elections

1800

The “Jeffersonian” Republicans won – bringing the possibility of huge changes to the government and possible challenges to the U.S. Constitution

This election marked the first peaceful transition of power between two opposing groups in the history of the world. It set a precedent for the future of our civilized government.

Case Study: The Marshall Court

What about it: As Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, John C. Marshall presided over some very important cases that established the Court as being equal in power to the other two branches of federal government and granted it the ability to interpret Constitutional law.

Marbury v. Madison - Clip

Marbury v. Madison

important because it gave the U.S. Supreme Court the right of “ judicial review”

Judicial review: the power to decide whether laws passed by Congress were constitutional or not, and to nullify laws that were not.

McCullough v. Maryland - Clip

McCullough v. Maryland

Extended the policy of “loose interpretation” of the constitution - strengthening the federal government over the states

A stronger federal government would be wanted by the Federalist party. **(Remember – Federalist = Federal Government)

Gibbons v. Ogden - Clip

Gibbons v. Ogden

Similar to McCullough v. Maryland’s results on interpretation – this time about the federal governments ability to regulate interstate commerce

Again, Federalist = Federal Government

The Democratic Republicans

Democratic Republicans:

Often called “Jeffersonian Republicans”

Opposed most of the policies and philosophies of the Federalists

The Jefferson Administration

Louisiana Purchase

Why: To create lands for expansion westward and gain control of the Mississippi River

The Purchase: $15 million (bought from France)

Lewis and Clark: Sent to explore the new territory and search for a passage to the Pacific

Results of the Louisiana Purchase

The size of the US doubled

Results of the Louisiana Purchase

More precedents and controversies over the powers of the federal government

Starts the theory of manifest destiny – the idea that the United States should expand from coast to coast

Embargo Act

In retaliation for British acts against US shipping, Jefferson proposed and Congress passed the Embargo Act of 1807

This act banned trade with other countries

Ended up hurting the US more than it punished Britain – repealed in 1809

Strict vs. Loose Interpretation

The argument over whether the Constitution should be interpreted strictly (do only exactly what the document says) or loosely (allows for “implied” interpretation of powers)

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists (Democratic-Republicans) begin this argument.

The Madison Administration

War of 1812

Causes: Continued British harassment of US shipping on

the seas and the practice of impressment Impressment is the capture of US citizens and

forcing them to serve in the British military Trade restrictions between Britain and the US

become common Southern and Western “war hawks” encouraged

war to allow for westward expansion Concerns over Native-American activities on the

western borders emgerge

Events Burning of Washington DC:

British troops entered and burned the White House and the Capitol

Star Spangled Banner: Written during the attacks on Baltimore harbor by

Francis Scott key

New Orleans: General Andrew Jackson defeated larger British

Army, became a national hero (defeated them after the signing of the peace treaty)

Star Spangled Banner

Results The Treaty of Ghent ended the war – Ghent,

Belgium, 1814

The US won the war, but it did not change many existing conditions

The victory gave the country more prestige (fame) overseas

Caused an increase in national pride and support for the new country by Americans

The Monroe Administration

Era of Good Feelings

Name given to the time after the War of 1812 when there were few political conflicts and the new nation had much support

Results of the Era of Good Feelings

Nationalism (War of 1812) – Victory over Britain caused new

feelings of national pride and support

One Party By opposing the War of 1812, the Federalists lost

power and then ceased to exist

The American System Henry Clay’s plan to strengthen the America

The American System

Created by Henry Clay

Creation of the Second Bank of the US Passage of tariffs to protect US industry and

businesses Improve internal transportation routes to

connect the nation together better (Erie Canal, National Road, development of railroads)

Internal Improvements

The National Road

The Monroe Doctrine

The US bravely declared that the Western Hemisphere was off-limits to European powers.

In return, the US promised to stay out of European colonial affairs

Monroe Doctrine – Political Cartoon

The Jackson Era

Jacksonian Democracy

National Convention

Instead of members of Congress choosing Presidential candidates (caucus system), national nominating conventions began – opening up the process to common citizens

Secret Ballot

Early forms of today’s secret ballots began under Jackson’s presidency

Jacksonian Democracy

No property requirement: By the mid 1820’s, most states had eliminated the

ownership of property as a requirement for voting, many more Americans could then participate

Spoils System: Jackson supported the idea of appointing loyal

party supporters to office Veto power:

Jackson used the checks and balances power to veto more than all previous Presidents combined

The Bank War

Background: Most Southern and Western states opposed the

idea of a National Bank. Jackson felt he had a responsibility to the people to bring and end to it.

What Happened: When the issue came up to extend the provisions

of the national bank for another 20 years, Jackson vetoed it and pulled all the federal money from it

Wildcat Banks – Jackson took deposits from the Bank of the US and put them in state banks – thus killing the Bank of the United States

The Nullification Crisis

A battle of a state’s rights to not obey a federal law

Tariff of 1828:

A tariff was placed on all imports into the country This cased an increase in the price of

manufactured products States hurt most by this called it the “Tariff of

Abominations” (South Carolina)

The Nullification Crisis

States’ Rights Argument

Led by John C. Calhoun South Carolina argued that a state had the right to

“nullify” (make void) any federal law that they saw as unconstitutional

They said that since they originally agreed to form a nation, they also then had the right to break away from or ignore the nation’s laws

The Nullification Crisis

Force Bill

Congress gave Jackson the power to use any means necessary to force South Carolina to pay the tariff

Resolution

Jackson eventually lowered the amount of the tariff

South Carolina withdrew it’s nullification

Social/Economic Issues

With the stability/expansion of a new nation, and the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution, many socio-economic changes came about in the US and new issues arose.

Women’s Rights

The 1830’s marked an increase in women actively speaking out about the inequality of men and women

Seneca Falls, NY Led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott,

this convention marks the beginning of the women’s rights movement

They created a document declaring that all men and women were considered equal (Declaration on the Rights of Women)

Public Schools

The first public schools were created at this time

The idea of having an educated population was seen as good for the nation

These were paid for by taxes and became mandatory in most places

Horace Mann His model was followed in many places: teachers

would be trained, students would be divided into grade levels, usually about 10 months a year (to allow for help with harvesting, etc.)

Mentally Ill/Prison Reform

Mentally ill patients were often just cast into prisons

Dorthea Dix

She led the movement to create state run hospitals for the mentally ill

Abolition

The issue of slavery again became very important at this time

Abolition means to get rid of something

Abolition

Underground Railroad A series of safe houses to hide escaped slaves as

they fled North to free states and Canada

Harriet Tubman She led 19 trips along the Underground Railroad

to free slaves

William Lloyd Garrison White abolitionist leader that was influential in the

development of the abolition movement

Case Study: Native Americans

Background

By the early 1800’s, white settlers were moving westward and coming into contact with Native American tribal lands

The Natives tried various methods to deal with the stress of cultural conflicts

Ways Native Americans tried to survive: Cultural Adaptation:

Some, like the Cherokee, tried to survive by combining European cultural elements with their own traditional cultural ways

Cultural Revitalization:

Handsome Lake urged the Iroquois to adopt a better lifestyle: education, temperance, farming, and peaceful living were encouraged

Ways Native Americans tried to survive:

Pan-Indian Movement:

An attempt to unite the natives of the Old Northwest Territory, it died with their defeats in the War of 1812

Resistance:

Creeks resisted and attacked settlers in Georgia and Alabama

They were defeated at Horseshoe Bend in Alabama, opening up the South to settlement by whites

Indian Removal Policy

In the 1830’s, President Jackson began the forced movement of native populations to the Great Plains area.

In the South, many natives died along the “Trail of Tears” on their way west

Worchester v. Georgia – the Cherokee went to the Supreme Court in order to prevent the state of Georgia from taking their land. They won the case, but Presidents Jackson and Van Buren ignored the ruling

The Trail of Tears

Essential Questions

How were each of the 3 presidential eras: The Federalist Era, the Democratic-Republican Era, and the Jackson Era, different from the others?

Why were the first few Presidential terms so important to the development of the United States?

In one sentence, tell why is the most meaningful aspect of each of these Presidencies: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Jackson?