Hist 110 American Civilization I Instructor: Dr. Donald R. Shaffer Upper Iowa University
Dec 14, 2015
Hist 110American Civilization I
Instructor: Dr. Donald R. Shaffer
Upper Iowa University
Lecture 7a Establishing a National Government
U.S. Constitution left many details undecided, which became the business of the new national government in its early days
Bill of Rights Meant to provide explicit
guarantees of personal liberty 19 amendments proposed, 10
adopted and ratified Judiciary Act of 1789
Organized the federal judiciary, establishing district courts, appeals courts, and supreme court
Federal judiciary’s actions tentative at first
Washington as President Had great freedom in organizing
the executive Organized his administration with
precedents in mind
George Washington
c. 1795
Lecture 7a Hamilton’s Financial Program
Hamilton was a cynic, but enjoyed a warm relationship with Washington (he had been his aide during the war)
U.S. finances in bad shape U.S. debt: $54,124,464.56 in 1789
Report on Public Credit (1790) Hamilton proposed assuming state war
debts, combining them with U.S. debt, and issuing new bonds to cover both
Wanted to give investors more incentive to support the new government
2nd Report on Public Credit (1790) Hamilton proposed Congress charter
and invest in a bank to promote manufacturing
Strict vs. broad construction Report on Manufactures (1791):
Hamilton wanted a protective tariff Idea rejected by Congress,
increasingly dominated by James Madison and his followers who adopted a tariff to fund the national debt and current government operations
AlexanderHamilton
First TreasurySecretary
First Bank of the United States
Philadelphia
Lecture 7aGrowing Divisions
The debate over Hamilton’s economic problem helped create political division
Domestic Basis of Division Hamilton, Adams, and other
Federalists wanted to promote more manufacturing
Jefferson, Madison, and their followers, called Republicans, felt the stability of the republic required the U.S. stay mostly agricultural
Foreign Policy Basis of Division The French Revolution, which started
in 1787 and grew increasingly radical in the early 1790s, with the execution of the French King, Louis XVI, and France emerging as a republic
Federalists were uncomfortable with the radicalism of the French Revolution, while Republicans tended to be more sympathetic
Each faction was suspicious of the other as plotting against liberty
Washington – “The Patriot King” Although sympathetic to the
Federalists, Washington was able to largely stay above the divisions on the basis of his reputation
George Washington personallyled nearly 13,000 militia to
crushthe “Whiskey Rebellion”: a 1794
revolt of farmers in Western Pennsylvania against paying a federal excise tax on whiskeyWhy Washington’s personal
interest?
Washington declined to run for President again in 1796
Adams prevailed over Jefferson in the Electoral College, with Jefferson becoming Vice President under the rules of that time
Conflict with France XYZ Affair (1797): French
diplomatic intimidation caused outrage in the U.S.
Quasi-War (1798-1801): led to an undeclared naval war between the U.S. and France in the Caribbean
Alien and Sedition Acts (1798) Four laws, the most important
being the Sedition Act, in which Federalists essentially tried to outlaw Republican criticism of Adams administration
Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions Jefferson and Madison’s way of
criticizing the Federalists while avoiding arrest for sedition
They proposed the states could “nullify” unconstitutional laws like the Sedition Act
Lecture 7a Adams as President
USS Constellation and Delaware capture the French vessel
Le Croyable on July 7, 1798First armed clash of the Quasi-
War With British help the U.S. prevailed over France – why the British assistance?
Lecture 7a Election of 1800
Rematch of the 1796 election with Jefferson challenging Adams
One of the most controversial and bitter elections in American history
It also revealed a weakness in the Constitution of 1787
Initial results of Electoral College: Jefferson and Aaron Burr tied throwing the election into the Federalist-controlled House of Representatives
35 ballots produced no winner there, until several Federalists changed their votes, electing Jefferson
The change supposedly came from Alexander Hamilton’s influence
Election led to 12th Amendment mandating running mates be voted for on one ticket
Aaron BurrThomas
Jefferson’sostensible
running-mate