The Early Years The 1st Presidents And their Administrations
Dec 29, 2015
1789 Election Results Candidate Party Electoral Votes •George Washington Federalist 69 •Others Independent 35 •John Adams Federalist 34
George WashingtonMr. President
Elected unanimously elected by the electoral college in 1789
No Federal laws No Courts No staff No treasury No taxes With much debt Weak army
Washington creates a Cabinet
Vice President: John Adams Secretary of State: Thomas
Jefferson Sec. of the Treasury: Alexander
Hamilton Secretary of War: Henry Knox Attorney General Edmund
Randolph
Congress passes legislation
Judiciary Act of 1789 – Set the number of Supreme Court judges at 6 and established 3 circuit courts and 13 district courts. John Jay is the 1st Chief Justice.
Revenue laws – necessary to raise income for the government.– A tariff on imported goods– A tonnage duty on goods entering U.S.
ports
Problems: National Debt Crisis
National debt is 43,000,000
State debt is $22,000,000
Foreign debt is $12,000,000
Alexander Hamilton 4 point Financial Program
–Full payment of foreign and national debt: sell U.S. bonds
–Assumption of state debt: South objects because they had paid most of their debt
–An excise(tax) on whiskey–A federal bank opposed by Madison and Jefferson
Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 Whiskey is vital to the economy 25% tax set by Alexander Hamilton West Pennsylvania refuses to pay George Washington and Hamilton use
15,000 troops to end the rebellion 20 put in prison; 2 charged with treason
but pardoned Asserts the U.S. government’s power
Federalists vs. Democratic Republicans
Hamilton Strong federal gov’t Loose interpretation
of the constitution Industrial economy Urban based society Gov’t aids business Pro-British George Washington
and John Adams
Jefferson States’ rights Strict interpretation
of the constitution Agrarian economy Rural based society Gov’t stays out of
business Pushed for the Bill of
Rights Pro French Madison and Monroe
Federalist Features Rule by the best people; leaders from upper
social and economic classes Hostile to the extension of democracy A protective tariff Expand the gov’t Restrictions on free speech and press Opposes individualism Society’s needs over individual rights East coast based Support of the financial and banking
leaders
Democratic Republican Features Rule by the informed masses Supported equality and personal liberty Friendly towards the extension of democracy Feared wealth could corrupt American ideals No special favors for business or
manufacturers Agriculture base over commerce Rejected industrialization and commerce Reduce the size of the federal gov’t. Concentration in the south
Washington’s Farewell AddressServed Two Terms Lists 3 Dangers:
– The rise in political factions (parties)
– Geographic differences (sectionalism)
– European rivalries•Stay neutral• “Avoid entangling alliances”
Printed in the newspaper
John Adams Electoral vote 71-68 against Jefferson
– A Federalist President w/a Democratic Republican Vice President
XYZ Affair: “Millions for defense but not one cent for tribute.”– French become hostile after US treaty (Jay Treaty) w/Britain– US ships seized by French privateers– Adams sends diplomats to negotiate a treaty—French
foreign minister refuses to see them– Agents X,Y, Z meet them demanding money– Result:
Undeclared naval war with France sparks war fever– Adams’ popularity increases
Alien and Sedition Act: 1.Aliens –expels foreigners declared to be dangerous to the peace and safety of the U.S. 2. Sedition- limits free speech against the government.
Election of 1800The passing of power from one political party to another
Nasty campaign between Adams and Jefferson Electoral Votes: Jefferson—73; Adams—65;
Burr—73 Electoral deadlock between Jefferson and Burr House votes… Jefferson elected in the 35th ballot: Hamilton
changes his vote. Leads to the 12th amendment (President/Vice President on separate ballots)
Election of 1800The passing of power from one political party to another Adams appoints “midnight judges”
– Judiciary Act of 1801—sets up regional courts– Adams makes 100s of appointments...all Federalists
and shuts Jefferson out of the process Adams refuses to attend Jefferson’s inauguration The power of change within the system
– Decentralizes power– Removes heavy taxes– Downsizes the military– Allows the Bank of the U.S. to continue
Jefferson’s Administration
Marbury v. Madison– Jefferson gets Congress to
repeal Judicial Act of 1801—asks Madison not to deliver the letters of appointment
– Marbury (one of the judges) sues and loses
– Establishes Judicial Review Louisiana Purchase
France gives up land west of the MI river for 15 million. Doubles the size of the U.S.
Lewis and Clark expedition (St. Louis to Northwest Pacific Ocean)
Other:– Belief in the common man – Repeal of alien and sedition
acts
The Louisiana PurchaseThe Louisiana Purchase
Original mission:
Purchase of New Orleans and
West Florida for $10m
Napoleon’s offer
Louisiana Territory for $15m
(3 cents an acre)
The Louisiana PurchaseThe Louisiana Purchase
Constitutional issues:
No authority in Con. To purchase land
Negotiations done in secret
Accusations by Feds of hypocrisy
TJ’s response:
Proposed Constitutional amendment
DRs ignore it and buy the land
Impact of the Louisiana Impact of the Louisiana PurchasePurchase
Doubled size of the RepublicGained access to the Mississippi River
Ended (hopefully) possibility of re-invasion by Britain
Lewis and Clark
Jefferson wanted to know more about lands west of the Mississippi
Persuades Congress to sponsor an expedition
Mission: – find a route across the Rocky Mts. to the
Pacific Ocean– Learn as much as possible
Lewis and ClarkLewis and ClarkPurposes:
To explore and map new territories
To contact the various tribes
Scientific survey
Lewis Clark
Lewis and Clark
Instructions:• Learn about Native Americans• Treat them in a friendly manner• Collect plant and animals specimens• Chart the geography
Left St. Louis—Spring 1804 Reached Pacific—18 months and 4,000
miles later Arrived back in St. Louis—September 1806
Lewis and Clark
Sacagawea– Wife of a French trapper hired as a guide– Interprets and helps in their survival– Sister to the chief of the Shoshone tribe
• Aids them in securing horses, supplies, and provides directions over Rockies
Result of their Journey:– Brings back valuable information– Inspires those eager to move westward
Lewis and ClarkLewis and Clark
• Role of Sacagawea
Impact: size of country established treaties signed with tribes new species discovered led to westward expansion
The The ““Mosquito FleetMosquito Fleet””
• Create a fleet of smaller gunboats• Rationale:
– Less costly– Prevents possible tyranny
Long Term Impact:
less able to defend US against the British
Election of 1804Election of 1804
Jefferson vs. Charles Pinckney
Decline of the Federalist Party:
Less able to attract Western voters
Too elitist
Geographically locked in with New England
Older generation
Renewed Problems with Britain Renewed Problems with Britain (AGAIN!)(AGAIN!)
Renewed impressment of American sailors
British harassment of US trade
Conflicts with Indians in the West
The “Chesapeake-Leopard Incident”
The Embargo Act of 1807The Embargo Act of 1807
• Total ban on trade with all countries• No support for either France or Britain
Reaction to the Embargo ActReaction to the Embargo Act
• Smuggling and piracy• TJ unpopular
Repeal by Congress (Feb. 1807)
JeffersonJefferson’’s Legacys Legacy
• PositivePositive– LA Purchase– Lewis and Clark– Increased
democratization– Moderation in
governing
• NegativeNegative– “mosquito fleet”– Embargo Act– Attempted
impeachment of SC Justice
Madison’s Administration
War of 1812 The impressment (kidnapping) of U.S. sailors
by England White House (President’s Mansion) is burned
by the English Star Spangled Banner written—Francis Scott
Key War in a Stalemate Battle of New Orleans fought after the war was
over. Andrew Jackson becomes a national hero.
Monroe’s Administration
Era of Good Feelings– Nationalism– Lack of strong political party rivalry– Political differences fade
Creates the 2nd bank of the U.S. Economic Panic of 1819-too much debt
owed to London banks; 1st economic depression
Missouri Compromise of 1820 1818 Missouri petitions for statehood
– 11 slave states– 11 free states
• Missouri enters the U.S. as a slave state
• Maine enters the U.S. as a free state
• Slavery prohibited in the rest of the Louisiana territory
• North of 36’ and 30”
1819 Adams-Onis Treaty with Spain– After Jackson invades West Flordia– U.S. acquires Florida—gives up claims to Spanish
Texas 1823 Monroe Doctrine
– Europe should stay out of the American continent. No more colonization.
1824 American System of Henry Clay– 1. Protective tariffs– 2. Federal funds for internal improvements– 3. National Bank
Monroe’s Administration
Evolution of Major Political PartiesTime Hamilton Jeffersonians
1792 Federalists Democratic-
Republicans1820 One party
Era of Good Feelings
1825 National Republicans
Jacksonian Democrats
1834 Whigs Democrats
1854 Republicans