Review for Unit Three Test

The Constitution

• Set up a framework for government, but didn’t predict or endorse parties, a cabinet, or term limits.

• Initially removed direct public influence through establishment of the Electoral College and the Indirect Election of Senators

• Written largely by James Madison, “The Father of the U.S. Constitution.”

Ratification

• Federalist Papers were meant to influence the NY legislature

• People were concerned about minority rights, and the Federalist Papers argued that a large country could best protect a minority

• Required 9 states to ratify, but the large states were necessary for stability and strength.

Early Actions of the U.S. Government

• Bill of Rights—know basics (assembly, speech, religion, press, weapons, search & seizure)

• Tariffs to raise revenue• Establish a “state department” for dealing

with other countries• Organization of courts

Hamilton’s Financial Plan

• Pay for the national debt• Tax liquor (excise taxes)• Create Bank of the U.S.• Assume state debts• Establish some tariffs• Pay war bonds, even if not the best deal for soldiers

Popular with business people; less popular with farmers and bankers.

Slavery in the U.S. during early Republic

• Slaveholders became fearful of revolts after Haitian slave revolts

Diplomatic Events Under Washington

• Proclamation of Neutrality• Jay’s Treaty• Pinckney’s Treaty

Proclamation of Neutrality

• Issued in response to French wanting the U.S. to back them in their conflicts with Britain

• Backed by Hamilton; opposed by Jefferson.• French felt the U.S. owed this to them for

support in Revolutionary War.• Treaty of Alliance from Revolutionary War was

still in effect.

Jay’s Treaty

• Intended to end impressment• Did not mention ship issues• Actually ended British occupation of forts in

the “west” • Unpopular in U.S. once made known

Pinckney’s Treaty

• Gave unrestricted access to the port of New Orleans

• Did not require U.S. to pay a duty/tariff to use New Orleans

• Opened the “west” with easy access to markets via the Mississippi

Washington’s Farewell Address

• Called political parties “factions” and recommended against them

• Disapproved of permanent alliances with other countries

• Washington’s self-imposed two term limit was a precedent kept for almost 150 years

John Adams’ Presidency

• XYZ Affair:--Showed Adams/U.S. couldn’t be bribed--Gave popular lift to Adams

• Alien and Sedition Acts--Very negative issue for Adams--spawned the Kentucky and Virginia

Resolutions

Alien and Sedition Acts

• Aimed at newspaper publishers• KY and VA Resolutions were response, saying

that only the states could decide if the U.S. Congress passed something that was unconstitutional

Election of 1800

• Adams’ “midnight appointments” of judges led to both Marbury vs. Madison and Jefferson’s crusade against federalist judges

• Historians say it was “another revolution” because of peaceful transfer of power

Jefferson’s Presidency

• Jefferson’s VP was Burr, even after treachery• Jefferson wanted to reduce the range of

events the national government covered• Marbury v. Madison established the principle

of “judicial review.”• Jefferson tried to impeach “activist judges”

(Federalists), including Supreme Court justice Samuel Chase

Louisiana Purchase

• Began as an effort to own the Mississippi in order to get western crops to a port

• Napoleon offered to sell all of Louisiana because his army was unable to manage wide-ranging lands (example: slave revolt in Haiti)

• Buying it violated Jefferson’s ideas about the President’s power under a strict interpretation of the ConstitutionSent Lewis & Clark, who made it to Oregon, to explore and map the area.

Jefferson’s Foreign Policy

• Louisiana Purchase showed his flexibility• Barbary Pirates—a success for him• Stayed neutral between England and France,

leading to the unpopular Embargo Act• Embargo Act: Banned all trade with Europe

(extremely unpopular)• Non-Intercourse Act: Allowed trade with anyone

except France and Spain• Later French agreement caused anger with Britain

(result of Macon’s Bill No. 2)

James Madison’s Presidency

• Fourth president—Jefferson’s hand-picked successor

• Democratic-Republican at time of his election• President during War of 1812 (Mr. Madison’s

War)

Conflicts with Indians

• Prophet and Tecumseh, Shawnee brothers, tried to unite Indians against U.S. in Ohio Valley

• Fought future President Wm. Henry Harrison at the Battle of Tippecanoe in Ohio

War of 1812

• “War Hawks” in Congress, including John Calhoun (SC) and Henry Clay (KY), wanted war to end economic problems

• Impressments were still the main problem• Battle of New Orleans technically happened

after end of war• Victory for U.S. led by Andrew Jackson

Hartford Convention

• New Englanders (strongly Federalist) did not want war but were ignored

• Went to convention out of opposition to War of 1812

• Looked like traitors because of violation of embargoes

• Took arguments to Washington but looked unpatriotic

• Led to demise of Federalist Party

American System

• Designed to meet needs for U.S. economic progress

• Created a bank and a system of roads and bridges

Sectional differences

• Southeast: Agrarian, wanted more land, no limits on slavery

• Northeast: Industrial, anti-slavery• West: Agrarian, mixed on slavery, needs

transportationImportant leaders:John C. Calhoun (SC): SouthDaniel Webster (MA): NortheastHenry Clay (KY): West

Missouri Compromise

• Begins with problem of Louisiana Purchase land: slave or free?

• Balance of slave vs. free states at stake• Admits Missouri as slave, Maine as free state• Bans slavery above 36’30” line in La. Purchase• Does not guarantee balance in future

Monroe’s Presidency

• Era of Good Feelings (a time of nationalism, lack of parties)

• Monroe Doctrine: U.S. will not tolerate new colonies of Europe in Western Hemisphere

• Oversaw territory gain – Adams-Onis—Oregon, sets line between La.

Purchase and Br. Canada)– Rush-Bagot—Division between La. Purchase & Spain– Florida