The New Republic“The Federalist Era”

1789-1800

Mr. Owens

Crash Course 9: Where US Politics Came From

Essential Questions:• What were the key precedents established by Washington

and Adams and which key government institutions were created?

• What were the causes of the emergence of the first party system and what were the key positions and leaders of the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans?

• What were the key treaties signed by representatives of United States government during the Federalist period?

• Why did the French Revolution and the ensuring war between Britain and France cause political tension in America?

Washington Presidency (1789-1797)• Chosen unanimously as 1st President, J. Adams VP• Inaugurated in New York 4/30/1789• Washington’s Cabinet: Sec. of State - Jefferson, Treasury -

Hamilton, War - Henry Knox, Attorney General - Edmund Randolph

• Judiciary Act of 1789: established Supreme Court with a Chief Justice (John Jay) and 5 additional Justices & 13 District Courts & 3 circuit courts of appeals.

• Hamilton’s Economic Program: – Supported by Northern Merchants– Opposed by South, Jefferson & Anti-Federalists1. Report on Public Credit: Pay off national war debt in

full & Assumption of state debts, compromise= move capitol to DC

2. Report on Manufactures: Protect infant industries through tariff & create revenue – Congress passed moderate tariff but rejected “protective tariff” so pushed for excise tax on liquor for revenue.

3. 2nd Report on Public Credit: A privately owned National Bank for federal deposits & printing currency, used “Necessary & Proper” Clause which upset many including Madison

Foreign Affairs• The French Revolution (1789) Jefferson pushed for support for

revolutionaries called for alliance against Britain seizing US ships, Federalists opposed: horrified by “mob rule” & executions.

• Haitian Revolution (1791) US loaned France $ and sold weapons to French planters to suppress it – why? Rebel victory in 1793 led to harsher slave codes in South

• Proclamation of Neutrality (1793) US remain neutral in conflict between England & France, Jefferson resigned.

• “Citizen” Edmond Genet: threatened neutrality by appealing directly to American people for support for French. Recalled but became US citizen.

• Jay Treaty (1794) Chief Justice John Jay sent to Britain to deal with impressment, but Britain only agreed to vacate western frontier forts – angry response & Neutrality unpopular.

• Pinckney Treaty (1795) Thomas Pinckney sent to Spain, Spain feared US-British alliance, agreed to give open New Orleans port & Mississippi to US trade & accepted Florida border on 31st parallel.

Domestic Issues• American Indian conflict:

– Northwest Confederacy under Chief Little Turtle formed to stop western settlement in Ohio Valley supported by British

– Defeated at Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794) by US under Gen. Anthony Wayne

– Treaty of Greenville (1795) tribes cede Ohio Valley but government promises that future land can only be taken by treaty

• Whiskey Rebellion (1794) western PA farmers revolted against tax collectors of excise tax on whiskey. Washington federalized 15,000 state militia men under Hamilton’s command – rebellion collapsed with little bloodshed. Divided reaction.

• Western Lands: Congress encouraged rapid settlement of territory: Public Land Act (1796) orderly process of dividing & selling federal land – new states: Vermont (1791), Kentucky (1792), Tennessee (1796)

First Two Party System• Caused by Federalist v. Anti-Federalist

debate, Hamilton’s program, & French Revolution – formed by 1796

• Federalists (Hamilton, John Adams) – Loose interpretation & strong central government, Pro-British, strong army & navy, economy based on manufacturing and trade, popular in Northeast

• Democratic-Republicans (Jefferson, Madison) – Strict Interpretation, strong State government, Pro-French, individual rights, and rural farming economy, popular in South and Frontier.

Washington’s Farewell Address• Aided by Hamilton & printed in newspapers in late 1796 • Warned Americans against:

1. Getting too involved in European affairs

2. Forming Political Parties

3. Permanent Alliances & Foreign Influence

4. Falling into sectionalism• Set Two-Term precedent not broken until FDR in 1940

Election of 1796

Election of 1796: Adams wins, but rival Jefferson comes in 2nd & becomes VP (12th Amendment in 1804 changes system)

John Adams Presidency (1797-1801)• Term dominated by political divide over “Quasi War”

with France• XYZ Affair (1797) U.S. merchant ships seized by

French, delegation including John Marshall sent, agents “XYZ” demanded bribe – rejected led to call for war – but Adams demanded peace

• Created the Department of Navy• Alien & Sedition Acts (1798) Federalists passed

Naturalization Act increasing 5 to 14 years for citizenship, Alien Acts allowed president power to deport dangerous aliens & arrest in time of war, Sedition Act: newspaper editors could not criticize the president or Congress (repealed in 1801)

• Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions (1799) (Madison & Jefferson) Sedition Act violated 1st Amendment & States had right to “Nullify” laws of the federal government that exceeds their power. Nullification issue will continue to be controversial throughout American history

Election of 1800• Federalists & Adams unpopular due to

Alien & Sedition Acts, & taxes for Quasi War defense preparation

• Democratic-Republicans sweep presidency, & both houses of Congress

• Jefferson-Burr tie Hamilton convinced Federalist lame duck House to choose Jefferson

• “Midnight Appointments” Adams appointed numerous new justices including John Marshall as Chief Justice – Federalists remained in control of Judicial Branch for decades

• “Revolution of 1800”?