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Home , Federalist Era, Olive Branch Petition

PERIOD 3: 1754-1800

Here we start to focus exclusively on the British colonies that will turn into the . The starting year, 1754, is the beginning of the French and Indian War. This marked the end of salutary neglect and the beginning of growing tensions between the colonies and Great Britain. The period takes you through the tumultuous revolution and its aftermath to the year 1800, in which the new democracy is solidified by its first official peaceful transfer of power between the two political parties.

BIG CONCEPTS: ❖ Britain’s attempt to tighten control on the colonies following the French and Indian War ❖ Building colonial resentment towards British policies (especially taxes) ❖ The War ❖ The Articles of Confederation (and the reasons for their failure) ❖ The Constitution (drafting, contents, ratification debate) ❖ The and Adams administrations, as well as the Election of 1800 ❖ Relations between the young US and European powers, as well as Native Americans

VOCABULARY: Impact of the 7 Years’ War - France was removed from North America; Great Britain was in massive debt, began to consolidate control over colonies - taxes; many colonists resisted - Written by T-Paine, and Enlightenment thinker. Urged that it was "Common Sense" that colonies should break away from Great Britain Declaration of Independence - Inspired by Common Sense and Enlightenment ideals; inspired France and countries in Latin America to experience revolutions Reasons for Patriot Victory in the Revolutionary War - Colonists' familiarity with the land; political and military leadership (Washington); ideological commitment (Natural Rights); Support from European Allies (France after Saratoga) Northwest Land Ordinance - Passed under Articles - banned slavery in NW territory (OH, MI, IN, etc.); created a process for admitting new states (60,000 inhabitants) Articles of Confederation - First governing document of US - created a WEAK central government; issues with trade - different currencies in each state, tariffs on goods traded between states

1 Constitution - Replaced the Articles - series of compromises (Great, 3/5, Slave Trade); provided limits on federal power (separation of powers); did not address problems of slavery

Washington’s Farewell Address - Warned of entangling foreign alliances and political parties; helped inspire foreign policy until after WWII Republican Motherhood - Expectation that women would instill Republican values in children and be active in families; helped increase education for women Bill of Rights - Added AFTER the Constitutional Convention; created to gain support of anti- ; guaranteed rights of individuals

POTENTIAL SHORT ANSWERS/ESSAY TOPICS o Analyzing the Seven Years’ War (French and Indian War) as a turning point o Causes and motivations for the o Comparing and Contrasting the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution o How the Constitution addresses minorities (African Americans, women) o Reasons for the growth of the first two-party system

2 THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION 1754-1787

The French and Indian War/Seven Years War (1754-1763)

European Wars for Empire

• Britain, France and Spain competed for lands and resources throughout North America in the 1600 and 1700s (fishing rights in New Foundland, Nova Scotia and , fur trade on the frontier) • European rivalries and wars spill over into America: King William’s War (1689-1697), Queen Anne’s War (1702-1713), King George’s War (1740-1748)

FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR

Causes British and French traders and settlers compete for land in the Valley -French trappers had long been there -British settlers push further west

French build forts along the frontier

1754 - and 150 troops from Virginia are defeated by the French at Fort Duquesne, PA

Important The Albany Plan of Union (1754) proposed by Events plan of union for the colonies (it is rejected)

1756 - war spreads to Europe (becomes known as Seven Years War)

British suffer early defeats to the French and Indians despite outnumbering the enemy

1758-1763 - Prime Minister William Pitt leads Britain to victory

EFFECTS (1763) • Britain gains Canada and lands east of the from France - France loses all of North American possessions • Britain gains Florida from Spain

EFFECTS COST  British go into debt, spending millions to secure victory British troops - fought for colonial safety

COLONIAL LOYALTY - of being British and part of the British Empire, colonists profess loyalty and pride

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EFFECTS OF THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR ON BRITAIN/COLONIAL RELATIONS:

Reassessment of British Colonial Policies:

• Colonial Empire of 1763 has greatly expanded • cost of war doubled Britain’s debt • cost of maintaining and securing the colonies increases significantly • need to streamline the administration of the American colonies

British attitude towards Colonists

• ignorant of American attitudes and conditions • colonists seen as inferior and uncultured • some in Britain rest the fast growth and prosperity of America

THE ROAD TO REVOLUTION (1763-1775) – BRITAIN TIGHTENS CONTROL

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1607-1763 1763-1775

Colonists manage their own affairs with little Britain tightens economic and political control interference from Britain (salutary neglect) over the American colonies

Proclamation Line of 1763:

• forbid settlement west of the • purpose: a way to control settlement, colonists and maintain peace with the Indians • 10,000 British troops remain in America

Tensions Increase:

Sugar Act (1764): placed tariffs on sugar, coffee, wines and other goods imported into America

• a tax on colonial trade • Britain begins enforcing the Navigation Acts

Quartering Act (1765): required the colonists to provide food and living quarters for British soldiers in the colonies

Stamp Act (1765): a on newspapers, legal documents, playing cards, licenses, etc. • Goal  to raise revenue for Britain to help pay the cost of “defending, protecting and securing the colonies”

5 COLONIAL REACTION

TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION  British Parliament does not represent the colonies

• “actual representation” only colonial assemblies with elected representatives can pass laws governing the colonies

• “virtual representation” Parliament represents and makes laws for the British Empire as a whole

THE ROAD TO REVOLUTION

Stamp Act Congress: representatives of nine colonies met in New York and organize protests against the tax

Sons of Liberty: secret organization which used violence and intimidation to protest taxes

boycotts of British goods (most effective)

• result - Stamp Act repealed in 1766

Declaratory Act (1766) - asserted that Parliament had the right to tax and make laws for the colonies “in all cases whatsoever”

Townshend Acts (1767) - taxes on glass, paint, paper and tea imported into the colonies • colonists react with boycotts of British goods • Act repealed in 1770

Boston Massacre (1770)angry Bostonians taunt and throw rock-filled snowballs at

British soldiers, British soldiers fired into the crowd, killing five (led to a period of relative quiet from 1770-1772)

Gaspee Incident (1772) British customs ship runs aground off of , colonists set fire to the ship. British unable to convict any colonials

Committees of Correspondence (1773) colonists begin to correspond with each other about resisting British rule  a step closer to unified action

Boston Tea Party (1773) of 1773 reduces price of British tea but keeps a

6 minimal tax. Bostonians disguised as Indians boarded the British ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor

Intolerable/Coercive Acts (1774) closed the port of Boston until the destroyed tea was paid for. Revised the Massachusetts charter, taking power away from the elected legislature and increasing power of royal . Court cases were moved outside of Massachusetts

results of increased tension goal of British  force colonists to submit to British authority

First

• Sept. 1774 - delegates from 12 colonies meet to discuss a response to British actions • called for the immediate repeal of the and condemned British actions since 1763 • sent a urging reconciliation (Olive Branch Petition) • called for colonies to arm themselves

7 Loyalists (Tories) Patriots ▪ 20-30% of population ▪ 40% of population ▪ Probably the majority in NY, NJ, GA ▪ Largest number from New England and VA ▪ Tended to be wealthier, conservative

▪ Believed British system was still the best in ▪ People have rights government can’t take the world – a strong unified British Empire is away, like property. Taxation takes away good for all property from citizens ▪ Colonists are British subjects and should obey ▪ Colonists don't have voice in Parliament so British law. Allegiance should remain with the England shouldn't tax colonies (no taxation King without representation) ▪ Taxes are due to pay for the French and ▪ There’s no way colonies could be represented Indian War which was fought to protect the in Parliament because it is too far away. colonies Colonies should just be an independent nation ▪ America would be weak without Britain ▪ Many colonists fought in the French and ▪ Colonies profit from trade with England Indian War (we’ve done our part) ▪ Colonies are too far away from England to ▪ British personnel are causing violence, riots have representation in Parliament – it’s just and death () not practical ▪ Britain will win the war anyway

THOMAS PAINE, COMMON SENSE

• 1775-1776 • Very influential • Urges the colonists to break away and declare independence

Battle of Lexington and Concord:

▪ Massachusetts begins to openly train militia (“minute-men”) and store arms at Concord

▪ British learn of the arsenal and General Gage sends 700 troops to seize the supply of arms at Concord

▪ British are met at Lexington by 70 (thanks to Paul Revere’s warning “The British are coming”). A shot is fired  “The Shot Heard Around the World”

▪ After this first battle at Lexington and Concord, British suffer 273 casualties and the colonists less than 100 – other colonies rally to support Massachusetts

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The Second Continental Congress convened in in the summer of 1775, shortly after the war with the British had begun.

• The Congress appointed George Washington as commander of the , and authorized the raising of the army through conscription.

• On July 4, 1776, the Congress issued the Declaration of Independence, which for the first time asserted the colonies’ intention to be fully independent of the mother country.

• The Congress established itself as the central governing authority under the Articles of Confederation, which remained in force until 1788.

Declaration of Independence Purpose: • Lists grievances (complaints) against king • New ideas about government • States the colonies are breaking away

Ideas about government: • Natural rights – life, liberty, property • Government gets power from the people • Right of the people to overthrow an unjust government • • Inspiration: • Enlightenment ideas •

Major battles:

• Battle of Saratoga: colonists defeat the British, encourages French to join the Patriot cause

• Yorktown: surrender of General Cornwallis, French navy major contributor to British surrender

9 ARTICES OF CONFEDERATION The Articles of Confederation was the first written constitution of the United States. Written in 1777 and stemming from wartime urgency, its progress was slowed by fears of central authority and extensive land claims by states. It was not ratified until March 1, 1781.

TOO WEAK: NOT ENOUGH CENTRAL POWER

“friendship of states”

STRENGTH: , 1787

System for admitting new states to the Union

10 THE ERA 1787-1800 Articles of Confederation: the first form of government.

*NATIONAL GOVERNMENT TOO WEAK! Too much state power “friendship of states”

examples of being too weak:

• No President/No executive • Congress can’t tax or raise an army • States are coining their own money • Foreign troubles (British on the frontier, French in New Orleans)

Shays’ Rebellion: Daniel Shays is a farmer in Massachusetts protesting tax collectors. The rebellion is a wake up call - recognize we need a new government

Constitutional Convention of 1787:

Delegates meet to revise the Articles, instead draft a new Constitution

• Major issue discussed = REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS (more representatives in Congress, more influence you have in passing laws/policies in your favor)

NJ Plan (equal per state) vs. Virginia Plan (based on population)

House of Representatives: GREAT COMPROMISE Based on population

Creates a bicameral (two- Senate: house) legislature Equal, two per state

THREE-FIFTHS • 3 out of every 5 slaves will count for representation and taxation COMPROMISE • increases representation in Congress for South

Other Compromises:

• Congress regulates interstate and foreign trade COMMERCIAL • Can tax imports (tariffs) but not exports COMPROMISE • Slave trade continued until 1808

How did the Constitution fix the problems of the Articles of Confederation?

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION CONSTITUTION • States have the most power, national • states have some power, national government government has little has most • No President or executive to carry out the laws • President heads the executive branch • Congress has no power to tax • Congress has power to tax • Each state coins its own money, no national • National government coins money currency 11 RATIFICATION DEBATE

Federalists Anti-Federalists • Supported the Constitution – therefore • Against the Constitution – supported state supported a strong national government power over federal power • Believed a strong government was important • Feared a strong central government to maintain order and preserve the union • Argued Constitution contained no protection of individual rights o Wrote Federalist Papers to urge people to ratify the Constitution o Pushed for a Bill of Rights

Other key features of the Constitution:

Separation of powers: power is divided between legislative, executive and judicial branches

Checks and balances: each power can check on the other branches

Federalism: the sharing/division of power between national government and state governments

Flexibility: ability to adapt to changing times, sometimes referred to as a living document

▪ Amendment process ▪ necessary and proper clause (elastic clause) ▪ judicial review

Unwritten Constitution: cabinet, political parties 12 GEORGE WASHINGTON’S PRESIDENCY

▪ sets precedents (traditions): o cabinet o only serves two terms o neutrality

Hamilton’s Financial Plan:

Historical circumstance: United States is in debt following the Revolutionary War. Need to pay back foreign countries and stabilize the economy.

▪ ASSUMPTION: deal with debt  national government will pay off war debts

▪ TAX: raise revenue  direct tax on manufacturing of whiskey

▪ NATIONAL BANK: stabilize banking  to help the government in all of its financial dealings

Controversy over the Financial Plan leads to the (protest to tax) and to the formation of political parties (national bank)

Causes: Whiskey tax was hard Results: Washington sends a large number of on small farmers who had to The Whiskey troops to crush the rebellion. This shows pay in cash. Did not have access Rebellion Washington intends to enforce the power of the to currency. Farmers in Western national government. Pennsylvania protest

WASHINGTON’S FOREIGN POLICY  NEUTRALITY

Proclamation of Neutrality: “the duty and interest of the United States require, that they should with sincerity and good faith adopt and pursue a conduct friendly and impartial toward the belligerant Powers” (1793)

Why? What’s going on in the world? Historical Context:

▪ In 1789, the erupted. America is divided over the revolution – some are excited and enthused that American democratic ideas are spreading. Others are shocked and horrified by the slaughter of thousands during the . ▪ France goes to war with Britain and Spain in 1793 o Citizen Genet had been sent to the United States of America to gather support for the French regime in their war against Britain. Genet refused to listen to the American administration when it repeatedly asked him to stop gathering support for France and to stop encouraging American citizens to fight Spain, an ally of Britain, in the Spanish held territory of Florida.

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Background Foreign issue Impact During its war with France, Britain began Jay’s The British agreed to evacuate their posts to attack and seize US ships bound for Treaty in the West. Also committed the United French ports. Britain also continued to States to paying pre-Revolutionary debts have a presence in the Northwest and in still owed British merchants. Washington 1784 began to build a new fort in the Ohio had succeeded in maintaining neutrality country. Washington sent Justice John and peace was maintained. Jay to London to seek a settlement with the British.

At the time of Jay’s Treaty, Spain had Pinckney’s Granted the United States free navigation feared that Britain and American might Treaty of the Mississippi River and the right to team up to attack Louisiana and Spain’s unload cargo (“the right to deposit”) at New other American possessions. Orleans. The treaty also settled the border between Spain Florida and the Americas.

WASHINGTON’S FAREWELL ADDRESS: … In contemplating the causes which may disturb our Union, it occurs as matter of serious concern that any ground should have been furnished for characterizing parties Washington warns the by geographical discriminations, Northern and Southern, Atlantic and Western. nation to avoid…

warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party ▪ Sectionalism generally… Political parties are likely to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and ▪ Political parties to usurp for themselves the reins of government….

▪ Alliances (“foreign entanglements” It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world… THE RISE OF POLITICAL PARTIES

 centered over the view of the role of the federal government

(debate over who should have the most power in government)

▪ Starts over ’s National Bank: o – the bank is unconstitutional, no where in the Constitution does it say the national government can create a National Bank o – applies the necessary and proper clause (elastic clause)

14 DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICANS FEDERALISTS Against bank – the creation of a bank is IT ALL STARTED For the bank - Implied powers: not not in the Constitution WITH THE listed but necessary for government to NATIONAL BANK do its job

STRICT: Government can only do those VIEW OF LOOSE: Favors a freer reading of the things that the Constitution specifically GOVERNMENT Constitution that gives government spells out AND THE more room to act CONSTITUTION

State and individual rights are most POWER IN Strong national government is best important. Opposed a strong national GOVERNMENT government

Supported the French OPINION ON Supported the British (especially during the French Revolution and FOREIGN War with Britain and Spain) AFFAIRS

Thomas Jefferson, Important people Alexander Hamilton

Strength of US was in its farmers and Other Beliefs Manufacturing and trade is the basis for agriculture wealth

Rural South and West, commoners, Support Urban Northeast, bankers, wealthy farmers

JOHN ADAMS’ PRESIDENCY

The XYZ Affair:

Historical circumstances: French attacks on American shipping continued. Adams’ sends an American envoy to try to negotiate a settlement with France.

▪ French foreign ministers demanded a bribe before they would meet with the Americans.

▪ “No, no, not a sixpence.” “Millions for defense, not one cent for tribute!”

Effects: Americans angry, caused a sensation. Federalists pushed for a war with France, Adams becomes a national hero. America begins to build up its armed forces.

▪ Federalists in Congress push through the .

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ALIEN AND SEDITION ACTS ALIEN ACTS: Made it more difficult to become a Why were they passed? citizen and easier to arrest and deport any noncitizen thought to endanger national security ▪ To silence opposition – limit the power and influence of Republicans SEDITION ACTS: made it easier to arrest a person for criticizing the president or the ▪ To protect the country and to avoid war government (maintain neutrality)

VIRGINIA AND KENTUCKY RESOLUTIONS ▪ Written by Madison and States have rights the federal government cannot reduce Jefferson Doctrine of Nullification: States can nullify federal laws that ▪ In response to the Alien they judge to be unconstitutional and Sedition Acts ▪ Nullify = invalidate, cancel, reject

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