United States History- The New Nation 1789-1820

A. Beginning the New Government  1789 George Washington elected as President of the United States.  Vice-President- John Adams  Washington began setting important precedents, acts or statements that became tradition.

B. Organizing the Government The Executive Branch:  The Cabinet- Congress authorized the creation of four departments- War Treasury- Alexander Hamilton (managed the nation’s finances) State- Thomas Jefferson (conducted foreign policy) Attorney General  Nominated by the President, the Cabinet members were approved by the Senate (checks and balances) The Judiciary Branch:  The Constitution created a federal Supreme Court and several smaller ones but left Congress to organize the details of a federal court system.  The Judiciary Act of 1789- further established a more detailed system of courts throughout the nation.

C. The Bill of Rights  Among Congress’s first tasks was consideration of the constitutional amendments.  1791- 10 amendments to the constitution had been ratified.  First 10 amendments to the Constitution became known as the Bill of Rights.

D. Hamilton’s Financial Plan 1790- Secretary of Treasury- Alexander Hamilton’s t assigned tasks included - paying off the nations $77 million dollar debt and creating needed revenue - setting the new nation on a course of economic stability and financial credit

Hamilton’s Plan for Restructuring Debt

Action Result Pay foreign debt and interest in full restore national credit Federal government assumes state’s debts Bring stability to country, stimulate economy Impose whiskey tax and tariffs Pay debts and increase manufacturing Create national bank and national Help government regulate economy and currency commerce; generate income through loans E. The People Divided  Hamilton’s program promoted the commercial sector at the expense of the country’s majority based agriculture population.

 To justify his financial program- Hamilton relied on the Constitutions “implied powers” and loose construction of interpretation.

 Thomas Jefferson and James Madison favored a strict construction of the constitution- one that limited the federal government’s power over the people.

 These two differing ideals organized themselves into political parties: - Jeffersonian Republicans: lead by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison - Federalists- lead by Alexander Hamilton, John Adams

F. The Whiskey Rebellion:

 The Whiskey Tax angered many farmers of western Pennsylvania.

 Farmers worried that the tax would interfere with their dependence on shipping their distilled grain to eastern markets and make their trade unprofitable.

 Hamilton cared little for the farmers frustration and encouraged all people charged with not paying the Whiskey Tax to stand trial in court for tax evasion.

 Protests sprang up all over the Pennsylvania backcountry. Farmers attacked tax collectors and refused to pay the Whiskey Tax.

 Washington sent 13,000 troops to suppress the “whiskey rebels” uprisings. Which quickly ended with the defeat of the Pennsylvania farmers.

G. Political Parties Compete for Power

 Northerners- mainly merchants- tended to support the Federalists

 Southerners- mostly farmers- supported the Jeffersonian Republicans

 The Jeffersonian Republicans worried that the Federalists would concentrate too much power in the hands of the elite and leave little room for common man’s voice to be heard.