THE FEDERALIST 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 Senate: (two-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 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 • Feared a strong central government important to maintain order and preserve • Argued Constitution contained no the union protection of individual rights
o Wrote Federalist Papers to urge o Pushed for a Bill of Rights people to ratify the Constitution
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 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
! EXCISE 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 Whiskey Rebellion (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 Rebellion Washington intends to enforce the power of access to currency. Farmers in the national government. Western 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 French Revolution 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 Reign of Terror. ! 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.
Background Foreign issue Impact During its war with France, Britain Jay’s The British agreed to evacuate their began to attack and seize US ships Treaty posts in the West. Also committed the bound for French ports. Britain also United States to paying pre- continued to have a presence in the Revolutionary debts still owed British Northwest and in 1784 began to build a merchants. Washington had succeeded new fort in the Ohio country. in maintaining neutrality and peace was Washington sent Justice John Jay to maintained. London to seek a settlement with the British.
At the time of Jay’s Treaty, Spain had Pinckney’s Granted the United States free feared that Britain and American might Treaty navigation of the Mississippi River and team up to attack Louisiana and the right to unload cargo (“the right to Spain’s other American possessions. deposit”) at New Orleans. The treaty also settled the border between Spain Florida and the Americas.
WASHINGTON’S FAREWELL ADDRESS:
Washington warns the … In contemplating the causes which may disturb our Union, it occurs as matter of nation to avoid… serious concern that any ground should have been furnished for characterizing parties by geographical discriminations, Northern and Southern, Atlantic and Western. ! Sectionalism warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party
generally… Political parties are likely to become potent engines, by which cunning, ! Political parties ambitious and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and 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 Hamilton’s National Bank: o Thomas Jefferson – the bank is unconstitutional, no where in the Constitution does it say the national government can create a National Bank o Alexander Hamilton – applies the necessary and proper clause (elastic clause)
DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICANS FEDERALISTS Against bank – the creation of a bank IT ALL STARTED For the bank - Implied powers: not is not in the Constitution WITH THE listed but necessary for government NATIONAL BANK to do its job
STRICT: Government can only do VIEW OF LOOSE: Favors a freer reading of the those things that the Constitution GOVERNMENT Constitution that gives government AND THE specifically spells out CONSTITUTION more room to act
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 AFFAIRS War with Britain and Spain)
Thomas Jefferson, James Madison Important people Alexander Hamilton
Strength of US was in its farmers and Other Beliefs Manufacturing and trade is the basis agriculture for 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 Alien and Sedition Acts.
ALIEN AND SEDITION ACTS ALIEN ACTS: Made it more difficult to become Why were they passed? a citizen and easier to arrest and deport any noncitizen thought to endanger national ! To silence opposition – limit the power and security influence of Republicans
SEDITION ACTS: made it easier to arrest a ! To protect the country and to avoid war person for criticizing the president or the (maintain neutrality) government
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