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Birth of the USA - History A'level > 6. Washington and Adams 1789-1801 > Flashcards

6. Washington and Adams 1789-1801 Flashcards

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1
Q
  1. When and where was Washington inaugurated as president? Why did his journey from Mt Vernon confirm the universal confidence in him?
A

New York City, April 30th 1789.

His journey became a ‘triumphal procession’.

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2
Q
  1. How did the election of 1789 give the federalists control of the new government?
A

Federalists gained large majorities in both the Senate and House of Representatives.

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3
Q
  1. List six problems facing the new government in 1789.
A 
USA not united
RI and NC not yet part of the union.
Nation's constitution was untried.
Colossal debt with no revenue or machinery to collect debt.
No judiciary department yet.
No navy and army only had 672 officers.
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4
Q
  1. What two advantages did the new government have in 1789?
A

Post war depression was ending, growing economy.

Majority support for the constitution.

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5
Q
  1. What was the Bill of Rights and why was it made?
A

Ten constitutional amendments to protect American liberties.

Designed to reconcile anti-federalists.

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6
Q
  1. What did the judiciary act of 1789 establish?
A

Supreme court, district courts for each state, 3 circuit courts, supreme courts ruled over new laws, John Jay as first chief justice.

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7
Q

What were circuit courts for?

A

Appeals

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8
Q

Who was selected as the first chief justice?

A

John Jay

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9
Q
  1. How did the government of 1789 try to raise revenue?
A

Trade duties on most imports, with higher duties for certain products.
Tonnage act taxed ships per ton.

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10
Q
  1. How did Washington invest the office with an Aura of dignity?
A

Weekly open house reception.
Governors had to call on him, established in the case of John Hancock, MA.
Simple title.

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11
Q

What title was decided for George Washington.

A

President of the United States

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12
Q
  1. What problem emerged regarding the relationship between the President and the Senate in 1789?
A

Senate would not discuss matters of a treaty in the presence of Washington, despite being described as advisory to the president.

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13
Q
  1. What federal ‘Civil Services’ were established in 1789? What power over them did Washington want?
A

State. Treasury, and war departments.
Offices of attorney general and postmaster general.
Washington wanted full control over appointing and dismissing heads of departments.

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14
Q

11.1 Who did Washington first make Secretary to the Treasury?

A

Alexander Hamilton

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15
Q

11.2 Who did Washington first make Secretary of State?

A

Thomas Jefferson

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16
Q

11.3 Who did Washington first make Secretary of war?

A

Henry Knox

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17
Q

11.4 Who did Washington first make attorney general?

A

Edmund Randolph

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18
Q
  1. Why did Hamilton become the driving force of the 1789 administration?
A
  • Talented and ambitious
  • He was a favourite of Washington
  • Finance was crucially important to the fledgling government.
  • Washington believed it was not his function to initiate legislation.
  • Secretary of the treasury occupied a special place amongst the executive heads.
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19
Q
  1. What were Hamilton’s main ideas?
A
  • Nationalist
  • Admired British system- desired a constitutional monarch
  • Federal gov should dominate finance
  • Restore national credit
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20
Q
  1. What did Hamilton recommend in his first report on public credit in 1790?
A
  • Funding, at face value, the whole domestic and foreign debt. Around $56 million.
  • Federal assumption of state war debts, $21 million.
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21
Q
  1. Why did Hamilton believe a national debt was a positive thing?
A
  • Cement of the union.
  • Ensure credit for the future.
  • Allow congress to use national taxing power.
  • Instil respect for government’s authority.
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22
Q
  1. Why was Hamilton’s plan for domestic debt bitterly attacked?
A
  • Debt was owned mostly by Northern speculators when hard times forced creditors to sell them.
  • It would enrich only a tiny minority.
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23
Q
  1. What did Madison suggest in response to the problem of domestic debt? How did Hamilton respond?
A
  • Suggested plan to discriminate between original holders and subsequent purchasers.
  • Hamilton claimed it would be impossible to judge who might have benefitted from selling bonds and investing proceeds in other ways.
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24
Q
  1. Why were southern states opposed to Hamilton’s plan for domestic debts?
A
  • Apart from SC, Southern states had provided for the repayment of their debts.
  • Objected to paying a share of the large debts of the Northern states.
  • Feared assuming the debt would expand national power at the expense of the states.
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25
Q
  1. What bargains and compromises were made with Madison and Jefferson, which allowed Hamilton’s legislation to pass congress in August 1790?
A
  • Generous allowances would be made for states which already settled their debts.
  • The permanent national capital would be in the South, at a site on the Potomac River to be chosen by President Washington.
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26
Q
  1. What did Hamilton propose in the second report of public credit?
A

More revenue to be found through:

- Tax on distilled spirits - which established a precedent of federal taxing - passed March 1791.

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27
Q
  1. Why do most historians argue that Hamilton’s credit measures were a success? What problems have been identified?
A
  • Value of new government bonds rose sharply.
  • Federal government was able to borrow money at home and abroad.
  • But Madison and southerners opposed the schemes- seen as threatening state powers.
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28
Q
  1. What roles would Hamilton’s national bank take?
A
  • Depository for government funds.
  • Facilitate the collection of taxes.
  • Provide a source of capital for loans to stimulate the development of business and commerce.
  • Issue paper money and curb excessive note issue by state banks.
  • Ensure that the bank’s stock holders had a vested interest in supporting the national government.
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29
Q
  1. Why was the constitution an issue regarding the national bank?
A
  • Madison insisted constitution had not specifically conferred power on congress to charter companies.
  • Washington called cabinet to discuss and Jefferson and Randolph supported Madison.
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30
Q
  1. Successes and problems with the National Bank?
A
  • Contributed to the USA’s economic development.
  • Banknotes maintained value.
  • Exercised some control over state banks.
  • But, Was loathed in the South and West and did not make Hamilton more popular.
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31
Q
  1. What was the report on manufactures from December 1791? What happened to it?
A

Laid down a comprehensive plan for industrialisation through:

  • Protective tariffs.
  • Government subsidies for industry and inventions.
  • But Congress wasn’t ready for such bold economic planning.
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32
Q
  1. What were the key results of Hamilton’s economic programmes?
A
  • Restored public credit, allowing foreign capital to flow into the USA
  • Productivity increased and prosperity returned.
  • Sharpened divisions and turned them political.
  • Southerners feared the way the federal government was centralising powers.
  • Tied some supporters closer to government while pushing others away.
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33
Q
  1. What divisions were there between Hamilton and Jefferson?
A
  • Hamilton foresaw a diversified economy while Jefferson saw a sturdy farmer society.
  • Hamilton feared anarchy and the people, while Jefferson feared tyranny and had faith in the people.
  • Hamilton wanted to strengthen federal government, while jefferson supported the rights of states.
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34
Q
  1. What happened in a ‘botanizing expedition’ up the Hudson river in the summer of 1791?
A

Jefferson and Madison came to an agreement with some of Hamilton’s rivals including Governor Clinton and Burr

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35
Q
  1. What were the informal ‘parties’ that developed in this period?
A
  • Republicans (which implied the federalists wanted a monarchy) led by Jefferson and Madison.
  • Federalists, embodied by Hamilton.
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36
Q
  1. What happened in the 1792 election?
A
  • Washington was persuaded to stand again and ran unopposed.
  • Clinton was nominated by Republicans to be VP but lost to Adams
  • Federalists had a clear senate majority but were fairly even in the house where many had no party affiliations.
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37
Q
  1. What led to Jefferson’s resignation in December 1793?
A
  • Hamilton and Jefferson feud became bitter and personal, each were trying to undermine the other and gain followings.
  • Washington nearly dismissed Jefferson so he left.
  • Washington regarded him as disloyal.
38
Q
  1. Why did the execution of Louis XVI and the terror in France in 1793 cause a divergence in public opinion?
A
  • Federalists interpreted events as confirming fears that popular rule could turn into mob rule.
  • Republicans continued to sympathise with the revolutionaries.
  • The French Rev became the touchstone for determining political allegiances in the early 1790s.
39
Q
  1. How is the year 1778 connected to the French Revolution and America?
A

America had signed an alliance with France in 1778 which obliged the USA to defend French positions in the West indies.

40
Q
  1. Why did Hamilton argue against siding with France against the British after 1793?
A
  • 1778 alliance invalid as it was made with a government that didn’t exist anymore.
  • Strong pro-British sentiments.
  • British imports were main source of tariff revenues for his financial plan.
  • 75% of trade was with Britain, 90% of imports from Britain.
41
Q
  1. What did Washington decide to do about the French and British war from 1793?
A
  • April 1793, issued a proclamation of neutrality.

- Declared USA to be ‘friendly and impartial toward the belligerent powers’.

42
Q
  1. What actions did Britain take which did not make it easy for the Federalists to rally to their side in the conflict with France?
A
  • British still held military posts south of the Great Lakes.
  • British troops were suspected of encouraging Native Americans to attack American settlers.
  • Britain maintained it’s blockade stopping the USA from trading with the French West Indies.
  • 250 American ships seized and crews imprisoned.
43
Q
  1. What was the only thing that could stop a bill supporting a boycott of trade with Britain passing in April 1794?
A
  • The casting vote of Vice President Adams in the Senate.
44
Q
  1. Why did Jay’s treaty with Britain in November 1794 cause uproar in the USA?
A
  • Jay failed to secure a commercial treaty or compensation for slaves carried off by Britain in 1783.
  • He was forced to accept the British position on neutral rights at sea.
  • Republicans denounced the agreement as a base surrender and a ‘pact with the British devil’.
45
Q
  1. Despite opposition, why was Jay’s treaty with Britain largely successful?
A
  • Britain surrendered its forts.

- An economic boom followed the treaty as American trade with Britain and its empire increased threefold.

46
Q
  1. What did Pinckney’s treaty with Spain agree?
A
  • Ended a decade of Spanish planning by opening the Mississippi
  • 31st Parallel agreed, Florida.
  • Mississippi boundary + navigation rights for US trade.
  • Spain agrees to stop inciting Native American tribes to rebel.
47
Q

40.1 What was the 1795 treaty with Spain called? Who negotiated it?

A

Treat of San Lorenzo, negotiated by Pinckney.

48
Q

40.2 Why was the treaty of San Lorenzo a success?

A

Established a border with Spanish territories, and ended possible succession of Kentucky.

49
Q
  1. How did Washington try to improve relations with Native Americans from 1789-93?
A
  • Supported a policy designed to create several sovereign ‘homelands’, working with Knox.
  • Treaty of New York signed with a Creek leader, Alexander McGillivray, restored some lands ceded in treaties with Georgia.
  • Washington forbade private or state encroachments on Native American lands guaranteed by treaty with the USA.
50
Q

41.1 When was the treaty of New York signed, and who with?

A

1790, with Creek leader Alexander McGillivray.

51
Q
  1. Why was Washington’s policy on Native Americans unsuccessful?
A
  • Georgia defied his proclamation and sold 15 million acres to speculators called the Yazoo companies.
  • Northern white settlers simply moved onto Native American lands.
  • Washington approved military expeditions to put down tribe uprisings in Ohio.
  • Realised no holding back tide of White Settlers.
52
Q
  1. What was the Treaty of Greenville, and when was it?
A

The USA acquired rights to lands that are now OhIo and Indiana after a crushing defeat of Northwestern Native Americans by 5000 troops led by General Wayne. 1794

53
Q
  1. What disagreements were there on Western LAnd policies during Washington’s presidency?
A
  • Federalists, led by Jay and Hamilton, favoured high prices for large parcels of land to speculators.
  • Republicans, led by Jefferson, favoured small chunks of land sold to ordinary settlers.
54
Q
  1. What were the land acts of 1796?
A
  • Congress extended the rectangular surveys ordained in 1785.
  • Doubled price of land to $2 per acre, only 1 year to pay.
  • Minimum cost was now $1280 for $640 acres.
55
Q

45.1 What was the effect of the Land acts of 1796?

A

Minimum cost was $1280 for 640 acres which was too expensive even for most speculators. By 1800, fewer than 50,000 acres were sold.

56
Q
  1. When and where was the Whiskey insurrection?
A

1794, Pennsylvania

57
Q

46.1 Why did the Whiskey insurrection take place?

A
  • 1791 tax on liquor
  • Tax bore heavily on frontier farmers who relied on whiskey to sell surplus corn and rye.
  • Discontent boiled over into armed insurrection.
58
Q
  1. How was the Whiskey insurrection dealt with?
A
  • Washington, urged by Hamilton, raised a militia of 13,000.
  • Hamilton led army to Pittsburgh rapidly suppressing ‘Whiskey Boys’ and granting amnesty to rebels that signed an oath to the federal government.
59
Q
  1. What happened in the aftermath of the Whiskey rebellion?
A
  • Frontiersmen alienated.
  • Hamilton’s role created fears of a standing army and dictatorship amongst Republicans.
  • Hamilton resigned shortly after, disillusioned and keen to earn money.
60
Q

48.1 Why do some historians argue the Whiskey rebellion marks the end of the revolution?

A

Armed resistance against taxation by central government, this is put down and is no longer acceptable.

61
Q
  1. What challenges had worn Washington down by the end of his second term in 1796?
A
  • Republican press depicted him as a Federalist, or a senile dupe of a Federalist leader.
  • He considered many Republicans to be fools and troublemakers, especially Jefferson.
  • He was worn down by burdens of presidency and partisan abuse.
62
Q

49.1 When did Washington stop being President?

A

1797

63
Q
  1. What were the key points of Washington’s farewell address?
A
  • Steer clear of permanent foreign alliances.

- Warned against ‘baneful effects of the spirit of party’.

64
Q

51.1 Who were the candidates on the ballot for the Republicans in 1796?

A

Jefferson, with Aaron Burr (from New York).

65
Q

51.2 Who were the candidates on the ballot for the Federalists in the 1796 election?

A

John Adams and Thomas Pinckney (of South Carolina).

66
Q
  1. What scheming did Hamilton carry out in the 1796 election?
A
  • Tried to get VP candidate Pinckney to win over John Adams.

- Hoped Southern Republicans second vote would go to Pinckney.

67
Q
  1. What was the result of the 1796 election?
A
  • John Adams, 71, President.
  • Jefferson, VP, some Federalists withheld second vote from Pinckney due to Hamilton.
  • Federalist Senate majority.
  • House divided, many without affiliation.
68
Q
  1. Why were voting patterns of 1796 somewhat ironic?
A
  • New England, once democratic, voted Federalist.

- Virginia, Stratified and reliant and slavery, voted Republican.

69
Q

55.1 What generalisation could be made about Federalist supporters in 1796?

A
  • New England stronghold.
  • Some support in SC.
  • Merchants, bankersm ship owners, manufacturers.
  • Many farmers, usually bigger, commercial farmers.
  • Richer.
70
Q

55.2 What generalisation could be made about Republican supporters in 1796?

A
  • Southern and Western.
  • Some support in NY.
  • Farmers and planters.
  • Poorer.
71
Q
  1. What factors influenced partisan allegiance?
A
  • Respect for Washington -> Federalist
  • Following lead of a local magnate.
  • Congregationalists, Episcopalians, Quakers -> Federalist
  • Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians -> Republican
  • Most Americans didn’t vote -> inconvenient.
72
Q
  1. What initial mistaked di Adams make when becoming president?
A
  • Retained Washington’s cabinet, who looked to Hamilton for advice.
  • Hamilton stayed as real power in the administration, despite being opposed to Adams.
73
Q
  1. Who were the high Federalists?
A
  • Federalists who supported Hamilton as the real leader of their party.
74
Q
  1. How did the French respond to Jay’s treaty with Britain?
A
  • Believed USA were now allies with Britain.
  • Refused to receive American minister, Charles Pinckney.
  • Ordered seizure of American ships carrying British cargoes.
  • By June 1797, 300 merchantmen captured.
75
Q
  1. What was the XYZ affair?
A
  • Adams sent a special mission to Paris to avert war with France.
  • Met by 3 subordinates (X, Y, Z)
  • They demanded bribe of $250,000 then $12 million loan before negotiations.
  • American commissioners outraged and returned home.
76
Q
  1. Describe the Quasi-War
A
  • Between 1798 and 1800, USA and France fought an undeclared naval war, Adams resisted formal declaration.
  • Happened after Congress; abrogated 1778 alliance with France, created a naval department, authorised capture of armed French ships, and suspended trade with France.
77
Q
  1. How did Republicans respond to the Quasi-War?
A
  • Opposed it.
  • Jefferson saw the creation of a standing army as a threat to liberty.
  • Regarded Britain as the USA’s natural enemy.
78
Q

63.1 When were the Alien and Sedition acts enacted?

A

Summer 1798

79
Q

63.2 What main 3 acts made up the Alien and Sedition acts?

A
  • The Naturalisation act
  • The Alien acts
  • The Sedition act
80
Q

63.3 What was the Naturalisation act?

A

Increased residential requirement for citizenship by almost 300% (5-14 years). Deprived Republicans of immigrant votes.

81
Q

63.4 What were the Alien acts?

A

Gave the President power to deport any Alien whom he deemed ‘dangerous to the safety of the peace and safety of the USA’.

82
Q

63.5 What was the Sedition act?

A

Heavy fines and prison for persons convicted of publishing ‘false, scandalous, or malicious writings’.

83
Q
  1. Why was the Sedition act the most controversial?
A
  • Transparently partisan, designed to punish Republicans seen as traitors by Federalists.
  • 25 people arrested including prominent Republican editors, 10 convicted and imprisoned.
  • Convictions created martyrs to the cause of freedom of speech and the press.
84
Q
  1. What were the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions?
A
  • 1798-99, Kentucky and VIrginia adopted protest resolutions drafted by Jefferson and Madison.
  • Described Alien and Sedition acts as unconstitutional.
  • Declared Federal government couldn’t exercise any powers not explicitly granted to it.
  • Asserted that states decided when infractions occurred and could nullify them.
85
Q
  1. Why might Jefferson have been impeached for treason if his connection to the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions had been discovered?
A
  • Suggested Kentucky may secede from a union of which he was vice president.
86
Q
  1. What did high federalists and Hamilton hope for as the Quasi-war went on?
A
  • Eager for outright declaration of war to unite the country behind Federalist leadership.
  • Hamilton dreamed of leading an expedition against Spanish held Louisiana and Florida then liberating South America.
87
Q
  1. Why did John Adams seek an end to the hostilities with France?
A
  • Disliked militarism growing within the Federalist party and feared Hamilton’s martial ambitions.
88
Q

68.1 How did John Adams seek an end to hostilities with France?

A
  • Was invited to reopen negotiations by Talleyrand.

- He agreed a treaty signed in 1800

89
Q
  1. What Federalist problems were there on the eve of the 1800 election?
A
  • Fries rebellion aftermath
  • Army unpopular
  • A + S acts threatened liberty
  • Adams dismissed Hamilton from Cabinet -> party split
  • Hamilton wrote a pamphlet declaring Adams unfit as president.
90
Q

69.1 What caused Fries’ rebellion?

A

1798 tax on houses and land was very unpopular and caused 1799 uprising led by John Fries.
He was pardoned and High Federalists felt Adams was weak for this.

91
Q
  1. How did Republicans campaign in the 1800 election?
A
  • Condemned Alien and Sedition acts.
  • Accused Adams of monarchical tendencies.
  • Jefferson directed campaign by mail from MOnticello
  • Jefferson was depicted as the farmers friend, champion of states rights and liberty and peace.
92
Q
  1. What was the result of the 1800 election?
A
  • Narrow republican victory, with wins in NY, South and West.
  • Federalists kept New England, New Jersey and Delaware.

Birth of the USA - History A'level (6 decks)

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