Chapter 7: George Washington & John Adams

Question 1

When was George Washington elected as President?

Answer 1

1789

Question 2

Which ‘party’ got control of Congress in the 1789 election?

Answer 2

Federalists - large majority in both houses

Question 3

Why was George Washington chosen as President?

Answer 3

He was the most famous & popular man in the country
Nobody actually stood against him

Question 4

Who was elected Vice President to George Washington?

Answer 4

John Adams

Question 5

What problems faced Washington as the first President?

Answer 5

The USA was far from united
Rhode Island & North Carolina still weren’t in the Union
The nation had a new & untested constitution
The new government had colossal debt & little to no method to collect money
No judiciary existed
USA had no navy & its army was small
USA’s Western borders faced Native attacks
British & Spanish troops still occupied part of the national territory

Question 6

What were the two advantages that the new government faced under Washington?

Answer 6

Economic downturn was over - economic expansion was happening
There was widespread popular support for both the new government & the Constitution - Anti-feds agreed to respect the popular decision & participate in the system

Question 7

What was the Judiciary Act 1789?

Answer 7

Set up the Supreme Court, to consist of a chief justice & 5 associate justices.
Ensured Federal laws would be adjudicated unformly across the nation.

Question 8

Who was chosen as the first chief justice?

Answer 8

John Jay

Question 9

What was the Bill of Rights?

Answer 9

A set of 10 constitutional amendments that set out the rights of the individual.
Included things like right to free press, free speech, and freedom of religion.

Question 10

What measures did Congress pass under Washington to raise revenue?

Answer 10

Trade duty of 5% on most items; 7.5% on certain listed items & up to 50% on 30 specific items - included things like steel, salt, tobacco and molasses
Tonnage Act 1789 stated that American ships should pay a duty of 6 cents per ton, but foreign-owned ships 30c and foreign-built ships 50c.

Question 11

How did Washington establish Presidential authority?

Answer 11

Held an open-house reception once every week
When visiting Boston, declined to visit Governor John Hancock until Hancock came to him - est. presidential importance over a governor
Spent ages settling on a title - eventually used Mr. President

Question 12

What was the relationship between Washington & Congress like?

Answer 12

The Senate valued its independence - some senators refused to discuss native american treaties in 1789 with Washington present

Question 13

What was the Federal ‘civil service’ & how was it set up?

Answer 13

It was a set of departments including state department, treasury department, and war department.
Washington was determined that he should be able to appoint the heads of department, and Congress reluctantly agreed.

Question 14

Who was in Washington’s Cabinet?

Answer 14

Alexander Hamilton in the treasury
Thomas Jefferson as secretary of state
Henry Knox continued in his role as secretary for war
Edmund Randolph, former Virginia governor, became Attoney general.

Question 15

Why was Alexander Hamilton a main driving force in the Washington administration?

Answer 15

He was talented and ambitious
He was a favourite of Washington
Finance was crucially important to the fledgling government
Secretary of the Treasury held a special position - had to directly report in writing to Congress

Question 16

What were the main ideas of Hamilton?

Answer 16

Wanted the new nation to be united & strong
Believed it was essential to bind the richer classes to the new government

Question 17

What was Hamilton’s Report on Public credit & when was it published?

Answer 17

1790; Reccommended the funding at face value of the entire domestic & foreign debt incurred by the government of the confederation, and federal assumption of the state’s war debts

Question 18

Why did Hamilton believe in federal assumption of the debt?

Answer 18

He thought it would help to bind the states together as one unified nation, helping to establish sound finances for the future.

Question 19

What was some opposition to Hamilton’s plans?

Answer 19

Virtually no opposition to repyament of foreign debt at face value
Madison opposed domestic debt repayment on the grounds that it mostly came from northern speculators who had bought cheap bonds - would enrich a small minority
State debt assumption bitterly opposed by southern states, who had comparatively less debt than the northern states.

Question 20

What was an eventual compromise between Hamilton & Madison on the financial programme?

Answer 20

Generous allowances were made to states who had already settled most of their debts
Permanent national capital was to be in the South (eventually became Washington DC)

Question 21

When was Hamilton’s financial programme passed?

Answer 21

1790

Question 22

What was Hamilton’s second report on public credit?

Answer 22

Reccommended a tax on distilled spirits to raise more revenue to cover national debt - first instance of state excise taxes

Question 23

What is an excise tax?

Answer 23

A tax on home goods

Question 24

In what ways was Hamilton’s financial programme a success?

Answer 24

Value of new government bonds rose sharply
Federal government was able to borrow money both at home & abroad

Question 25

What was Hamilton’s report on the National Bank?

Answer 25

He proposed that a National Bank should be created similar to the previous attempt by Robert Morris.

Question 26

What was the proposed bank of the United States do?

Answer 26

Act as a depository for government funds
Facilitate tax collection
Provide a source of capital for loans
Issue paper money & curb excessice note issue by the states
Ensure the stockholders had a vested interest in supporting the federal government

Question 27

What was the capital of the Bank of the United States to be?

Answer 27

$10m - 4/5 by private investors, 1/5 by the government

Question 28

What was some opposition to Hamilton’s financial programme?

Answer 28

Madison argued there was no constitutional basis for creating institutes like this - Congress passed it anyway
Washington asked the cabinet - Jefferson & Randolph agreed with Madison

Question 29

How did Hamilton justify his right to create a National bank?

Answer 29

The idea of ‘Implied powers’, where essentially the Constitution doesn’t explicitly say a bank can be created, the bank helps to excercise powers given in the constitution.

Question 30

Was the Bank of the United States a success?

Answer 30

Yes, opened in Philadelphia in December 1791 on a twenty year charter
Banknotes maintained their value
Still exists today

Question 31

What was Hamilton’s report on manufacturing & what were its results?

Answer 31

He reccommended a comprehensive plan for industrialisation through a system of protective tariffs & government subsidies.
Little effect - the plan was shelved and laid untouched.

Question 32

What were the results of Hamilton’s financial changes with regards to unity?

Answer 32

Sharpened divisions rather than increased unity - gave these divisions political form through parties
Those already on the side of the government were brought further in, and those who already had their doubts were further antagonised.

Question 33

Who mostly led the resistance to Hamilton’s policies?

Answer 33

Thomas Jefferson - convinced by 1791 that his principles were ‘adverse to liberty’.
Madison directed the opposition in Congress, while Jefferson worked behind the scenes

Question 34

What were the main key differences between Jefferson & Hamilton?

Answer 34

Hamilton wanted a diversified economy, agriculture balanced by industry. Jefferson wanted an agriculture-based economy, as he believed farmers were the backbone of America.
Hamilton was pessimistic about the people & preferred order, while Jefferson was optimistic & preferred liberty.

Question 35

What were the national newspapers of Jefferson & Hamilton respectively?

Answer 35

United States Gazette - Hamilton
National Gazette - Jefferson

Question 36

Which two parties did Hamilton & Jefferson embody?

Answer 36

Hamilton - Federalists
Jefferson - Republicans

Question 37

Why did George Washington get re-elected in 1792?

Answer 37

He was popular & seen as above party
He was urged to continue, as he kept North & South together
Nobody stood against him
He stood above major political arguments such as Hamilton vs. Jefferson

Question 38

Why did Jefferson resign from cabinet in 1793?

Answer 38

Splits between him and Hamilton had become increasingly bitter & personal - he was nearly removed forcefully by Washington

Question 39

What was the impact of the French Revolution on America?

Answer 39

Acted as a touchstone for determining political allegiance - Federalists saw it as a warning, while Republicans sympathised with the rebels
Declaration of War with Britain in 1793 raised questions of American obligations to France - declared neutrality

Question 40

Who was Citizen Genet?

Answer 40

The French revolutionary foreign ambassador in the 1790s

Question 41

What did Citizen Genet do?

Answer 41

He intrigued with frontiersmen & land speculators with a view to attacking Spanish Florida.
He also outfitted a captured British ship as a French privateer, directly breaking a promise.
Washington ordered his recall, and when the French government sent out a warrant for his arrest, he sought asylum in the USA.

Question 42

What were the problems that the British posed to the government in the 1790s?

Answer 42

Americans were concerned about continued British prescence south of the Great Lakes, depsite agreement they would leave in 1783.
Britain disregarded maritime rights of neutral America when at war with France - seized 250 American ships carrying goods from the French West Indies to France
April 1794 - a bill supporting boycott of trade with Britain defeated by only 1 vote in Congress

Question 43

What were the terms of Jay’s Treaty?

Answer 43

Britain promised to evacuate the northern forts by 1796.
Britain agreed to submit American cliams for compensation for ship seizure to arbitration
Britain granted American commerce (very limited) access to the British West Indies.
In return, America referred the pre-revolutionary debts & northeast boundary questions to mixed commissions, Britain got favoured treatment in American commerce, and Frenc privateers would not be outfitted in US ports.

Question 44

When was Jay’s Treaty signed?

Answer 44

1794

Question 45

Why was Jay’s Treaty divisive?

Answer 45

Republicans saw it as a show of weakness - surrender to the British.
Washington considered for 2 months before signing it, but eventually did so.
Treaty was largely successful.

Question 46

Why did Relations with Spain cause the early government under Washington issues?

Answer 46

Spain incited natives to attack American settlements
Jay’s Treaty made Spain consider joint USA/UK military action against it, so softened its attitudes.
Eventually resulted in the Treaty of San Lorenzo.

Question 47

What was the Treaty of San Lorenzo & what was set out in it?

Answer 47

Signed in 1795 with Spain
Granted the USA free use of the Mississippi & the right to deposit goods in New Orleans
Accepted the American claim to the 31st parallel as the Florida boundary
Promised to restrain Native American attacks

Question 48

When did new western states join the Union?

Answer 48

Kentucky in 1792, Tennessee in 1796

Question 49

What were the issues with Native American policy 1789-93?

Answer 49

Negotiated the Treaty of New York with a Creek leader in 1790 - agreed to forbid private or state encroachments on all guaranteed Native lands.
States broke this treaty; Georgia state legislature openly defied the treaty by selling more than 15m acres to speculators
Northern settlers simply broke the treaty & went onto native land
Breaking of the treaty led to uprisings in the Ohio valley - had to be put down, led to escalating cycle of violence

Question 50

What was the Treaty of Greenville 1794?

Answer 50

USA acquired the rights to the lands which are now Ohio & Indiana from the natives after they suffered a crushing defeat

Question 51

What was western land policy in the 1790s?

Answer 51

Land Acts of 1796 extended the rectangular surveys ordained in 1785, but doubled the price of land.
However, this was a poor policy, as half the townships would go in expensive 640-acre sections.
Sold less than 50,000 acres under the act.

Question 52

What was the Whiskey Insurrection?

Answer 52

1791 Liquor tax bore heavily on frontier farmers - surplus rye and corn couldn’t be disposed of unless it was reduced via distillation
Mobs terrorised federal agents & prevented courts from functioning in 1794.
Militia force of 13,000 men led by Hamilton went to Pittsburgh, suppressing the ‘Whiskey Boys’.

Question 53

What were the results of the Whiskey insurrection?

Answer 53

Reinforced republican fears of military dictatorship
Alienated frontiersmen further

Question 54

Why did Washington stand down in 1796?

Answer 54

He had seen criticism as being the puppet of Hamilton & the other federalists
He was worn out by the burdens of presidency

Question 55

What was contained in Washington’s final address to America?

Answer 55

Advice not to permanently ally with any large parts of the foreign world & to steer clear of the baneful effects of party politics

Question 56

Who were the candidates to succeed Washington?

Answer 56

Republicans chose Jefferson as their candidate
Federalists chose John Adams, as Hamilton was (wrongly) accused of mishandling money.

Question 57

What did Hamilton do in the 1796 election?

Answer 57

Tried to manipulate the system so that the Federalist VP candidate would become president (it didnt work)

Question 58

What were the results of the 1796 election?

Answer 58

John Adams elected president, Jefferson elected Vice President
Senate had a federalist majority
House was more evenly split.

Question 59

How did the 1796 election show party divisions?

Answer 59

Adams’ support came almost entirely from the North; Jefferson carried the South & the newer states
However, they weren’t completely sectional, as parties didn’t divide along strict socio-economic lines, as farmers made up 90% of the population, so some must have supported the Feds.