Creating A Functioning Government (1777-1824) Flashcards
Abigail Adams
Wrote letter to her husband reminding them of their help during the war
Showed how women thought they deserved some degree of compensation
Articles of Confederation
First national constitution
Little to no central government - afraid of British tyrannical rule again
Fed. Gov couldn’t tax or regulate trade
Amendments required unanimous consent of all states - could hold each other hostage
Too concerned with preventing too much power in the government
Blacks after the revolution
Many more freed, but created more racist publications and legislation
Led to early “ghettoization” of blacks and other minorities
Problems the Articles caused
Couldn’t levy taxes –> printed more paper money to finance the war –> inflation
British denied US access to West Indian markets –> US helpless
British refused to abandon military posts in the States - couldn’t expel them
Shays Rebellion
August 1786 - January 1787
1500 farmers from Massachusetts matched on Springfield to protest a number of unfair policies, both economic and political. Armed & angry - wake up call for the elite
Government was essentially powerless to stop such rebellions
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Governed the sale of government land to settlers
Contained a bill of rights guaranteeing trial by jury, freedom of religion, and freedom from excess punishment
Abolished slavery in the Northwest Territories
Set specific regulations concerning the conditions under which territories could apply for statehood
Claimed Native American land without consent
Annapolis Convention
Convened by Hamilton
Only 5 delegates showed up
Hamilton was concerned that there was no uniform commercial policy and feared for the survival of the new republic
Constitutional Convention
55 delegates met in Philadelphia to discuss the revision if the Articles of Confederation
Summer of 1787
Virgina plan vs. New Jersey plan
Virginia: wanted an entirely new government based on checks and balances and for the number of representatives for each state to be based on population
New Jersey: modifications and equal representation from each state
Great Compromise / Connecticut Compromise
Blended the Virginia plan and New Jersey plan to have a bicameral legislature and the Constitution
Lower house: HOR elected by people
Upper house: Senate elected by state legislatures
President and VP voted by electoral college
Three-Fifths compromise
Method for counting slaves among the populations of southern states for “proportional” representation in congress, even though those sales weren’t citizens
Each counted as 3/5 of a person
Anti-Federalists (Democratic-Republicans)
Came from the backcountry and opposed the constitution. Saw the federal government as an all-powerful beast. Appalled by the absence of rights - pushed for bill of rights Jefferson and Madison Economy based on agriculture Strict constitution Against national bank Sympathetic toward France
Federalist Papers
Anonymously authored by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay.
Published in a New York newspaper and widely circulated
Critical in swaying opinion in New York
Federalists
For the constitution Federal power Creation of a national bank Hamilton, Washington, Adams, jay, Marshall Economy based on commerce Loose construction Sympathetic toward Great Britain
Bill of Rights
1791 (2 years after constitution)
- Freedom of religion, speech, petition, assembly, and press
- Right to bear arms
- No quartering soldiers in private homes
- Freedom from unreasonable search and seizure
- Right to due process, freedom from self-incrimination, and double jeopardy
- Right to speedy and public trial
- Right to trial by jury
- Freedom from excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment
- Rights not listed kept by the people
- Powers not listed kept by the states or people
George Washington
First president, voted unanimously
Used veto only if a bill was unconstitutional
Created a government with the best minds of it’s time
Very careful and wise - set precedent
Thomas Jefferson
Washington’s Secretary of State
Anti-Federalist
Favored weaker federal government empowered mainly to defend the country and regulate interstate commerce
Alexander Hamilton
Washington’s secretary of the treasury
Federalist
Favored strong central government and weak state governments
Proposed national bank
National Bank
Proposed by Hamilton to help regulate and strengthen the economy
Approved by both houses, Washington considered a veto - unsure of constitutionality
Strict constructionists
Jefferson & Madison
Argued that the constitution allowed congress only those powers specifically granted to it or those “necessary and proper” to the execution of it’s enumerated powers
Said a bank was not necessary
Broad (loose) constructionists
Hamilton & Washington
Said the creation of a bank was an implied power of the government bc the government already had explicit power to coin money, borrow money, and collect taxes
Said government could do anything in the execution of enumerated powers
National debt (Hamilton)
Federal government assumed the states debts (increasing the federal governments power) and repayed those debts by giving the debt holders land on the western frontier
French Revolution
During Washington administration
Jefferson wanted to support it and it’s republican ideals
Hamilton didn’t like revolutionaries
Citizen Edmond Genet
French government representative who came to America to seek it’s assistance after French revolution
Led to neutrality proclamation
Neutrality proclamation
Washington: the US intention to remain “friendly and impartial toward belligerent powers”
Whiskey Rebellion
Instigated by Hamilton’s financial program
Western Pennsylvania
Gamers resisted an excise tax on whiskey
Washington dispatched the militia to break up the rebels
Demonstrated lasting class tensions
Jay’s treaty
Concerned the evacuation of the British from the northwest territory and discussed British violations of free trade
Prevented war with Great Britain
Some say jay made too many concessions
Low point of Washingtons administration
Pinckney’s Treaty
AKA Treaty of San Lorenzo
High point of Washington administration
Negotiated with Spain the use of the Mississippi River, duty-free access to world markets, and he removal of any remaining Spanish forts on American soil
Spain promised to try and prevent attacks on western settlers from native Americans
Washington’s Farewell Address
Composed in part by Hamilton
Warned future presidents to “steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world”
Defined american foreign policy from 1800-1890 when imperialism started
Women’s Roles 1790s
Reevaluated in light of republican ideals
Excluded from political activity
Private virtue: women should inspire and teach men to be good citizens through romance and motherhood
John Adams
2nd president VP Thomas Jefferson - 2nd place Let Alexander Hamilton take charge Ugly divisive tone Avoided war with France
XYZ Affair
France began seizing American ships on open seas
Adams sent 3 diplomats to Paris where French officials demanded a huge bribe before they would allow negotiations to begin
Adams published diplomats’ written report in the newspapers
Public became anti-French
Alien & Sedition Acts
Adams presidency
Allowed the government to forcibly expel foreigners and to jail newspaper editors for “scandalous and malicious writing.”
Aimed at destroying immigrant support for Democratic Republicans
Strictly regulated anti-government speech - violated first amendment
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
Drafted by Jefferson and Madison
Argued that the states had the right to judge the constitutionality of federal laws
Declared the Alien and Sedition Acts void
Jefferson used the laws and the resolutions as key issues in his 1800 campaign for the presidency
Nullification
State authority to declare federal laws unconstitutional
Revolution of 1800
Aaron Burr vs Thomas Jefferson
Hamilton supported Jefferson - hated Burr, who later assassinated Hamilton
President again saddled with a Vice President they didn’t want
No violence occurred during the transition from Federalists to Democratic-Republicans
“The bloodless revolution”
Twelfth Amendment
Allowed electors to vote for a party ticket
President no longer stuck with a VP they didn’t want or agree with
Midnight Appointments
Adams filled as many government positions with Federalists as he could before leaving the capital when Jefferson took office
Jefferson refused to recognize those appointments and replaced as many federalist employees as he could
Marbury v. Madison
Marbury sued Madison for refusing to certify Marbury’s appointment to the federal bench
Marshall was a federalist
Established judicial review
Said Marbury had a right to judgeship, but the court could not enforce his right because it was unconstitutional
Louisiana Purchase
Jefferson sent Monroe to France to negotiate the purchase of New Orleans for $2 million
Napoleon needed money for war in Europe and revolution in Haiti
Offered to sell entire Louisiana territory for $15 million
Jefferson unsure if it was constitutional to purchase land - claimed power to negotiate treaties with foreign nations
Quids
Group of republicans who criticized Jefferson for violating republican principles with the Louisiana purchasers by John Randolph of Viriginia
Lewis and Clark
Explored western territories, including much of Louisiana territory
Favorable reports –> pioneers moved west in search of land, riches, and economic opportunities
Impressment
British ships stopped American ships and declared, often with littler proof, that those sailors had deserted from the British navy and forced them back into it
British frigate attacked American ship in American waters —> boycott
Embargo Act of 1807
British and French continued to harass American ships
Shut down Americas import and export business
New England’s economy collapsed and smuggling became widespread
Non-Intercourse Act of 1809
Reopened trade with most nations, but still officially banned trade with Britain and France
James Madison
Succeeded Jefferson
Democratic-Republican
Sought a solution to Americas trade problems
President during the war of 1812
Macon’s Bill No. 2
Reopened trade with both France and England
Madison promised that if either country renounced it’s interference with American trade, he would cut off trade with the other one
Napoleon made that promise, forcing the US to cut off trade with GB but French continued harassing American ships
Built pro-war sentiments
War Hawks
South and West
Saw war as an opportunity to grab new territories to the west and southwest
Led by Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun
War of 1812
Native Americans aligned themselves with the British
American forces ill-prepared for war
British captured DC and set the White House on fire in 1814
Andrew Jackson didn’t know peace had been made –> won the Battle of New Orleans
Tecumseh
Chief who allied with the British in the War of 1812
Unified area tribes in an effort to stop American expansion into Indiana and Illinois
Coalition fell apart after he was killed in battle
Tenskwatawa (the Prophet)
War of 1812
Led an extensive revival of traditional Native American culture and religion
Tecumseh’s brother
Treaty of Ghent
Ended the War of 1812 with Britain and France
Hartford Convention
Federalists opposed the war of 1812 because it disrupted trade
Met in Hartford, Connecticut to consider a massive overhaul of the constitution or, failing that, secession
Considered traitors once the war ended
National party dissolved soon after the Hartford Convention
Effects of the War of 1812
End of Native Americans’ ability to stop American expansion
American economy became less reliant on trade with Britain (self-sufficient)
Made Andrew Jackson a celebrity and paved the way to his presidency
Victory in New Orleans led to a national euphoria
Destroyed the Federalists
Spurred American manufacturing
National Road
From Maryland to Ohio
One of Madison’s great achievements
American System
AKA Nationalist program
Madison presidency
Protective tariffs on imports
Improvements to interstate roads (national road)
Rechartered the national bank after the first national bank’s charter expired
Henry clay lobbied for them
Era of Good Feelings
US had only one political party after federalist demise
Monroe’s presidency
Belies the growing tension created by economic development and increased sectionalism
Marshall still Supreme Court justice
McCulloch v. Maryland
Marshall ruled that states could not tax the national bank, thus establishing the precedence of national law over state law
Panic of 1819
Financial scare - economic turmoil
Followed a period of growth, inflation, and land speculation, all of which had destabilized the economy. Borrowers couldn’t repay National Bank loans –> mortgage foreclosures, business failure, and poverty
John Quincy Adams
Secretary of State under Monroe
Son of John Adams
Negotiated a number of treaties that fixed US borders and opened new territories
Handled international tensions caused by revolutions in Latin America
Adams-Onis Treaty
US acquired Florida from the Spanish in 1819
Monroe Doctrine
Policy of mutual non interference
Said that if Europe stayed out of Americas, the US would stay out of their business. Also claimed US right to intervene anywhere in it’s own hemisphere, if it felt it’s security was threatened
Secured American neutrality until WWI
Missouri Compromise
1820 11 slave states & 11 free states
Missouri became a state - didn’t know whether it should be free or slave
Missouri -> slave state
Created Maine out if Massachusetts -> free state
Drew a line across the 36*30’ parallel across the Louisiana territory and established the southern border of Missouri as the northernmost point at which aka very would be allowed in the western territories, except for Missouri itself.
Forestalled the civil war
Split the Democratic-Republican Coalition, ending it’s control
Jeffersonian republicanism
Conceived of a nation governed by middle- and upper-class educated property holders, in which the government would be only as large as necessary to provide an acceptable level of services. Nation of yeomen farmers (who owned their land) whose liberty would be protected by limited the power of the national government
Jefferson beliefs about native Americans
Could be assimilated into American culture. If natives have up their hunting and gathering lifestyle and adopted American farming techniques and culture - “learned to live on less land” - then Americans and native Americans might coexist peacefully
