Early Republic Flashcards
The Presidency of George Washington
Problems
- Defining the Authority of the government
- Creating a stable economy
- Building a military
- Maintaining national security
- Paying off war debt
- Setting up a court system
Hamilton’s Financial Plan
Repay debt, create a National Bank, tax on whiskey (angered farmers), and protective tariff (angered Southerners).
The Whiskey Rebellion
The tax on whiskey was to help the U.S make money, but farmers did not have cash to pay the tax. The farmers protested until Washington sent the army to restore order before it got worse.
Rise of Political Parties
Thomas Jefferson disagreed with Hamilton’s financial plan, believed it favored the wealthy, and felt the Constitution didn’t allow the government to create a National Bank. These disagreements led to the first political parties.
Federalist Party
Leader: Alexander Hamilton
Wanted:
- Strong federal government
- Emphasis on manufacturing
- Ruled by the wealthy/educated
- Pro-British
- Loose interpretation of the constitution
- National Bank
- Protective tariff
Democratic-Republican Party
Leader: Thomas Jefferson
Wanted:
- Strong state’s rights
- Emphasis on agriculture
- Rule by the people
- Pro-French
- State banks
- Strict interpretation of Constitution
- Free trade
Washington’s Farewell Address
In this letter he warned people against 2 things, political parties and permanent foreign alliances.
Washington’s Foreign Policy
This was a policy of neutrality that declared the U.S would not take side in European conflict.
John Adams
2nd president of the U.S and a federalist.
XYZ Affair
France was capturing American ships going to Britain and John Adams sent delegates to France to try and talk through problems, but France refused to listen. His political party wanted him to declare war, but he thought of what was best for his country and not himself (civic virtue).
Alien and Sedition Acts
Alien Act - Let the president imprison people from other countries (aliens) that he thought were dangerous.
Sedition Act - This made criticizing the government a crime which violated the 1st amendment.
Thomas Jefferson and James Madison helped write the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions which declared the Alien and Sedition Acts unconstitutional.
Thomas Jefferson
3rd president and Democratic-republican. He beat John Adams.
What He Did
- Reduced the size of the military
- Reduced spending on the government
- Believed in the laissez faire policy which kept the government out of people’s economic business
John Marshall
- Supreme Court Justice
- Strengthened the power of the federal government and Judicial Branch
- Wrote the Supreme Court decision that established Judicial Review
Marbury vs. Madison (1803)
Before John Adams left office, he appointed Marbury as justice of the peace.The new Secretary of State, James Madison, refused to deliver Marbury’s commission. Marbury asked the Supreme Court to require James Madison to deliver his commission and the Judiciary Act of 1789 gave them the right to do so. The court ruled that part of the Judiciary Act unconstitutional and it should be nullified. This case established judicial review.
Louisiana Purchase (1803)
- $15 million
- Doubled the size of the U.S
- Contributed to Manifest Destiny
Lewis & Clark
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark explored the Louisiana Territory and Sacagawea helped guide their expedition. Their trip laid the groundwork for future Americans to move West.
British Attacks the Americans
Britain, who was at war with France, would seize American ships and force American sailors to join the British Navy. (impressment)
In 1807, a British ship attacked a U.S ship, The Chesapeake, and killed 3 Americans.
Jefferson Responds
In response to the British, Jefferson passed the Embargo act which prohibited America from trading with any other country. This was meant to hurt Britain, but it ended up hurting America more. Congress overturned the failed embargo, and Jefferson decided not to run for a 3rd term as president.
James Madison
4th President and Federalist.
War Fever
In 1811, the U.S won a major battle, called the battle of Tippecanoe, against the Native Americans. As a result, the Native Americans decided to join forces with the British.
Declaring War
A group called the War Hawks, led by Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun, encouraged the government to declare war on Britain. Congress quadrupled the size of the army, and in 1812, Madison declared war on Britain.
War of 1812
American forces tried to invade Canada but failed, and in retaliation, the British attacked and burned much of Washington D.C. Most of the battles took place on the Great Lakes, the greatest one being the Battle of Lake Erie won by the U.S.
Star-Spangled Banner
In Baltimore, Maryland Britain bombarded Fort McHenry. The following morning, Francis Scott Key was so overwhelmed by happiness that he wrote the Star-Spangled Banner, and the song later became our country’s National Anthem.
