Early Republic Flashcards
Washington’s Farewell Address
Early Republic-1796
• Warns Americans not to get involved in European affairs or make permanent foreign alliances
o Viewed as Washington promoting isolationism (American should worry only about itself)
• Also says no political parties and no sectionalism
Citizen Genet
Early Republic-1793
- French Ambassador to US
- Mad about American neutrality, tries to muster troops in America to help France
- GW kicks him out
Whiskey Rebllion
Early Republic 1791
• Western Pennsylvania Farmers upset about Hamilton’s whiskey tax
o Attacks tax collector
• (GW sees this as 2nd shay’s rebellion) Responds harshly
o sends 15000 troops
o rebellion breaks up quickly (no need for confrontation)
• Makes clear the government wont tolerate rebellion (after uncertainty with first one)
XYZ Affair
Early Republic 1797
- French seize our merchant ships
- We send diplomats to negotiate. French diplomats (nicknamed X,Y, and Z) demand bribes before opening negotiations
- American Anger- Call to go to war but Adams says no
Alien and Sedition acts
Early Republic 1798
• Low point in Madisions presidency
1. Made it hard for aliens to become citizens
o Scared that there are too many
o They tended to side with democratic-republicans
2. Gave president power to imprison “dangerous” foreigners
3. Made illegal for newspaper editors to criticize President or congress
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
Early Republic (1798 and 1799)
• Said states could nullify acts of congress
o Made in case states felt laws were unconstitutional
o Implied that states were more important than central gov.
• The concept of nullification was debated- until the Civil War decided that states were below the Federal government
Pinckney’s Treaty
Early Republic 1795
- Established border between Spanish Florida and US
* Gave us right to load ships in New Orleans
Jay’s Treaty
Early Republic- 1794
- Treaty by American diplomat Jay with England
- England was kidnapping American seaman
- Jay goes to make treaty- which provides for economic trade. Also ends British forts in American west. Ignored the actual issue
- Americans angry (especially b/c its GB) and direct anger at GW
Proclamation of Neutrality
Early Republic 1793
When war broke out between France and England
• Jefferson pressured Washington to side with France (since they helped us win Revolution)
• Hamilton urged us to side with England (they’re our mother country and have given us $) French are crazy (guillotine)
Washington declared neutrality- setting precedent for American neutrality in European Affairs
Adams Midnight Judges
Early Republic -1801
After Adams had already been voted out of office he filled the supreme court with federalists as the last minute (example of constitutional flaw)
Chisholm v Georgia
Early Republic
Alexander Chisum sues state of Georgia
-Georgia argued that state could not be sued unless it consents but the supreme court sided with Chisum’s right to sue the state
1st supreme court case of significance (under john marshall)
First Bank of the US
Early Republic
Hamilton’s brainchild
-his plan: People would respect bank. Wealthy people would invest money and have stake in country’s survival
• Gov. invest in new manufacturing
• Wants to impose tariffs- taxes on imported goods
o Note; tariff causes tariff wars between countries, trade slows. Bad for entire country, good for individual companies
• Government assumes debt from states and people- Pay back debt on bonds on face value
• Proves to Jefferson the some debt is actually a good thing (investment in gov)
Constitutional Convention of 1787
Early Republic
-Held in Philadelphia
-All 13 colonies (except RI) attend to draft new constitution
Compromises:
1. How to apportion delegates- Go by the Conneticut plan which specifies one house with # of representatives based on state population and then a senate where each state legislator gets to pick 2 senators
2. 3/5 compromise (a slave is worth 3/5 of a white person)
3. The commercial compromise- allowe congress to regulate trade and create tarrifs
The Federalist Papers
1788, Early Republic
- Written by James Madison and Alexander Hamilton
- Series of essays to convince people to support constitution
- comes out against Bill of Rights since it limits natural rights by specifying that people only have the specific rights written down
Judiciary Act of 1789
Early Republic
This act Established the US federal Judiciary
• Constitution does not stipulate how many members are on the court, or how many little courts are under it.
Job=Decides whether or not law is constitutional
