Launching A New Nation Flashcards
a certificate sold by the government for an amount of money that the government promises
to pay back with interest. Basically an IOU.
Bond
country other than one’s own, outside
Foreign
inside of your own country.
Domestic
a tax on foreign goods, goods imported from another country.
Tariff
seizing or capturing of U.S. sailors and forcing them to serve in the British navy.
Impressment
Tax on goods or a product made and sold inside of the U.S. The U.S. government taxed
whiskey that was made and sold within the U.S.
Excise tax
to refrain from taking sides in an argument.
Neutral
a group of people that share similar political ideas and work together to gain/exercise
political power. Democrats and Republicans.
Political Party
an organized political group. Early form of political parties.
Faction
an event that happened in the past.
Affair
an outsider or someone from another country
Alien
actively trying to overthrow a government
Sedition
the action of solving a problem; coming to an agreement
Resolution
cancel a law, do not follow a law
Nullify
How did the U.S. get into debt prior to George Washington becoming President?
The U.S. was deeply in debt from the Revolutionary War. The government was not making enough money
through taxes to pay off the debt nor were they making enough money to run the government (pay branch
members, military expenses, etc…)
What was Alexander Hamilton’s 3-part plan to get the U.S. out of debt? Pt. 1
The U.S. government would agree to pay all state and federal debts. Did this to show the U.S.
would pay back all debts and to build good credit to ensure people would lend money to the states
and federal government again.
What was Alexander Hamilton’s 3-part plan to get the U.S. out of debt? Pt. 2
The U.S. government would create a national bank to regulate money. This bank would be a safe
place to deposit government money, would loan money, destroy all state money and issue real
government that was backed up by gold.
What was Alexander Hamilton’s 3-part plan to get the U.S. out of debt? Pt. 3
The government would place a high tariff on all imported goods to the U.S. This would make foreign
goods more expensive and raise more for the federal government to pay off the debt.
Who were the 4 members of President Washington’s cabinet and what were their positions?
Secretary of State- Thomas Jefferson
Secretary of Treasury- Alexander Hamilton
Secretary of Justice- Edmund Randolph
Secretary of War- Henry Knox
What was the Jay Treaty?
Treaty that ended problems between the U.S. and Britain. Britain was interfering with our trade by
impressing our sailors and capturing U.S. ships. President Washington remained neutral and
negotiated a treaty. Britain promised they would stop impressing our sailors and remove all of their
forts/soldiers in the Northwest Territory. These actions made our trade and the Northwest Territory
safe for the American people.
What was Pinckney’s Treaty?
Spain closed the Mississippi River and Port of New Orleans because they never recognized the boundaries
negotiated between the U.S. and Britain in the Treaty of Paris. The U.S. heavily depended on the river and
port for trade, both importing and exporting. President Washington remained neutral and negotiated a
treaty. The treaty opened both the Mississippi River and Port of New Orleans to the U.S. and trade in the
U.S. was saved
Describe the Whiskey Rebellion and the outcome.
Whiskey was used by the people of western Pa as a means of medicine, for social gatherings and for trade.
A tariff was not enough to get the U.S. out of debt, so he sought to place a tax on domestic goods, an excise
tax. Western Pa farmers revolted because they felt it was unfair to tax the product. President Washington
sent troops and the rebellion was quickly put down. This event showed that the Constitution was
functional and could enforce the laws made. The government could also tax and raise an army when
needed.
An example to be followed by others in the future. Example, President Washington set
the precedent of stepping down as president after 2 terms.
Precedent
