Lecture 17+18

Question 1

The French Revolution—what did the US do wrt this issue?

Answer 1

• As a result of French aid to the Americans during the War for American Independence, the US and France were in a military alliance whereby the US promised to help France if they were attacked. During the French Revolution of 1789, the US (George Washington, specifically) did not honor this call.
• US refusal to help France was based on the prospect of accumulating more debts and getting itself into another war with Britain.
• This made France an enemy of the US.

Question 2

Explain Jay’s Treaty.

Answer 2

• Britain violated the Paris Peace by not evacuating their forts in the Northwest Territory and by impressing American merchant vessels.
• John Jay was sent to negotiate a treaty with Britain concerning these issues: Britain agreed to leave their forts and to pay the US back for British impressment of American ships. However, Britain never agreed to end impressment, so that continued to happen.

Question 3

Explain Pincking’s Treaty (aka the Treaty of San Lorenzo).

Answer 3

• Thomas Pincking was sent to Spain.
• The US needed access to the Mississippi River to develop the NW Territory, so they got that (the bit of the Mississippi River that dumps into the Atlantic, that is, US got access to the port of New Orleans) in exchange for the US agreeing that the 31st parallel was the border for Spanish Florida (securing Spain’s claim on the area).

Question 4

What did George Washington have to say about political parties?

Answer 4

• He warned against them.

* 2 party system ended up ruling US politics for the rest of time after his 8 years.

Question 5

What were the differences between the Federalists and the Democratic Republicans?

Answer 5

• F: loose interpretation of the Constitution; DR: strict.
• F: most support in the Northeast; DR: South and West.
• F: pro-Britain; DR: supported France.
• F: supported big business; DR: supported small farmers and states’ rights.

Question 6

John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton—for each, which did they align with, Democratic Republican or Federalist?

Answer 6

• John Adams: F
• Alexander Hamilton: F
• Thomas Jefferson: DR
• James Madison: DR

Question 7

The Election of 1796

Answer 7

• Two main candidates: John Adams for the Federalists and Thomas Jefferson for the Democratic Republicans.
• Adams won, but his Presidency was plagued with issues as he passed a lot of unconstitutional laws.

Question 8

Explain the electoral college.

Answer 8

• People voted for electoral college representatives, and the electoral college chose the President.
• When the electoral college was set up, it didn’t take into account the existence of parties, so it was policy that whoever got the 2nd most votes was vice President.

Question 9

Why did France dislike Jay’s Treaty?

Answer 9

• They saw it as an alliance between the US and Britain, and declare this to be betrayal by the US.
• As a result they start seizing American ships; first 3 months of John Adams Presidency saw 300 American ships impressed. If the French find American sailors impressed by British ships, they execute these sailors.

Question 10

Explain the XYZ affair.

Answer 10

• As a result of French impressment of American ships, John Adams sends delegates to France.
• France refuses to negotiate with them.
• The American delegates are approached by 3 figures—”X,” “Y,” and “Z”—who say for $250,000 they will arrange a meeting with the French government. They also ask for a loan of $12 million fo the French gov’t.
• Americans are pissed by French patronizing and dismissal, and the French are pissed by the US refusing to help them in the French Revolution and the perceived betrayal in Jay’s Treaty.

Question 11

Explain the Quasi-War.

Answer 11

• Between France and England as a result of the XYZ affair.
• Fought mostly in the Caribbean.
• War was never officially declared, but blood was shed.
• As a result of this, Feds dislike France, and the American public now also dislikes France. Feds now pass legislation (as they control all 3 branches of gov’t) that is anti-France and anti-foreigner as most foreigners were democratic republican and therefore more sympathetic towards France.

Question 12

Alien and Sedition Acts

Answer 12

• Result of the Quasi-War.
• Intended to protect Federalist control of gov’t, as it was aimed at foreigners, who largely supported the Democratic Republicans.
• Granted the right to the President to exile any non-citizen of the US if they were perceived to be a threat. At the time, ~50% of the population weren’t actually “proper” citizens in the US, so this was a ridiculous amount of power.
• The President was also granted the right to detain or expel any foreigner during war time without trial or evidence.
• Changed citizen laws so instead of having to live in the US for 5 years to apply for citizenship, you now had to live in the US for 14 years.
• It became illegal to say anything negative about the US gov’t or President.

Question 13

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

Answer 13

• Anonymously published during John Adams’ Presidency, as it was illegal.
• Authored by Thomas Jefferson (who was vice President at the time) and James Madison.
• It asserted that the states had the right to declare national gov’t laws unconstitutional and to refuse to follow them.