Test 2 Flashcards
when would the constitution be official law?
after ratification
Federalists
supported the Constitution and strong central government
The Federalist Papers
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay wrote a series of opinion-essays
Antifederalists
opposed the strong central government want a stated bill of rights/ ◦ still feel that if they don’t have more reps for themselves they’ll be overwhelmed by elite of fed gov
washington’s elections
• after constitution ratified, the electoral college elected washington unanimously as the first president in 1789 and again in the 1792 election. He chose Jefferson and Hamilton to lead his first cabinet. John Adams, who came in 2nd in election became 1st VP. no politics party.
◦
placement cabinet branches
group of advisors/cabinet part of executive branch
how were VPs elected
VPs were runner ups to presidents in election
• mason dixon line
official boundary between N and S
America in 1790
Predominantly a rural society
● 80% of households were involved in agricultural production
● 750,000 African-Americans (20% of the population)
● Most lived in the south ; about 10% lived in the North or on the frontier
frontier
frontier–places white people haven’t taken over yet
Beginning a New Government
Congress convenes 3/4/1789
● Vote for President:
● Washington: 69 electoral votes
● John Adams: 34 electoral votes (becomes vice president)
● Bill of Rights adopted by Congress and then ratified by states in 1791
ratify
sign or give formal consent to (a treaty, contract, or agreement), making it officially valid.
Hamilton
Federalist & first Secretary of the treasury in Washington’s cabinet
● Said war debt was a national responsibility to be paid by all states, since all benefited
● Called for national assumption of states’ debt
● This also built a sense of American nationalism
● Controversy: Most debt was held by North; sharing it didn’t seem fair to the South
Hamilton and the National Bank
original
Wanted a bank that would print a national currency and take care of war debt
● Would be a source for expanding capital in a growing economy
● Argues that the bank is necessary therefore falls under Article I of the Constitution
Jefferson and the National Bank
Jefferson argues that the bank does not fall under Article I’s “nec and proper” clause
● Madison & antifeds also led opposition, saying that it was unconstitutional
● N reps voted 33-1 for bank; S reps voted 19-6 against it
● This to question of a strict or broad interpretation of the Constitution?
Hamilton and the National Bank
contd
Washington accepted Hamilton argument that the gov’t had the right to establish
certain institutions whether or not they were clearly defined in the Constitution
NB is created; overseen by federal gov’t but 80% financed by outside investors
W’s precedent
2 terms
Hamilton–achievements
Achievements:
● Enhanced value of the dollar ● Secured the govt credit ● Attracted foreign capital ● prosperity began to flourish!
credit (+H)
good credit–how good you are at paying back debts. Hamilton–taking on state debt shows good credit
Ham–Weaknesses:
● Never really understood the people
of the farms and frontier ● Accused of being elitist
Jay’s Treaty
John Jay sent to England to negotiate:
● Stop seizing US ships
● Vacate forts on the frontier
● repayment for stolen crops and slaves ● Treaty on commerce in the W Indies
● Jay returned with only 2 of these met ● Treaty is met with outrage but Washington accepts it
The Whiskey Rebellion
● Hamilton’s 1791 excise tax on whiskey angered frontier farmers ● Summer of 1794: revolts break out in western PA ● Washington calls on the army to suppress the rebellion ● Set an example of fed law, authority, and follow-through
antithesis of shays rebellion–govt jumped into action
Pinckney’s Treaty
Established intentions of friendship between the US and Spain ● Defined America’s Western boundaries & guarantees right to the Mississippi River
JStreet
British treaty, so Mississippi River only transport method
John Adams’ Presidency
federalist
● The French were plundering American ships and had broken off diplomatic relations.
● Adams restores relations with France, but runs into issues with the xyz affair
● quasiwar: An undeclared naval war results from the affair
● Ideological war between the Feds and Anti-Federalists (Dem-Republicans) ● The Revolutionary War generation was splintering into two sides
tallyrand
french FM
Farewell address
just recite one last time
The Alien & Sedition Acts
● Alien Acts: empowered the President to deport “dangerous” aliens at his discretion ● Sedition Acts: criminalized making false statements critical of the government ● Seen by Republicans as measures against freedom of speech
Opposition to the Acts
● Jefferson and Madison lead the outspoken anger against the Acts ● Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions - Declared the Acts as “alarming infractions” on constitutional rights ● Anger led to Jefferson defeat of Adams in 1800
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions–
fed govt passes a law that state govt believes is unconstitutional that state won’t follow it
HoR tiebreaker–1800
HoR has to vote to tiebreak–36th vote wins Jefferson bc of Hamilton.
Election of 1800 Breakdown:
Thomas Jefferson 73 electoral votes •
Aaron Burr 73 electoral votes •
John Adams 65 electoral votes
Why does Jefferson call the 1800 election the “Revolution of 1800”? In what ways was it a revolution?
peaceful transfer of power between political rivals for first time
