UNIT 2: Revolution and Early National Period Flashcards
Federalists and Republicans
A Republic in Distress under the New Constitution
1788-1800
George Washington
represented republican virtue and personified the American Republic;
elected unanimously in 1789 (the only president to);
happened twice (1789-1792);
huge impact on the office: he created the standards;
he put together a cabinet
Cabinet
a group of advisors, the Attorney General, the Secretary of War, the Postmaster General
Thomas Jefferson
Secretary of State;
Human nature is good or neutral;
weak federal government;
fear of tyranny (government may turn into dictatorship);
faith in the people;
agricultural economy;
yeoman farmers;
strong ties with France;
strict constructionism;
influenced by the Enlightners (John Locke)
Alexander Hamilton
Secretary of Treasury;
Human nature is bad or depraved;
strong central government;
fear of anarchy;
faith in the elite;
manufacturing;
merchants and bankers;
close ties with England;
loose constructionism
Alexander Hamilton’s Economic Plan
Report of Public Credit;
Bank of the United States;
Report of Manufacturing
Report on Public Credit
made by Alexander Hamilton;
proposed that federal government was responsible to fix troubled finances, pay old debt and create new debt, consider outstanding state debts, and issue government bonds (attracting money from investors)
Bank of the United States
is to manage nation’s finances: issued currency and regulate banks;
modeled after the Bank of England;
Constitution mentioned nothing about the national bank;
based on doctrine of implied powers;
created in 1791
Report on Manufacturing
economic planning, subsidies for manufacturing (majority of people in Congress would say no to direct subsidies) to create a self-sufficient nation;
tariff plan became law;
imposed internal tax (such as whiskey tax)
IOU
issued to veterans and soldiers;
they sold to others for less money;
government paid all off
Foreign Policy
increasing tension Federalists-Republicans over foreign affairs;
Thomas Jefferson favored close ties with France;
Alexander Hamilton favored close ties with Britain;
French Revolutionary Wars shaped American politics
French Revolutionary Wars
Americans admired the French for overthrowing a monarchy and establishing a republic;
the French King was executed;
revolutionaries began to fight each other;
threw some Americans off
Franco-British War
broke out in 1793;
French republic declared war on European monarchies;
alliance with France made with Benjamin Franklin during the Revolutionary War in 1778 was still in effect;
George Washington issued Proclamation of Neutrality in 1793;
Britain seized American ships to hurt French ecomonic interests;
French diplomat Genet challenged American neutrality
Proclamation of Neutrality
issued by George Washington in 1793;
stated the United States’ neutral stance on the Franco-British War
Jay’s Treaty
Chief of Justice John Jay was in Britain in 1794 to present American demands and negotiate treaty
(Britain continued to sieze American ships)
Chief Justice John Jay’s Demands
British troop withdrawal from American soil;
compensation for captured ships, lost slaves;
improved commercial relations (improved trade regulations);
acceptance of American view of neutrality
(can trade with anybody that is at war as long as we do not supply any weapons)
Chief Justice John Jay’s Treaty
Jay got few concessions and was forced to compromise;
in the end, only fully accepted the first demand (British troops were removed from American soil);
allowed Americans some access in the Caribbean;
rehected view of neutrality;
Treaty created intense controversy;
After outrage had died, Senate eventually ratified it in 1795
Whiskey Rebellion
occurred in 1794;
Pennsylvania wheat farmers protested Alexander Hamilton’s whiskey tax;
Pennsylvania governor refused to act;
George Washington and Alexander Hamilton saw threat to federal authority;
13,000-men army (George Washington led; the only time in U.S. history) tried to put down rebellion;
could not find it;
15-20 guys: arrested, 2 men: convicted in Pittsburg (sentenced to death; Washington pardoned them)
George Washington’s Presidency
created a strong presidency but respected the Constitution;
legacy of neutrality;
built solid financial system (helped Hamilton);
inable to stand against above party disputes
Legacy of Neutrality
George Washington’s;
avoid foreign entanglements and permanent alliances
Goerge Washington is getting ready for retirement
1796
John Adams’ Problems
elected in first contested election in 1796;
was Vice President under George Washington for eight years;
Republican Thomas Jefferson was Vice President;
Alexander Hamilton interfered with new administration (lost influence; only a couple of administrators listened to him);
France was upset with Jay’s Treaty and siezed American ships (1797-1798);
negotiations with France failed;
John Adams rejected demands to declare war (radical federalists pushed John Adams to do that) but created a provisional army (10,000 men) to be ready for French invasion
XYZ-Affair
Negotiations with France failed;
American diplomats were humiliated in Paris (French foreign minister was not available; an insult; to talk -> accepted bribes, Americans refused to pay)
Quasi War
undeclared naval war with France in 1798
