Unit 3: The Early Republic (1789-1824)

Question 1

Hamilton’s Economic Plan - all elements

Answer 1

Hamilton’s endorsement of free market capitalism brought about his ideas of: Protective Tariffs, 1st BUS, the assumption of state debts, promotion of manufacturing, and Excise Taxes

Question 2

Hamilton’s Economic Plan - Report on Public Credit

Answer 2

in 1770-71, sold government bonds to pay interest on debt and made national government assume state debt
assumption of debt was controversial b/c northern states had more debt than southern states

Question 3

Hamilton’s Economic Plan - National Bank/BUS

Answer 3

National Bank established in Philadelphia in 1790s to hold government money and pay its debts, give loans to the national government and state banks, and regulate state paper money distribution
North (Hamilton) argued good b/c Constitution implied the powers, more money in circulation and a safe place for government cash, but South (Jefferson) argued bad because it was unconstitutional explicitly and enabled plutocratic control over Congress by wealthy investors
Hamilton won and paved the way for > exec economic powers

Question 4

Hamilton’s Economic Plan - Report on Manufacturers

Answer 4

December 1791 report encouraged the government to be more pro-manufacturing: (more) tariffs on Britain, incentives for domestic industry, and gov funded transportation development
This increased foreign investment BUT
lots of backlash from agricultural Southerners (Jefferson + Madison) because they thought capitalism undermined democracy

Question 5

Hamilton’s Economic Plan - Protective Tariff

Answer 5

Hamilton put tariffs (import taxes) to benefit domestic producers and increase already flourishing economic independence from Great Britain

Question 6

Hamilton’s Economic Plan - Excise Tax/Whiskey Tax

Answer 6

Hamilton put big excise (product) taxes (25%!!) on salt, sugar, and liquor. This brought in a lot of revenue at the cost of lower class resentment.

Question 7

FEDERALISTS vs Democratic-Republicans

Answer 7

Federalists…
feared democracy, as it threatened the political powers of the well-educated elite.
supported Great Britain because they benefited the US economically, even if that involved negotiating with their former oppressors.
supported manufacturing because they were largely from New England, where industry was prominent.
advocated for a loose interpretation of the Constitution (Elastic Clause), as it allowed them to expand national government power.

Question 8

Federalists vs DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICANS

Answer 8

Dem-Republicans…
believed in the voice of the people and democracy as a whole.
supported France because they were rebelling against tyranny in their Revolution.
supported agriculture because they were largely from the South, where plantations were prominent.
advocated for a strict interpretation of the Constitution (10th Amendment), as it limited national government power and allowed them to expand states’ rights and powers.

Question 9

Proclamation of Neutrality

Answer 9

issued by Washington in April 1793 to not take sides in the GB vs France war
America wanted to remain neutral to protect the American export economy

Question 10

Jay’s Treaty

Answer 10

1794 US-GB agreement:
America accepted anti-French maritime policies, British as trading priority, and no compensation for escaped slaves
in exchange, the British evacuated all forts in America, compensated US for captured ships, and allowed limited trade between America and the West Indies sugar colonies
deepened the divide between Feds and Dem-Reps: Dem-Reps thought it undermined the Constitution’s hostility towards British tyranny

Question 11

Whiskey Rebellion

Answer 11

incited by working men upset about Hamilton’s 25% liquor tax
in summer 1794, 1st big domestic infight after the Constitution
Washington and his army intimidated the rebels in a show of nat gov pwr at the cost of rebels becoming Democratic-Republicans

Question 12

Pinckney’s Treaty

Answer 12

in 1795, Thomas Pinckney negotiated with Spain to accept American southern borders as just north of the Gulf of Mexico, allowing American Mississippi River trade to Spanish New Orleans
this increased trade fervor

Question 13

Washington’s Farewell Address

Answer 13

called for abandonment of political parties (never upheld) and permanent foreign alliances (upheld until 1900s)

Question 14

Quasi-War

Answer 14

French backlash to Jay’s Treaty led to increased American ship capture - the Adams Administration was engaged in a quasi-war. Ended with the Convention of 1800, which dropped demands for captured ship repayment in exchange for ending the American-French

Question 15

XYZ Affair

Answer 15

During the Quasi-War, Adams sent diplomats to France to negotiate, but the French kidnapped them and demanded a big bribe to begin talks
this increased American hostility towards the French and calls for war - from both Feds and Dem-Reps

Question 16

Alien and Sedition Acts

Answer 16

1798 acts that vastly expanded exec powers while restricting the freedoms and rights of immigrants and opponents of adams admin
John Adams supported these, which damaged his reputation and increased the importance of the 1800 election

Question 17

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

Answer 17

drafted by Jefferson and Madison in 1798; declared the Alien and Sedition Acts unconstitutional

Question 18

“Revolution” (Election) of 1800

Answer 18

The candidates included Fed. John Adams (lost b/c low rep), DR Aaron Burr and DR Thomas Jefferson. Jeff + Burr tied, and the House of Representatives elected Jefferson to office.
Before Adams left, he instituted the Judiciary Act of 1801.

Question 19

Marbury vs. Madison

Answer 19

started because Jefferson repealed the Judiciary Act of 1801 where Adams appointed a bunch of Federalist judges to the circuit courts
struggle against the SCOTUS appointment of Adams’ nomination, Federalist Marbury vs. Republican Madison, who refused to appoint him
chief justice John Marshall ruled in favor of Marbury BUT declared his own ruling unconstitutional
set up the process of judicial review, whereby the court rules if a federal law or action is unconstitutional

Question 20

Jeffersonian Economic Policy

Answer 20

Jefferson didn’t remove Hamilton’s economic plan, as he accepted BUS = economic growth
BUT slashed national budget and reduced national government power to reduce national debt
he repealed Hamilton’s whiskey tax, as the US got more $ from economic growth, national tariffs, and government land sale
signed the 1808 Slave Trade Bill b/c he thought African-born slaves would revolt more than American-born slaves

Question 21

Barbary Pirates

Answer 21

North Africans who waged war on the US from 1801-1805 after Jefferson refused to pay bribes to protect American ships (that the US had previously paid)
They eventually settled for $60k bribe (less than the original $300k demand)

Question 22

Louisiana Purchase

Answer 22

in 1801, Spain ceded Louisiana to France, which gave them control of the MS river
Naploeon was shitting resources due to Haiti slave revolt so offered up Lousiana and lots of land west of the MS river to pay for the French vs GB war (purchase done in 1803)
spurred western expansion by plantation owners, sparked outrage from Federalists who argued for strict Constitutional interpretation of gov power (out of fear the new territories would vote Republican)

Question 23

War of 1812 Causes - ALL

Answer 23

Impressment (+Chesapeake incident), Native American attacks, War Hawk sentiment

Question 24

War of 1812 Causes - Impressment

Answer 24

the British practice of stopping American ships bound for France, boarding them, and capturing American sailors to force into the British navy. America felt it violated their right to free trade.

Question 25

War of 1812 Causes - Chesapeake and Leopard

Answer 25

the British Leopard fired upon the American Chesapeake when the ship refused to let the British aboard → a national insult to Americans
led to Jefferson mobilizing state militias and banning British ships, but did not declare war due to the weak American army

Question 26

War of 1812 Causes - Tecumseh

Answer 26

The British frequently supported and supplied Native American attacks
One of the most well-known leaders, Tecumseh, wanted to take revenge on American settlers to create an indigenous nation - urged natives to drive out settlers in a “trail of blood”

Question 27

War of 1812 Causes - War Hawks/Canada

Answer 27

Some felt that, if they started a war, they could take over British Canada (as the American army vastly outnumbered the Canadian population) → when the war came, they failed
War Hawks were those that defended national honor and getting rid of natives - they were hated by New England, who saw them as a threat to domestic industry and trade with Great Britain

Question 28

Embargo Act

Answer 28

the 1807 act passed by Jefferson stopped all foreign exports, as the president thought GB+France would cave to the economic loss of American trade → the American economy plunged, boosted Federalist rep. in New England while demoralizing Democratic-Republicans
Ironically, Jefferson had to go against his anti-national government sentiment to get the embargo passed (had to boost national government power)
in 1809, Congress replaced the Embargo with the non-importation act, which allowed all Americans to trade with anyone except GB or France

Question 29

Treaty of Ghent

Answer 29

The 1814 treaty ended the War of 1812. The 2 countries agreed to stop the war, a godsend for weak American forces.
It also ended the fighting in Canada, where the American army lost.
It saved America from financial/political ruin

Question 30

Hartford Convention

Answer 30

an 1814 convention started by Federalists in protest of “Madison’s War”, pre-Battle of New Orleans
proposed 7 amendments to limit Republican power
talks of secession DESTROYED Federalist reputation when the Battle of New Orleans was won (they were practically shamed out of existence)

Question 31

War of 1812 Effects

Answer 31

The war dramatically increased patriotism, moved Americans towards economic self-sufficiency, reversed the roles of Federalists (states rights!!) and Democratic Republicans (loose Constitution interpretation), and pushed native resistors out to reservations west of the MS river (after British support left the movement)

Question 32

The American System - ALL ELEMENTS

Answer 32

the post-War of 1812 economic plan that called for economic nationalist policies to boost the American economy and end $ dependence on Great Britain:
2nd BUS, Protective Tariff, Internal Improvements

Question 33

The American System - BUS

Answer 33

Democratic-Republicans had previously allowed the BUS charter to expire, leading to financial troubles due to unregulated state banks/currency
Madison wanted the 2nd BUS to have a stable national currency with branches in every state
predictable backlash from the West and South (said it was unconstitutional and violating state banking rights)

Question 34

The American System - Protective Tariff

Answer 34

the 1816 tariff placed 20-25% tax on a variety of goods, which benefitted northern manufacturers more than southern consumers (»> regional tensions)
supported by Calhoun and other Southerners who hoped the South would become an manufacturing center. When that didn’t happen, Calhoun flipped sides.

Question 35

The American System - Internal Improvements

Answer 35

the construction of roads, bridges, canals, and harbors (transportation development)
the US needed E-W roads, ans it only had N-S rivers
Calhoun pushed for IIs to help Southern + Western trade - opposed by the North because they had the least to gain from IIs spending

Question 36

The American System - positive effects of Jefferson’s embargo

Answer 36

increased production independence from most countries at the cost of most American economies

Question 37

John Marshall

Answer 37

Federalist originally appointed by John Adams - upheld judicial nationalism (when SCOTUS increases USFG power) during the Madison presidency

Question 38

John Marshall’s SCOTUS - Dartmouth vs Woodward

Answer 38

New Hampshire wanted its governor to have election authority over Dartmouth’s board of trustees - original board sued to keep their powers and SCOTUS ruled in their favor
enlarged the definition of “contract” to limit the power of states to interfere with private charters

Question 39

John Marshall’s SCOTUS - McCulloch vs Maryland

Answer 39

McCulloch, a bank clerk, refused to pay Maryland state taxes on BUS currency
SCOTUS ruled that Maryland had no right to tax BUS
upheld the Elastic Clause because it ruled that Congress could act within the scope of the Constitution

Question 40

John Marshall’s SCOTUS - Gibbons vs. Ogden

Answer 40

Gibbons and Ogden were both given exclusive ferry rights on Hudson by different states
ruled that Gibbons had a federal license, so Ogden’s governmental agreement was invalid
upheld the regulation of interstate commerce by the USFG

Question 41

James Monroe and his “Era of Good Feelings”

Answer 41

James Monroe was a Democratic-Republican and part of a long dynasty of Virginian presidents. He had a lot of political experience, and Madison wanted him as his successor.
His “Era of Good Feelings” was a time of relative peace that came with his calls for internal unity. It was disrupted by the Panic of 1819 and the Missouri Compromise controversy.

Question 42

Missouri Compromise

Answer 42

the 1820 legislative decision to admit Missouri as a slave state (as it was intended originally) BUT banned all other slavery west of the Mississppi River AND admitted maine as a free state
attempt at compromise between the North’s anti-slavery and the South’s fear of greater anti-slavery political power in the Senate - but only cemented the North-South divided opinions (sectionalism)

Question 43

Panic of 1819

Answer 43

the first major economic depression post-war → caused by lower demands for American imports, lower land values (due to speculation), and reckless lending practices
the 3 year long economic crisis&raquo_space; N-S economic tensions and&raquo_space; distrust of the BUS even after it leveled out

Question 44

Adams-Onis / Transcontinental Treaty

Answer 44

1819 treaty that sold Florida to the US and clarified US western borders to span the entire continent (from east to west coast, north to south coast, though excluded some Spanish territory and the Oregon country)

Question 45

Monroe Doctrine

Answer 45

the symbolic (nonofficial) 1823 declaration against further European colonization in the Western Hemisphere
no European nation recognized it, but it was an important protective statement, as it, in effect, preserved Latin American countries’ newfound independence
GB enforced b/c American navy too weak