Transcript American History

Bellwork
• In an earlier lesson, we discussed American
westward expansion. How did the Native
Americans react when colonists moved west?
American History
Section 8, Unit 2
A Changing World
Objectives
• Describe how the French Revolution almost
caused another American conflict
• Identify how westward expansion was causing
more issues in the Northwest Territory
• Describe how peace negotiations attempted
to solve the problems,
• Identify domestic issues affecting America at
the time--- primarily the formation of the
party system.
The French Revolution
The French Revolution
• The American Revolution– and subsequent
victory– inspired events across the Atlantic.
• Prior to the French Revolution, France’s social
classes were broken into what is known as the
Three Estates:
– First Estate– Clergy
– Second Estate– The Nobility (including royalty except
for the king)
– Third Estate– the commoners, who made up 97% of
Frances population
Look at this picture carefully.
What do you think it means?
This picture is a French political
cartoon that is showing how the
Third Estate bearing the burden of
the First and Second Estates.
It would be this conflict– mixed
with economic woes– that would
spark a revolution.
Starting a Revolution
• Due to conflicts between social classes, in
1789, French revolutionaries– inspired by
both the enlightenment and the American
Revolution– stormed the Bastille, a royal
prison in Paris.
• This attack was the beginning of the French
Revolution.
Reign of Terror
• During the time period
known as the “Reign of
Terror”, French
revolutionaries
proclaimed their goals–
“Liberty, Equality,
Fraternity.”
• During this time period,
thousands of men and
women, including King
Louis XVI and Marie
Antoinette (his wife),
were beheaded.
Fears ignite
• French revolutionaries saw themselves as
champions of the common people fighting
against the nobility. European monarchs
feared that this revolutionary spirit would
spread beyond French Borders.
• This fear was intensified when the new French
Republic declared war on Great Britain, Spain,
and the Netherlands.
Comparison– American and French
Revolution
Questions
What inspired
revolutionary thinking?
Why did they start a
Revolution?
American Revolution
Enlightenment thinkers
Felt that Britain was
treating them unfairly
(taxes) and they felt they
should not be subjects to
oppressive rule if they are
not equally represented.
French Revolution
The American
Revolution and the
Enlightenment
Issues with new harsh
taxes and class warfare–
included nobility who
felt that they had no
power under an
absolute ruler (the king)
How did both groups feel
about the Monarchy?
Some wanted to stay
loyal, others fully
disliked the king
Monarchial rule was
almost entirely disposed
of– the king was beheaded
What was the outcome?
Creation of the Articles of
Confederation and a new
government- independence
Formation of a short-lived
Republic and legislature—
later rule by Napoleon
American Reactions
• American reactions were mixed. Some
expressed joy. From Paris, Thomas Jefferson
wrote excitedly to his friend James Monroe,
“All the old spirit of 1776 is rekindling.”
Question: What does Thomas Jefferson mean?
• Others did not share his excitement and
believed it was not right that liberty depended
“on the right of cutting throats.”
Disrupting Trade
• The French Revolution and European conflict
disrupted American trade and threatened to
draw the United States into war.
• Both France and Great Britain ignored the
American declaration of neutrality and seized
American vessels bound for enemy ports.
Impressment
• As well, the British impressed (kidnapped)
American sailors which aroused U.S. hostility.
Between 1790 and 1812,
Britain impressed some
10,000 American sailors,
claiming to be capturing
deserters from British
Naval Vessels.
Issues with the French
• However, the French
were also causing issues
in America.
• In 1793, a French
diplomat, Edmond
Genet (zhuh-ne) arrived
in America, toured the
nation, and organized
clubs to try to persuade
Americans to honor the
1778 military treaty
with France.
George Washington’s Response
• Although Genet was able to stir American
support, he was unable to pressure
Washington to agree.
• Washington, knowing that the U.S. was
unprepared for war, refused to support the
French and issued a proclamation forbidding
American support for any nation at war.
Reaction
• Genet defied this policy by arming a ship in a
U.S. port and sending it out to sea to attack a
British shipping vessel.
• Washington demanded that France replace
the French diplomat.
– Genet was quieted, but the issue of whether or
not to support France would continue to stir
political conflicts for years to come.
Domestic Issues
• Washington managed to avoid foreign disputes,
but trouble began to brew in the Northwest
Territory.
Question: What is the Northwest Territory?
• By the terms of the Treaty of Paris, British gave
the U.S. the Northwest Territory. However, Native
Americans considered the land theirs and battled
settlers for the land.
• In response, Washington sent federal troops
against the Native Americans.
Little Turtle’s Forces
• To defend their homes, some
1,500 Natives of various
groups formed a loose
confederation under Chief
Michikinikwa (mi-chee-keneek-wa), known as Little
Turtle.
• Little Turtle was a gifted
strategist and under his
leadership, the confederation
won several battles against
the American troops in 17901791.
Victory
• The tide turned when President Washington
sent 3,000 well-trained and well-supplied
troops under the command of General
Anthony Wayne.
• Realizing that the Native Americans were
outnumbered, Little Turtle advised his allies to
either surrender or accept a peace treaty.
– The other chiefs did not take his advice.
Battle of Fallen Timbers
In 1794, the Confederation
clashed with Wayne’s army
in the Battle of Fallen
Timbers. As Little Turtle had
predicted, the fighting
ended in defeat for the
confederation.
After the battle, Wayne
ensured victory by burning
Native American villages
and crops.
The Battle of Fallen Timbers dealt a severe blow to the
Native American resistance in the territory. Native
Americans would have to accept a peace treaty.
Treaty of Greenville
• In 1795, over 1,000 chiefs—including Little
Turtle– entered negotiations with the U.S.
• The result was the Treaty of Greenville, which
gave the U.S. title to Native American lands
making up much of present-day Ohio and some
of Indiana.
• In exchange, the Native Americans received
$20,000 worth of goods and a formal
acknowledgement of their claim to the lands they
still held.
Post-Treaty Issues
• Little Turtle’s forces, although, did not act
alone against the U.S.
– They had received weapons from British forts in
the Northwest Territory. The existence of these
British forts violated the Treaty of Paris and
strained the relationship between the U.S. and
Britain.
• However, Washington did not want to get
involved in another war– he knew America
could not win again.
Jays Treaty
• Washington sent Chief
Justice John Jay to Britain
to negotiate a treaty–
Jay’s Treaty.
• According to the treaty,
Britain would abandon
the forts as long as the
U.S. pays any debts owed
to the British.
– Despite the victory of this
treaty, there would
continue to be issues.
Issues
• Britain, however, did not stop arming Native
Americans, impressing American sailors, or
seizing U.S. ships.
• These acts angered many Americans who
thought Jay had sold out to the British.
– Some formed mobs that burned effigies of Jay and
the political divisions continued– some still felt
that America should join France and just fight the
British.
New Alliances
• Jay’s Treaty was ratified by Congress around
the same time Spain joined France against
Britain.
• Spain feared an American alliance with Britain
could threaten Spanish territory in North
America– regardless of how unlikely it would
be for the U.S. to join Britain.
• In this, Spain chose to quickly settle any issues
with U.S. to gain their favor.
Pinckney’s Treaty
• In 1795, Spain
negotiated peace terms
with the U.S. with
Thomas Pinckney of
South Carolina.
• The Treaty set the
southern boundary of
the U.S. near Florida at
the 31st parallel
Pinckney's Treaty (cont.)
• Aside from guaranteeing
territorial boundaries, the
treaty also guaranteed
American navigation
rights on the Mississippi
River.
• The U.S. valued the use of
the river as a mode of
trade from the South to
the North (primarily with
New Orleans) and for
frontier farming and
trade.
Pinckney’s Treaty
• The river would allow people on the frontier
to be more connected with the rest of the
world, ultimately increasing trade.
• The treaty also allowed Americans to unload
their goods in New Orleans, a Spanish
territorial city, and not have to pay any duties
to do so.
Question
• People began to disagree with one another
on how best to run the country. Soon,
groups of people would join together under
a single idea or ideology. What effect might
this have on politics?
President Washington
• In 1796, Washington announced that he
would not seek a third term– he would set a
precedent for later Presidents to follow until
1940.
• He had overseen the organization of a new
government and skillfully handled several
crises in foreign affairs.
• Still, Washington was well aware of issues
that endangered the new nation.
Washington’s Warnings
• In his farewell address, Washington urged that
the U.S. maintain neutrality in foreign affairs,
stay unified domestically, and that the nation
should not fall to political parties or regional
interests.
– Washington believed that political parties would
damage the young nation and only serve to
damage the unity that was formed during the
revolution.
Question: Does anyone agree with Washington? Disagree?
Sectionalism
• However, Washington’s warning was not
heeded.
• In the 1790’s, debates over whether or not to
help Britain or France had already deepened
political divisions. This disagreement aided in
shaping the first political parties.
– Washington had also underestimated the effect of
(1) regional and (2) economic differences that
separated people.
Two Parties Form
By the mid-1790s, sectionalism– loyalty to one part
of the country- helped form two parties:
• Federalists
– The Federalists formed
under Hamilton and
Adams
• Democratic-Republicans
– Formed under Jefferson
and Madison
As Americans began to side with each party, the
two-party system that is still in use today took
shape.
Federalist Party
• The Federalist party tended to be made up of
the rich and well-born: merchants,
manufacturers, lawyers, and church leaders
from New England.
• Federalists expected the rich to provide
national leadership– “Those who own the
country ought to govern it.”
– Federalists also supported a strong national
government and wanted to promote the
development of commerce.
Democratic-Republican Party
• The Democratic-Republican Party (or the
Republican Party– which has no connection to
the modern party), included planters, small
farmers, and wage earners.
• The party was particularly strong in the frontier
and the South.
• Supporters favored agriculture over
manufacturing and believed that farmers– who
made up the majority of the population–
deserved the most say in the government.
Republican Party
• The party also found support in the middle states,
where poorer workers lived, resented the rich
and powerful Federalists. They saw their party as
a way to challenge the established authority.
• They also wanted to limit the federal government
and supported state rights.
• As well, because they distrusted the wealthy–
including the aristocratic British– they tended to
be pro-French.
Federalists
Made up of the
wealthy—believed the
wealthy should govern
DemocraticRepublicans
Made up of the
common people–
believed everyone
should govern
Questions:
Mostly found support
in New England–
which tended to be
wealthy
Mostly found support
in the South and
Middle States– made
up of poorer farmers
and workers
Supported a strong
national government–
to help promote
commerce
Wanted to limited
Federal government
Supported Britain
because of trade
Supported France
because Britain was
not trustworthy
(1) What connection do you
see between social class
and political viewpoints?
(2) What side do you agree
with?
(3) Why don’t you agree
with the other side?
Rift
• Soon, political parties would cause a great rift
in the nation and continue to lead to further
disputes for the new nation.
Questions
• If you have any questions, please ask now.
Review
1. Why did George Washington not want to get involved in
the war between France and Britain?
2. Why did Spain want a treaty with the U.S.? What was the
name of that treaty they negotiated and what did it do?
3. What did the United States gain from Jay’s Treaty?
However, was the treaty effective?
4. How were the Native Americans affected by the Battle of
Fallen Timbers.
5. Write at least two (2) major differences between the
Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans. Explain each
difference.
6. Why was Washington worried about the United States
forming political parties?
7. How did the French Revolution cause issues in Europe and
how did those issues threaten U.S. neutrality?
Next Lesson
• In the next lesson, we are going to discuss
evolving politics in the United States.