EARLY AMERICAN PRESIDENTS

George Washington • 1789-1797 • No Political Party • VP – John Adams

George Washington • Was not a Politician • Relied on His Cabinet for Help

Alexander Hamilton • Secretary of Treasury –

Raised taxes to cover debt from Revolutionary War

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Created 1 st National Bank to hold all tax money

Alexander Hamilton • Secretary of Treasury –The bank upset those who feared a strong national gov’t (Anti Federalists)

Jay’s Treaty • Allowed Great Britain to keep some military forts in US in NW territories • First time Americans became upset with George Washington

Political Parties

Began to emerge during Washington’s Presidency

John Adams • 1797 – 1801 • Federalist • VP – Thomas Jefferson

John Adams • XYZ Affair –America refused to bribe French officials to stop piracy of US Ships

John Adams • Alien &Sedition Act – illegal to criticize gov’t officials w/o proof – Upset Dem-Rep cause violated First Amendment

Thomas Jefferson • 1801-1809 • Democratic– Republican • Aaron Burr, George Clinton

Thomas Jefferson • Election of 1800 – First Peaceful Transfer of Power • TJ’s Goal – Reduce the role and size of federal government

Thomas Jefferson • Embargo Act –Eliminated trade with foreign countries in Europe due to piracy

Supreme Court • Under Jefferson, Supreme Court sought to establish its power in the new gov’t

Thomas Jefferson • Marbury vs. Madison –Established Judicial Review for all court cases in US

Supreme Court • Chief Justice John Marshall • Marbury vs Madison gave court judicial review

Supreme Court • McCullough vs Maryland prohibited states from taxing agencies of the federal gov’t

James Madison • 1809-1817 • Democratic Republican • Eldridge Gary

War of 1812 • 1812-1814 • Fought between US and Great Britain over freedom of the Sea and Native American Conflicts

War of 1812

•Extremely unpopular war on both sides

Treaty of Ghent • Officially ended War • Neutral victory • America gained Oregon Territory • Americans began to move into FL (Spanish Territory)

James Monroe • 1817 – 1825 • National Republican • VP - Daniel Tompkins

James Monroe • Wanted Europe to stay out of US Affairs • Created a rise in Nationalism in America

James Monroe • Adams-Onis Treaty –US acquired the Florida Territory from Spain

Monroe Doctrine • Created to keep Europe out of the affairs of America • It had four major provisions (essential Knowledge)

MONROE DOCTRINE • The American continents should not be considered for future colonization by any European powers.

• Nations in the Western Hemisphere were inherently different from those of Europe, republics by nature rather than monarchies.

MONROE DOCTRINE • The United States would regard as a threat to its own peace and safety any attempt by European powers to impose their system on any independent state in the Western Hemisphere.

• The United States would not interfere in European affairs.