UNIT II THE NEW NATION

Coming of Independence



New England Confederation

: league of “friendship” to defend against native attacks (dissolves in 1684).



The Albany Plan of Union

: Franklin’s idea of common military, regulation of trade & duties. (Ahead of it’s time…turned down by colonies)

Resistance….



Stamp Act Congress

: resistance to the new Stamp Act, resulted in Boycotts and the Boston Massacre.

First Continental Congress

 Met in Phil., every colony but Ga., in reaction to the “Intolerable Acts”….to discuss ways to make the crown stop punitive action.

Second Continental Congress

 Declaration of Independence (1776)  Determined how they would self govern & fight the war.

 Was the “

de facto

” government for the first several years.

it's too late......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZfRaWAtBVg



Declaration Facts:

24 of the 56 signers of The Declaration of Independence had been educated and employed in law & included 2 future presidents. 11 were merchants and 9 were large plantation owners.  9 died during the Revolutionary War.  Twelve had their homes ransacked or destroyed during the war.  Signer John Hart had his home looted during the war & his wife died as a result. He invited over 12,000 soldiers to camp on his yard in 1778 in the middle of growing season as they prepared for battle.  Thomas Nelson's home served as headquarters for General Cornwallis during the siege of Yorktown & Legend has it that he advised Washington to fire on it. The home was destroyed .

 Several leading figures of the Continental Congress, including its first signer, John Hancock, had special rewards placed on them for their capture.

Articles of Confederation 1781-1789

 Were too weak…no executive or judicial branch!!!

 There was no way to raise money (taxes).

 States began to distrust each other …were undercutting each other via commerce.

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

 Plans offered:  Virginia Plan (Big State Plan): population to determine representation in Legislature. (Bi cameral).

 New Jersey (Small State Plan): One house (unicameral). States representation equal=all states had the same power.

BIG = big states get more power.

Small = small states get equal power.

1789 Facts



New Constitution replaced The Articles:

  Population: doubling every 20 yrs.

 90% rural - 5% w. of the Appalachians.

 America: heavily in debt & paper money worthless Monarchs watched to see if the U.S. would fail.

Washington’s Pro federalist Regime

  

George Washington:

an imposing figure unanimously drafted as president by the Electoral College in 1789.

Cheering crowds attend his oath. Washington’s diverse cabinet (good idea?)  Secretary of State: Thomas Jefferson  Secretary of the Treasury: Alexander Hamilton  Secretary of War: Henry Knox

The Bill of Rights:



Needed to get constitution approval adopted (1791)

Amendment I: Freedom of religion, speech or press, assembly, and petition.

Amendment II: Right to bear arms (for militia).

Amendment III: Soldiers can’t be housed in civilian homes during peacetime.

Amendment IV: No unreasonable searches; all searches require warrants.

Amendment V: Right to refuse to speak during a civil trial; Double Jeopardy.

Amendment VI: Right to a speedy and public trial.

Amendment VII: Right to trial by jury when the sum exceeds $20.

Amendment VIII: No excessive bails and/or fines.

Amendment IX: Other rights not enumerated are also in effect.

Amendment X: Non-federal powers belong to the state.

Judiciary Act o f 1789 created federal courts.



John Jay

– 1st. Chief Justice of US

Hamilton:

  

British West Indies origin

questioned.

causes loyalty to the U.S. to be

Urged the gov’t. to pay off $54 million in debts

million total) , PLUS interest, as well as assume the debts of the $21.5 million states. (75 Mass. huge debt, Virginia small debt = states Haggle.

   Unfair if gov’t. pays off big state debts. Virginia gets prestige) in return for letting the government assume all the states’ debts.

District of Columbia

built on its land (therefore gaining The “Funding at Par” (face + interest) = the support of the rich to the fed. Gov’t., not the states.



Customs Duties & Excise Taxes.

  Hamilton: debt = asset: the more people the government owed $ to, the more people would try to make US work.

In 1789 - proposed a low 8% custom duties (tariff ).  Also protect infant industries.

Financial Issues (cont.)

    1.

 1791 - Hamilton secured an excise tax (notably whiskey -7 cents per gallon).

Hamilton & Jefferson battle over Bank. Hamilton: wanted a national treasury (a private institution like the Bank of England) Federal government as a major stockholder Would circulate cash to stimulate businesses, store excess money, & print money of worth.

Jefferson opposed it.

Hamilton’s Views:

   What was not forbidden in the Constitution was permitted.

A bank was “necessary and proper” He evolved the

Elastic Clause

.

Jefferson’s Views:

    What was not permitted was forbidden.

bank should be a state controlled item (10th Amendment).

The Constitution should be interpreted literally and strictly.

End result:

Hamilton won

- Washington reluctantly signed the bank measure into law.

Bank of the United States (1791)

 chartered for 20 yrs. & was to have a capital of $10 million.

 Stock was thrown open to public sale, & oversubscribed in two hours.

Mutinous Moonshiners



(1794) W. PA. Whiskey Rebellion

 Farmers revolted against Hamilton’s excise tax.

  Washington sent an army (13,000 troops) but the soldiers found nothing upon arrival; the rebels had scattered.

Washington’s new presidency respected… but anti-federalists said government used a “giant to crush a gnat”.

THE BIRTH OF THE TWO PARTY SYSTEM

    Hamilton’s policies (national bank, excise tax, etc.) = fewer states’ rights.

Hamilton & Jefferson’s rivalry evolved into two political parties. The Founding Fathers - had been groups, not parties.

Post1825 - two-party system has resulted in stronger U.S. government (ie., balance of power)

The Impact of the French Revolution



In 1793 - 2 parties evolved:



Jeffersonian: Democratic-Republicans

Jefferson…First president  H

amiltonian Federalists

.

Adams…First president

    At first, people were overjoyed (reminiscent of America’s dethroning of Britain). Only a few ultraconservative Federalists were upset at this “mobocracy” and revolt.

After the revolution turned bloody the Federalists became nervous.

Jeffersonians felt that no revolution could be carried out without a little bloodshed.

Still, neither group completely approved.

 America was sucked into the revolution when France declared war on Great Britain and the battle for North American land began…

again

.

Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation

 Jeffersonian DR’s wanted to enter on the side of Fr.

 Washington knew that war = disaster  ( weaken us $$ & lead to politically disunity.)

Neutrality Proclamation

  U.S.- official neutrality & warning Americans to stay out of the issue and be impartial. JDR’s angry, & controversial statement annoyed both sides.



Genet Incident:

Next…

Citizen Edmond Genêt

(Fr. Rep. to the U.S. is cheered on his way to Phil. by JDR’s…leads him to believe he’ll win US support.

 He equipped privateers to plunder British ships & invade Spanish Florida and British Canada.

 His threats to go over Washington’s head get him kicked out of the USA.

Problems with Britain:

 Britain supplied the Indians with weapons on frontier 

Treaty of Greenville (1795) -

Indians ceded vast tract of Ohio country to Americans after

General “Mad Anthony” Wayne

crushed them at the Battle of

Fallen Timbers on August 20, 1794

.

PROBLEMS CONTINUE:

 

300 American merchant ships seized & impressments many of seamen into their army.

Many JDR’s cried for war with Britain, or embargo …Washington refused knowing Hamilton’s financial system would be destroyed.

Jay’s Treaty & Washington’s Farewell

 Washington sent John Jay to England to negotiate.

 Hamilton sabotages the deal by giving the Brits the details of America’s bargaining strategy.

RESULTS:

 Britain would repay MOST RECENT loses… but nothing said about future seizures, impressments, and Indians arms supplying….hmmm!

 America would have to pay off its pre-Revolutionary War debts to Britain.

 JDR’s from the South were

incensed

farmers would

have to pay

,

northern

would

be paid

.

southern

merchants

SPAIN:

   

Pinckney Treaty of 1795

- Americans free navigation of the Mississippi & the disputed territory north of Florida.

WASHINGTON LEAVES… Created a strong two-term precedent

Farewell Address

warned against binding, permanent alliances.

Adams Becomes President

 Hamilton (logical choice for Pres.) unpopular due to his unpopular financial plan  Foreign born, but loophole would allow his presidency.

    

John Adams

(great statesmen) beat Jefferson (VP) 71 to 68.

Problems: Hamilton, who plotted with Adams’ cabinet against the president.

Does not get along with VP Jefferson.

Situation with France that could explode into war.

Unofficial Fighting with France:

 France angry over

Jay’s Treaty (

violation of Franco American treaty) began seizing American merchant ships.

XYZ Affair

     John Adams sent 3 (including Marshall) to France.

X, Y& Z demanded 32 million florins & $250,000 bribe just for talking to

Talleyrand

.

Bribes were routine, however this was too much just to “talk” and there was no guarantee of an agreement.

Envoys returned to US, Americans irate & call for war.

Adams, knew war could spell disaster & remained neutral.

RESULTS:

  

“Undeclared” war for 21/2 years - American ships captured over 80 armed French ships.

In

1800 a treaty signed in Paris

.

Keeping the U.S. at peace, cost Adams his popularity & his 2nd. term

The Federalist Witch Hunt – Alien & Sedition Acts:

  Federalists (elitists) changed requirements for citizenship from 5 to 14 years (against traditional American open-door policy & speedy assimilation.

President could deport dangerous aliens during peacetime and jail them during times of war.

 The

Sedition Act:

said anyone who defamed its officials, including the president, would be fined & imprisoned; (aimed at newspaper editors and the JDR’s).

 Although unconstitutional, Federalist passed it & the court upheld it because of the Federalists majority.

 Set (conveniently) to expire in 1801 to prevent use of it against them.

RESULTS:



The Virginia (Madison) and Kentucky (Jefferson) Resolutions

 Jefferson & Madison (1778-79) wrote a series of legislation stressing

the compact theory

, (13 states created the government, thus individual states were the final judges of the laws passed in Congress.

 Their legislation nullified (1st time)

the Sedition and Alien Laws

.(only Ky. & Va.)  Federalists said

people, not the states

set up gov’t., & its up to the Supreme Court to nullify legislation, (procedure adopted in 1803).

 Neither Madison nor Jefferson wanted secession, they did want an end to Federalist abuses.

Federalists versus Democratic-Republicans

Federalists (Hamilton lead)

   Wanted a strong government Educated aristocratic rule.

Most were the merchants, manufacturers, and shippers along the Atlantic seaboard.

 Mostly pro-British and recognized that foreign trade was key in the U.S.

Dem.-Rep. (Jefferson lead)

     Mostly

agrarians

, insisted

no special privileges

for the

upper class

.

Farming

(ennobling):

kept people

out of

wicked cities

, in the sun, & close to God.

Advocated rule of the People (as long as they weren’t ignorant).

Pro French

TJ… A MAN OF CONTRADICTIONS

 Jefferson (bad speaker great leader).

 Sought weaker central government that would preserve the sovereignty of the states – yet becomes the head of the central government.

 Was rich - owned slaves however he sympathized with the common people.

JUDICIAL REVIEW……..

Marbury v. Madison

(1803) Supreme Court case that expanded the courts powers to include the authority to determine whether a statute violated the Constitution and, if it did, to declare such a law invalid. A law may be

unconstitutional

because it violates rights guaranteed to the people by the Constitution, or because Article I did not authorize Congress to pass that kind of legislation.

THE PLAYERS……...

Adams:

Tried to keep his party (Federalists) in power by placing them in the Federal Courts.

Jefferson

: New President who refused to deliver the WRITS (legal documents).

Madison:

the writs.

Sec. of State who was sued for not delivering

Marbury:

the guy who sued to get his job.

THE RESULTS……...

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

John Marshall

, said that the law (Judiciary Act of 1789) was

UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

BIG DEAL……..

JUDICIAL REVIEW : The power of the Supreme Court to look at laws and determine if they are constitutional……. If the answer is no, then the law gets overturned.

Lewis and Clark…and others

   Spring, 1803>Lewis picks Clark to join him in the journey.

July 4, 1803> Announcement of Louisiana Purchase Summer,1803> keel boat constructed    begins

December 17, 1804

The men record the temperature at 45 degrees below zero, "colder than [they] ever knew it to be in the States."

December 24, 1804

The men finish building Fort Mandan, their winter quarters in present-day North Dakota.

   

Meriwether

Assistant to Thomas Jefferson, avid student, expedition leader

William Clark, Captain

Lewis’s former commanding officer, expedition coleader

York

Slave and lifelong companion of Clark Sacagawea (wife of a French trapper)   eat about 9 lbs. of meat.

They travel on a 55ft. keel boat.

   The American tax collectors financed the expedition.

The total cost was $38,000 They traveled a total of 8,000 miles  It lasted a total of 2 years, 4 months, and 10 days

The Corp of Discovery…



April 7, 1805

shipment of artifacts and specimens to President Jefferson.



August 31, 1805

The expedition sets out for the Bitterroot Mountains with many horses and a mule acquired from the Shoshone.

 After a winter of only 12 days without rain, the men present their fort to the Clatsop Indians and set out for home 

September 23, 1806

Having found an easier route across the country, the men reach St. Louis nearly two and a half years after their journey began and are acclaimed as

The Journey……

CAUSES OF IMPENDING WAR…………

Q

1. Napoleonic Wars

1806  Berlin Decrees [“Continental System”] Q Q 1807  Milan Decrees Q No trading with Britain 1808-1811  Britain impressed over 6,000 American sailors.

Q Q Q Q Q

2. Chesapeake-Leopard

June 21, 1807.

“Affair”

Br. Captain fired on the USS Chesapeake.

3 dead, 18 wounded.

Br. Foreign Office said it was a mistake.

Jefferson’s Response:  Forbade Br. ships to dock in American ports.

 Ordered state governors to call up as much as 100,000 militiamen.

3. The Embargo Act (1807)

Hurts EVERYONE!!!!

Presidential Election of 1808

James Madison Becomes President

Dolly Madison: The President’s Greatest Asset

Q

4. The Non-Intercourse Act (1809)

Replaced the Embargo Act.

Q Remained U. S. policy until 1812.

Q Unexpected Consequences:  N. Eng. was forced to become self sufficient again [old factories reopened].

  Laid the groundwork for US industrial power.

Jefferson, a critic of an industrial America, ironically contributed to Hamilton’s view of the US!!!

5. Br. Instigation of Indians British General Brock Meets with Tecumseh

Battle of Tippecanoe, 1811

General William Henry Harrison  governor of the Indiana Territory.

Invited Native Indian chiefs to Ft. Wayne, IN to sign away 3 mil. acres of land to the US government.

Tecumseh organized a confederacy of Indian tribes to fight for their homelands.

Tecumseh’s brother fought against Harrison and was defeated at Tippecanoe.

This made Harrison a national hero!

[1840 election 

Tippecanoe & Tyler, too!

]

“War Hawks”

John C. Calhoun [SC] Henry Clay [KY]

Presidential Election of 1812

“Mr. Madison’s War!”

Q Q Q

American Problems

The US was unprepared militarily:   Had a 12-ship navy vs. Britain’s 800 ships.

Americans disliked a draft  preferred to enlist in the disorganized state militias.

Financially unprepared:  Flood of paper $.

 Revenue from import tariffs declined.

Regional disagreements.