Transcript Bill of Rights

By 1789, the population of America was still growing--doubling
every 25 years
Some major cities were beginning to develop
90 percent of Americans still live in rural areas
Most Americans still live in the original 13 states
George Washington was the first American President
Only President to be unanimously elected by the Electoral College in 1789
Mount Vernon home of George Washington
Washington inaugurated in March in New
York City (temporary capital of US)
Cabinet is not mentioned in the US Constitution…part of the “unwritten
constitution”
Washington set many precedents or examples in his Presidency
Secretary of State
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of War
Anti-Federalists had been promised a Bill of Rights if they
supported the Constitution
Bill of Rights adopted in 1791
Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments to the US
Constitution
James Madison is the writer of the Bill of Rights
1. Organized the Supreme
Court
2. Created 6 total justice
positions
3. Created position of
Chief Justice
4. Created Attorney
General
5. Authorized other federal
courts
John Jay was the first Chief Justice of
the Supreme Court
Alexander Hamilton was the Secretary of the Treasury in Washington’s
Administration
Was responsible for reviving the American economy
His plan focused on tying the wealthy to the success of the US government
1. Bank of the United States--created in 1791 in
Philadelphia
2. Excise Tax--whiskey
3. Funding at Par--government to pay debts at face
value plus interest
4. Assumption of State debts--tied states to the
federal government
Location of national capital
Agreed in a compromise by Hamilton and
Jefferson over state debts--located in South
Believe that the
Constitution is inflexible
and says what it means
Believe that the
Constitution is
flexible
Biggest supporter is
Thomas Jefferson
Use the “Necessary
and Proper” clause or
Elastic Clause for
their beliefs
Biggest supporter is
Alexander Hamilton
Involved the Whiskey Tax under Hamilton’s
financial program
Occurred in 1794
Showed the new strength of the United States
government
Leader of Federalists Party was
Alexander Hamilton
Leader of Democratic Republicans was
Thomas Jefferson
French Revolution totally separated Federalists and Democratic
Republicans
Federalists support the British
Democratic Republicans support
French
French Revolution eventually drew young America into its tangled
web
What was America to do….who should it side with?
Washington believed America had to avoid war at all costs
Washington issued the Neutrality Proclamation of 1793
French diplomat who attempted to go around
Washington’s neutrality
British ignored American neutrality
Practiced impressments on
American sailors
Treaty with England in 1794
John Jay sent to England to
make a treaty with British to
keep us out of war over
impressments of US sailors
Terms included:
1. British promise to leave
American territories
2. British will pay for
damages to ships, but
won’t promise it won’t
happen again
3. US agrees to pay off preRevolution war debts to
British
Treaty with Spain in 1795
Terms included:
1. Navigation of the Miss.
River
2. Right of deposit in New
Orleans
3. Disputed North
Florida territory to US
Washington set many precedents including 2 terms
for a President
Washington’s Farewell Address warned of two
things:
1. Political Parties formation
2. Permanent entangling alliances with foreign
powers
Adams defeated Jefferson in the Electoral College 71-68
Jefferson as runner up was the Vice President
Problem fixed with the 12th amendment
Occurred in 1797
French warships had seized about 300 US vessels
President Adams sent delegation to Paris to try and avoid
war
US delegates approached by 3 French agents (X, Y, and Z)
French demanded bribe of $250,000 to talk to
Talleyrand (French Foreign Minister) and a
loan of $32,000,000
Negotiations broke down and war hysteria swept US
Resulted in naval war (Quasi-War) with France for 2 ½
years
President John Adams put the nation above his own political
future
Known as “Adam’s Finest Hour”
French eager to avoid major war and agree to end the 22 year
old Franco-American alliance with US
Major war avoided with France
Not popular among Federalists
1. Raised residence
requirement for citizenship
to 14 years
2. Said President could deport
“dangerous “ foreigners
Said anyone who impeded the
policies of the government or
falsely criticized its officials
would face heavy fines and
imprisonment
Purpose was to reduce the power of Jeffersonians
and silence anti-war opposition
Jefferson and Madison will
write the Virginia and
Kentucky Resolutions in
protest
Written to protest the Alien and Sedition Acts
Stated that states had the right to determine the
constitutionality of a law (states rights)
Compact Theory--belief that the 13 states were sovereign
and had created the federal government and entered
into a compact
Same ideas will be used in Civil War by Southern leaders