George Washington

The First President(1789-1796)

The Unwritten Constitution and Washington’s involvement

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Governmental practices and institutions not specifically set down in the Constitution but based on custom, practice, and tradition.

Unwritten Constitution and G.W.

   First Cabinet Two Terms President Influencing Foreign and Domestic Politics  Farewell Address

The First Cabinet

 Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton  Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson  Secretary of War (Later Sect. of Defense) Henry Knox  Attorney General Edmund Randolph

Foreign Policy

 The nation was too weak to get involved with other countries so US stayed neutral  The US did not get involved in the war between England and France  Pressure from

France

because they helped us with the American Revolution  Pressure from

England

because Britain was an important country to trade with for America’s economy

Proclamation of Neutrality (1793)

 Neutrality – a foreign policy of not choosing to support any nations involved in a war  France went to war with Britain, Spain, and the Netherlands in 1793; asked US for military support  George Washington responded with his PROCLAMATION OF NEUTRALITY of 1793 “a conduct friendly and impartial toward the belligerent powers.”  Congress passed a law forbidding Americans to help England or France

Jay Treaty: 1795

 John Jay was sent to Britain by Washington to make a treaty with Britain mostly about economic issues 

Accomplishments:

Britain agreed to withdraw troops from western forts and ease restrictions on American trade to England and to the West Indies  This treaty avoided war with England

Washington’s Farewell Address

 (1) Washington served TWO terms  He stated he would not run again

Washington’s Farewell Address

 (2) Urged Americans to stay away from political parties  Washington said political parties would weaken the unity of Americans

Washington’s Farewell Address

 (3) Advised the country to stay neutral  Warned against making long- term agreements with foreign nations  Lead to isolationism until the end of the 1800s

Farewell Address George Washington

In 1795, as he neared the end of his second term, President George Washington wrote his famous Farewell Address. In it, he gave his views on the best policies for the young republic to follow. The following excerpt is from Washington’s Farewell Address.

I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical [bases]. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party, generally. . . .

It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to for-eign influence and corruption. . . .

The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations to have with them as little political connection as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith.

Here let us stop. . . .

It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world, so far, I mean as we are now at liberty to do it; for let me not be understood as capable of [supporting] infidelity to existing engagements. I hold the maxim no less applicable to pub-lic than to private affairs, that honesty is always the best policy. I repeat, therefore, let those engagements be observed in their genuine sense. But in my opinion it is unnecessary and would be unwise to extend them.

Taking care always to keep ourselves, by suitable establishments, on a respectable defen-sive posture, we may safely trust to temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies.

Financial Policy

 The US had huge debt from war (about $40 million)  This was dealt with by Alexander Hamilton  Alexander Hamilton was the First Secretary of the Treasury  He introduced a financial plan to Congress with the purpose of building a strong central government

Hamilton’s Financial Plan

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(1) Paying off all war debts

 Pay off the debt from the Revolutionary War  Passed with the help of Jefferson • South agreed to pay off the war debt and the North agreed to move the nation’s capital from NYC to an area on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C.

Hamilton’s Financial Plan

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(2) Raising Revenues

 Tariffs (taxes on foreign goods) would become the main source of government revenue  Highest on foreign goods that could be made in America (PROTECTIVE TARIFF)

Hamilton’s Financial Plan

 EXCISE TAX: tax on domestic goods (lead to the Whiskey Rebellion)  Tariffs would (1) raise revenue, and (2) help American manufacturing

Hamilton’s Financial Plan

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(3) National Bank

 Would give the government a safe place to keep its money  Issue paper money and make loans to government and to the people  First Bank of the United States was established in 1791

John Adams 1797-1801

John Adams

 Second President 1796-1800  Federalist  Aimed to create a stable and secure country, safe for business and wealthy men of property

John Adams

 Detested the French Revolution of 1789  because it led to mob rule and confiscation of property  Believed in a strict interpretation of the Constitution

XYZ Affair

    France: was upset with the Jay Treaty Seen as an alliance with England France seizes American merchant ships On the verge of war, Adams sent delegates to France

XYZ Affair, continued

    X,Y,Z want bribes to allow Americans to talk to French Foreign Minister John Marshall leaves France Naval war lasts from 1798 – 1800 Convention of 1800 signed in Paris

The Alien and Sedition Acts

 Sedition Act:  made it illegal for anyone to talk bad about the gov’t  Alien Acts: 

Naturalization Act

, extended the time immigrants had to live in the United States to become citizens from five to 14 years

The Alien and Sedition Acts

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Alien Enemies Act

provided that once war had been declared, all male citizens of an enemy nation could be arrested, detained, and deported 

Alien Friends Act

authorized the president to deport any non-citizen suspected of plotting against the government during either wartime or peacetime.

Thomas Jefferson

     John Adam’s VP Became the 3 rd president Democratic-Republican Bitterly opposed to the Federalists Supported the French Revolution for its democratic ideals

Thomas Jefferson

 Represented poor farmers, craftsmen, and recent immigrants  Wanted to unify the Americans, especially the political parties  1 st president to have an inauguration in the new capital (Washington, DC)

Thomas Jefferson (1801-1808)

Thomas Jefferson

 Changes:  Asked Congress to repeal the tax on whiskey  Asked Congress to cut wait for immigrants to become citizens from 14 years to 5 years  Congress repealed the Judiciary Act of 1801

Thomas Jefferson

 Kept some Federalist Programs:   The Bank of The United States Continued Hamilton’s plan to pay off the war debt  Believed in a loose interpretation of the Constitution

Thomas Jefferson

 Wanted to buy more land  Led to the Louisiana Purchase

Louisiana Purchase

   Doubled the size of the US by buying the Louisiana Territory (between Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains) Bought for $15 million Important because of the Port of New Orleans (good for trading)

Louisiana Purchase

 France sold the land for 2 reasons:  1) France needs to fund wars  2) Slaves in Haiti won their independence

Lewis and Clark

 Financed by Jefferson  1804-1807  Explored the West

Lewis and Clark

 Purpose:  Tried to find a water route to the Pacific  Find natural resources  Make contact with Native Americans  Found 300 new species of plants and animals

Jefferson  Embargo Act of 1807  No trade w/foreign nations (belligerent)  Hurts the US

Madison (1808-1816)

Madison  Faces the same problem as Jefferson – still unresolved (freedom of the seas).  U.S. Declares War on Great Britain in 1812

Madison  Because Federalists against war and Jackson’s victory at New Orleans, public opinion turns against Federalists  Federalists are going to die out> one party

Madison  National Bank charter expires> Second National Bank starts  Protective Tariff of 1816  Increased tariff  $ used to start internal transportation

James Monroe (1816-1824)

James Monroe   “Era of Good Feeling” Only one political party – • The gov’t was able to get stuff done Florida Seminoles invade American settlements Andrew Jackson led military and won Spain sells Florida under Adams-Onis Treaty

James Monroe  Monroe Doctrine  Stated: US would stay out of European affairs And Europe would stay out of Western Hemisphere

John Quincy Adams 1824-1828

John Quincy Adams  Wins a tight election vs. Jackson in 1824  Chosen by the house  Democratic-Republicans split over election • Sectional reasons • John Quincy Adams from the North (Republicans/Whigs) • Andrew Jackson from the South (Democrats) – Gains popularity even though he loses

Andrew Jackson 1828

Andrew Jackson   Democratic Party Wins election in 1828  Sectional victory well as NY and Pa.

won the Western and Southern states as  Hero from the war of 1812  Common man  From immigrant parents  Middle class could relate to him

Andrew Jackson • Kitchen cabinet – meets more with his friends than with his cabinet • Very wealthy and bright even though dubbed a common man

Andrew Jackson  Jacksonian Democracy – new advancements in democracy  States become more independent • No qualifications to vote (white males) • Increased number of elected by people –no mo0re upper class state gov’t choosing

Andrew Jackson  Established national conventions to nominate a presidential candidate  Jackson believed the president was “a servant of the people

Andrew Jackson  South Carolina secession threat  Declared tariff null and void – believed the gov’t was working for the north  Jackson threatens military force because it is unconstitutional to secede – didn’t happen

 Whig Party develops and challenges Jackson  Spoils System – Jackson replaces 20% of gov’t officials with a friend or loyal party members  He kept people who would support him - Legal

 Rotation in Office: believed that gov’t officials should know all jobs.. Would have them rotate positions  Wouldn’t get too comfortable with position  Made sure the were doing their jobs

Starting to Grow

 Cheap Land in the West  $1.25 an acre  Minimum 80 acres  Continues settlement of western land

Reform Movements Begin

 Development of trade unions  Weak until after the Civil War Social reform • Women’s rights • Abolition • Sick and mentally ill • Free public education

Territorial Expansion

      Convention of 1818 Purchase of Florida Monroe Doctrine Manifest Destiny The Mexican War Other Areas

Convention Of 1818

 This treaty fixed the northern border at the 49 th parallel from Minnesota to the Rocky Mountains  Also provided that the U.S. and Britain occupy the Oregon Territory

Purchase of Florida

 Under the terms of the Adams-Onis Treaty, Spain agreed to sell Florida for $5 million  Wow!!!!!

The Monroe Doctrine 1823

Named for James Monroe

The Monroe Doctrine

Early in the 1800’s many Latin American colonies had revolted against Spain using the American Revolution for inspiration.

President Monroe, in 1823, was faced with two threats: 1. An alliance Between France, Russia, Prussia, and Austria was going to try to regain Latin America for Spain. 2. Russia was expanding southward into Oregon and California

The Monroe Doctrine Stated

1.

The Western Hemisphere was closed to further European colonization 2.

The U.S. would not interfere in any existing colonies in the Western Hemisphere

The Monroe Doctrine Stated continued 3. The U.S. would not interfere in the internal matters of any European country 4. Any attempt by European powers to intervene in the Western Hemisphere would be regarded as “dangerous to our peace and safety. (This final statement didn’t commit the U.S. to a definite course of action in case of European intervention. Instead, it left the response , in terms of American national interest, to the discretion of the president)

The Monroe Doctrine

 Latin Americans generally welcomed the Monroe Doctrine as a friendly offer of assistance.

  The Russians in 1824 agreed to halt their expansion The European Alliance didn’t pursue its rumored plans – if any – for the re-conquest of Latin America

Manifest Destiny

Manifest Destiny

 By the 1840’s Americans became expansion-minded and believed the country was intended to spread to the Pacific coast, perhaps even the entire continent.

(this is the definition of Manifest Destiny)

Manifest Destiny

 Events in Texas  1821 Americans had been invited to settle in the northern province of Mexico, called Texas  1835 Texas rebelled for independence from Mexico  1836, was recognized by Mexico as an independent country

Manifest Destiny

 The Texans asked to be annexed by the U.S.

 North was against this because it would expand slavery.

 South was in favor of it because they thought it would increase representation for the southern states.

 1845 Texas was admitted by a joint resolution of Congress

Manifest Destiny

 Events in Oregon  Both the U.S. and Great Britain claimed the Oregon Country and, for many years , they jointly occupied the territory at first with no significant problems. Then things changed and we needed boundaries drawn.

Events in Oregon Continued  James Polk was elected President with the slogan “54 40 or fight” which meant the U.S. claimed Oregon to the 54 degree 40 minute mark of latitude and would fight the British if the U.S. did not obtain this.

 The dispute was resolved by a treaty dividing the territory and extending the 49 th parallel as a boundary

The Mexican War (1846-1848)

The Mexican War  Mexico disliked the annexation of Texas, our claim to the Rio Grande River as the boundary, and the idea of the U.S. acquiring more Mexican territory.

 The U.S. offered to pay $30million for California and New Mexico Territories but Mexico refused.

The Mexican War (1846-1848)  War started in the Northeast opposed while the South and West were in favor  Mexico was defeated and signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848).

The Mexican War (1846-1848)

The Treaty stated

 1. Mexico accepted the Rio Grande as the southern border of Texas  2Gave up Mexican Cession – eventually carved into 5 states  3. The U.S. paid $15 million to Mexico

Other Areas  The Webster-Ashburton Treaty 1842  This treaty accepted a compromise as a boundary for Maine and Canada The Gadsden Purchase 1853 The U.S. purchased a small strip of land in Arizona and New Mexico for $10 million

The end