The New Nation, 1789-

1800
Refer to HIST 5 Chapter 8 for further reading
Learning
Objectives
• MO3.1a: Recall the creation of a new government
Module Objective = MO under the new constitution (CO1, CO3).
Course Objective = CO

CO1 - Create an argument through the use of historical evidence.

• MO3.1b: Recall how disagreements over how the
CO2 - Analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources. United States should be governed led to political
CO3 - Analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic,
cultural, and global forces on this period of United States history. divisions (CO1, CO3).
• MO3.1c: Recall the development of a two-party
political system in the United States (CO1, CO3).
• MO3.1.d: Recall the political disputes between
Federalists and Republicans that emerged during
the presidency of John Adams (CO1, CO3).
• MO3.1e: Explain and identify the political events
that made Thomas Jefferson president in 1800
(CO1, CO3).
Creating a New Government

• George Washington was voted as the first president of the United States, serving
two terms 1788-1796
• Cabinet – Ministers or secretaries appointed by the president to help him at the
executive branch
• Alexander Hamilton – Secretary of the treasury
• Thomas Jefferson – Secretary of state
• Henry Knox – Secretary of war
• Edmund Randolph – Attorney General
• Washington appointed John Jay as the chief justice of the Supreme Court
Alexander Hamilton and the First Political Issues

•Hamilton’s plan to finance the new government consisted of the following:

•Government bonds
•Tariffs for local industry
•Taxes on trade and goods
•Federal government assumption of state debts
•Establishment of a national bank
•Hamilton argued that the “necessary and proper” clause of the Constitution allowed the government to build
a corporation to exact taxes and regulate finances.
•He argued that the Constitution gave the government “implied powers” even then they were not explicitly
stated in the text.
•Opposition to Hamilton
•Democratic-Republicans
•Jefferson and Madison were the most outspoken critics of Hamilton and the new plan.
•Jefferson argued that the new federal government was assuming too much power, upsetting the balance
between central government and states.
•He also opposed the establishment of a bank and Hamilton’s justification for it. He believed that the
Constitution should always be interpreted according to the exact words of the text, instead of assuming there
were “implied powers.”
Political divisions and the Whiskey Rebellion

• The Whiskey Rebellion, 1793 – Hamilton moved to tax farmers in west

Pennsylvania and this led to a rebellion. Finally it was put down by the federal
government.
• The rebellion signaled the power to tax of the new government.
• The power of the new government to use the military to maintain law and order
• It also build a gap between the common farmer and those who ran the government, whom
they saw as a class unconcerned about the common man.
• Hamilton’s plan, his interpretation of the Constitution and the handling of the Whiskey
Rebellion led to political factions.
• Federalists v. Democratic-Republicans (also known as just Republicans) rift
developed.
Political Divisions – Foreign Policy

• The French Revolution, 1789 – A social revolution that overthrew the French
monarchy, changed the economic status of the lower classes in France, and
created a new republic under Enlightenment ideals of liberty, equality and
fraternity.
• French Revolutionary Wars – Military conflicts between France and Britain over
the effects of the French Revolution.
• The Revolution posed a threat to European monarchies; Britain and other nations hostile to the
revolution tried to restore the French monarchy unsuccessfully.
• The new revolutionary France and Britain went to war from 1793 until 1800.
• The United States was committed to helping France by a treaty of alliance from
the Revolutionary War. However, President Washington claimed that the alliance
was with the old French regime and not the new revolutionary government.
• Proclamation of Neutrality
• The Citizen Genet Affair – the French ambassador to the United States was
deported to France after he attempted to recruit Americans to fight the British
without the consent of the U.S. government.
Political Divisions – Foreign Policy

• Even though the United States maintained neutrality, the British used its navy to stop and
inspect American ships trading with France, confiscating merchandise and ships. The British also
resorted to their wartime practice of “impressment,” a wartime practice that allowed the
British to recruit personnel for their navy anywhere they could find men, including the United
States. These practices hampered American overseas commerce and violated American
sovereignty.
• The United States had no military power to protect its commerce and it did not want to provoke
Britain into a new war. Instead, it resorted to diplomacy and moved to sign an agreement with
Britain to dissuade it from harassing American ships and sailors.
• The Jay’s Treaty, 1794
• The British dictated terms of treaty. The agreed to put some limits to detaining American ships and
impressments. However, certain products that could be used for military purposes found on U.S. ships could be
confiscated.
• The treaty protected American trade from British harassment for at least 10 years.
• Around the same time, the United States dealt with North African pirates harassing U.S. ships.
• The Democratic-Republicans disagreed to reach out to the British while denying aid to France.
The French-Revolutionary Wars added more to the divisions between Federalists and Democratic-
Republicans.
Federalists and Democratic-Republicans Issues

The Federalists led by Alexander Hamilton:

• Supported a strong federal government, including the big-government policies of Hamilton’s
financial plan
• Appealed to northern merchants, manufacturers, and other urban-based interests.
• Rejected the French Revolution and supported rapprochement with the British during French
Revolutionary War.
The Democratic-Republicans led by Thomas Jefferson:
• Revived the anti-Federalist’s defense for state rights over expansion of federal government
powers.
• Appealed to backcountry farmers, southern agricultural interests (including plantation
slaveholders), as opposed to northern city interests associated with the Federalists.
• Maintained an anti-British position and sympathized with the French Revolution.
The Adams’ Presidency and Political Dissent
The Adams’ presidency lasted from 1796-1800 and involved the following events:
• The XYZ Affair – The French government asked bribes from American diplomats attempting to
work out an agreement with France.
• Congress called for military preparedness against France.
• “Quasi-War” with France developed as U.S. ships confronted French ships on the high seas in an
undeclared war.
• The Alien and Sedition Acts, 1798
• Alien Act – President could expel foreigners he thought “dangerous to the peace and safety of the United
States”
• Naturalization Act – citizenship pending status extended from Five to Fourteen years. Newly arrived Irish
and French voted Republican
• Sedition Act – it was illegal to publish malicious criticism against government officials. The law was a way
for Federalists to silence the Republicans and their press.

• Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

• Doctrine of Nullification – States could nullify a federal law that they consider unconstitutional. Most states
backed down and recognized the dangers inherent in state nullification.
 “USS Constitution underway, August 19, 2012 by Castle Island cropped.jpg.” N.d. online image. Wikipedia Commons.
Accessed May 12, 2020.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/uss-constitution-old-ironsides-sails-to-celebrate-us-navys-birthday/

XYZ Affair – U.S.

Navy Build-up

• USS Constitution, the oldest

American nave ship still in
existence. It was completed in
1797 as part of a navy buildup by
Congress in the mid 1790s. The
Democratic-Republicans
complained that the federal
government’s building of a navy
was irresponsible because it could
send the wrong signal to France
and provoke a war.
1800 Elections

• The Federalists lost ground to the Democratic-Republicans because:

• Taxation, such as those on liquor and other items, made westerners more inclined to
support Republicans
• The precedent of Whiskey rebellion left a negative impression of excessive use of force by
a centralized government, which federalist supported
• Republicans were more in tune with agrarian interests and the ever-growing population of
western farmers. Most people in the United States were farmers.
• Alien and Sedition Laws put Adams and federalists in contrast to civil liberties and
individual freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.
• Novelty of the 1800 elections
• The elections produced a tie between Thomas Jefferson and another Republican, Aaron
Burr.
• The House of Representatives voted to untie the vote and Jefferson won the elections.
Hamilton was influential in the House vote against Burr.
• A “bloodless” revolution occurred – transition of power from a Federalist to a Republican
president happened peacefully.
Review Question 1

Who of the following led the Democratic-Republicans in

defense of freedom of speech after the Sedition Act was
passed in 1798?

A. George Washington.
B. John Adams.
C. Thomas Jefferson.
D. Aaron Burr.
Review Question 2

During the French Revolutionary Wars, Washington

A. preferred to declare war on France and improve relations with the British.
B. preferred to maintain neutrality but improve relations with the British.
C. opted for improving relations with the French.
D. None of these choices.
Review Question 3

Which of the following was NOT true of the Federalists?

A. They supported the financial plan of Alexander Hamilton.

B. They never passed legislation in Congress that threatened civil liberties.
C. They believed that the French Revolution demonstrated that too much
democracy led to mob violence.
D. They supported expanded federal government powers over the states.
Review Question 4
How did the United States respond to the British interruption
of transoceanic trade during the French Revolutionary Wars?

A. It sent military regiments into the British Canadian province of Quebec.

B. The American navy blockaded British ports.
C. It resorted to diplomacy and treaty-making.
D. All of these choices.
E. None of these choices.
Review Question 5

Why did the federalists decline in popularity, allowing

Jefferson to win the 1800 elections?

A. Democratic-Republicans were more in tune with farmers and landowners

than the Federalists.
B. Because of the taxation-related Whiskey Rebellion and the federal
government show of force.
C. Because of the violation of First Amendment rights by the federalist-
controlled Congress.
D. All of these choices.
E. None of these choices.
Review Question 6
"Implied powers" suggested that the Constitution gave
Congress more power than stated in the text, by citing the
"necessary and proper" clause.

A. True.
B. False.
Review Question 7

The following were true of the Whiskey Rebellion of 1793,

except

A. It happened because farmers in Pennsylvania called for government

subsidies in the production of liquor.
B. It involved farmers in western Pennsylvania who protested Hamilton’s tax
on their liquor.
C. It was put down by the army, with President Washington himself at the
head.
D. The Democratic-Republicans were sympathetic to those behind the
rebellion.
Review Question 8

During the “XYZ Affair…”

A. Congress approved the first major funding for public education.

B. American delegates in France were asked to pay bribes.
C. The United States and France signed a trade agreement.
D. President Washington called for war against France.
Review Question 9

The Jay’s Treaty of 1794

A. Pacified Indian tribes in the Ohio River Valley.

B.Secured an agreement with France to respect American navigation rights
in the high seas.
C.Secured an agreement with Britain to respect American navigation rights
in the high seas.
D.Secured an agreement with Spain to respect American navigation in the
Mississippi.
Review Question 10

All of the following are true of the Alien and Sedition Acts,
except

A.Were passed by Congress during the Washington administration.

B.Were passed by Congress during the Adams administration.
C.Challenged freedom of the press and speech.
D.Undermined the standing of Federalists.