The Federalist Era, 1789-1801

Theme: Led by Washington and Hamilton ,the first administration under the Constitution overcame various difficulties and firmly established the political and economic foundations of the new federal government. The first Congress under the Constitution, led by James Madison, also contributed to the new republic by adding the Bill of Rights. Theme: The cabinet debate over Hamiltons financial measure expanded into a wider political conflict between Hamiltonian Federalists and Jeffersonian Republicans the first political parties in America. Federalists supported a strong central government, a loose interpretation of the Constitution, and commerce (business). (Democratic) Republicans supported states rights, a strict interpretation of the Constitution, and agriculture (farmers). Theme: The French Revolution created a severe ideological and political division over foreign policy between Federalists and Republicans. The foreign-policy crisis coincided with domestic political divisions that culminated in the bitter election of 1800, but in the end power passed peacefully from Federalists to Republicans. American isolationist tradition emerges as a result of Washingtons strong neutrality stance and his farewell warnings about foreign alliances.

I. Domestic Issues
A. Washington Administration, 1789-1796
1. 2. Challenges in American society in 1790
a. Population, finances, and foreign affairs

New government!
a. b. c. President WA and Cabinet-1789 Bill of Rights, 1791 Judiciary Act, 1789 and writ of mandamus

3.

Hamiltons Plan
a. b. c. d. e. f. g. Funding at Par Assumption state debts and Federal district Tariff (Revenue Act of 1789) Excise taxes (an Inland tax) National Bank States righters and 10th Amendment Hamiltons Implied Powers from the elastic or necessary and proper clause

4.

Whiskey Rebellion, 1794

Memory Aid
B ank of U.S. E xcise tax F unding at par A ssume state debts T arrifs

I. Domestic Issues (cont.)

B. Election of 1796
1. 2. WA Farewell Address
a. 1. Warnings TJ VP (He is distrustful, obstinate, excessively vain, and takes no counsel from anyone. TJ) WAs Cabinet

Adams Administration

2.

II. Foreign Policy

A. French Revolution
1. Washingtons Neutrality Proclamation, 1793
a. Citizen Genet

B.

Jay Treaty, 1794

1. 2. Harassment American frontier and impressment War averted but creation of DR Party Right of deposit

C. D.

Pinckney Treaty, 1795

1.

Defeat of American Indians in Old Northwest

1. 2. Battle of Fallen Timbers, 1794 Treaty of Greenville, 1795

II. Foreign Policy (cont.)

D. Quasi-War, 1798-1800
1. French condemned Jay Treaty
a. b. 300 warships XYZ Affair, 1797 Military build-up Suspension of trade VA and KY Resolutions State right of nullification

2.

Undeclared Naval Warfare

a. b.

3.

Alien and Sedition Acts, 1798

a. b.

4.

Convention of 1800
a. End Franco-American alliance

III. Election of 1800

Federalists

Jeffersonian-Democrats
Support in S, SE, and W agrarian support in hinterland (Those who labor in the earth are the chosen people of God)
Government for the people but not by all the people! Minimal army and navy Strict Constructionists Central government at a minimum VY & KY Resolutions Strong state Judicial branches

Rule by best people (those who own the country ought to govern it) Distrusted democracy Pro British
Strong standing army and navy

Hamiltons Plan
BE FAT Loose Constructionists Support business but dont interfere

Pro French

State and local spending Strong State Rightists

Strong Centralists
Subordinate the state power Alien and Sedition Acts

Strong Judicial Branch

Judiciary Act, 1789

Weak Judicial Branch

Matching
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Neutrality Proclamation of 1793 Alexander Hamilton Thomas Jefferson James Madison Supreme Court Funding and assumption Bank of the United States Whiskey Rebellion Federalists Republicans A. Sec of State who opposed Hamilton B. Body organized by the Judiciary Act of 1789. C. Brilliant administrator D. Body believed in the common people, no aid for businesses and pro-French E. President Washingtons statement of basic principles of American foreign policy. F. Body believed in a strong government run by wealthy. G. Skillful politician-scholar who drafted the Bill of Rights. H. Hamiltons aggressive financial policies of paying off all federal bonds and taking on all state debts. I. Institution bitterly opposed by states rights advocates. J. A protest by poor western farmers.

Answers
1-E 2-C 3-A 4-G 5-B 6-H 7-I 8-J 9-F 10-D