After the Constitution
The Cabinet
• President Washington needs “advisors”
• Develops into “CABINET”; Secretary
of State, Sec. of the Treasury and Sec.
of War becomes Sec. of Defense)
Bill of Rights
• Anti-Federalist critical that the Constitution
did not contain individual rights
• James Madison wrote the 1st ten
Amendments, 1-8 personal rights
• 9th—Just because personal rights not listed,
doesn’t mean you can’t have them
• 10th—all rights not given to the central govt.
belong to the states or the people
Alexander Hamilton, Sec
of Treasury
• 1. Pay the entire national debt “at
par”
• 2. Pay of war debts of the states
• 3. Increase foreign trade- impose
tariffs to protect new industry
and raise money
• Tax some domestic items—
whiskey
• Create national bank----
National bank
• A private bank for the govt. to deposit
money
• Print money-a stable national
currency
• Thomas Jefferson- “Strict
Constructionist” Constitution doesn’t
say you can do it, so you cant
• Hamilton—”loose Constructionist”-if
the Constitution does not forbid, it is
permitted
“Elastic” or “Necessary
and Proper” clause
• Article 1 section 8– Congress
can pass any laws “necessary
and proper” to so the govt. can
operate
• Govt. controls trade and
commerce—so bank is
necessary
Whiskey Rebellion
• Rye and corn crops distilled into
alcohol cheaper to transport than
bushels
• Farmers revolt-tar and feather
• Washington raises an army of 13,000
• Small fight-two rebels captured-three
dead
• Central Govt. commands new respect
• Jays Treaty with England splits
the political parties—Federalists
and the Democratic-Republicans
• Washington leaves after two
terms in 1796 warning against
permanent alliances with other
countries
• John Adams becomes President
• Thomas Jefferson-VP
Growth of Political Parties
• Disagreements over tariffs, the
Bank and Whiskey Rebellion lead
to political rivalries
• Organized opposition to a Govt.
seemed disloyal
• Political parties had been in
England, not the custom of the
colonies
America remains neutral
• After the French Rev., England and
France go to war.
• U.S. has an alliance with France,
Washington issues Neutrality
Proclamation of 1793
• British ships capture about 300
American merchant ships
• Britain refuses to leave forts on the
Great Lakes
UNOFFICIAL WAR WITH FRANCE
•
•
•
•
•
France upset with US over Jay’s Treaty
France seizes US ships
Adams sends diplomats to France
XYZ Affair
“Millions for defense, but not one cent
for tribute”
• France and US start fighting on the seas
• France (Napoleon Bonaparte) wants to
stop fighting with US to concentrate
on war with Europe
Alien laws
• Federalist do not want immigrantsWhy?
• Alien Acts—Change residency rules
from 5-14 years to become a citizen
• --Aliens could be deported or
imprisoned in time of peace or war
• Alien laws not enforced
Sedition Act
• Anyone who got in the way of the
policies of the US Govt. or falsely
defamed Govt. officials could be fined
or imprisoned
• Chokes free speech and press
• Expired in 1801
Virginia (Madison) and
Kentucky (Jefferson)
Resolutions
• Argument that the central Govt. got
its power from the states
• Therefore, states could “Nullify” –
refusal to accept Govt. laws
• (this argument is later used by the
south with the issue of slavery)
• Federalist argued the “people”
made the agreement with the
Govt. and the Supreme Court
had the final say on laws
• Page 208
• Table to Contrast the Federalist
and Democratic-Republican
Parties
• John Adams VS. Thomas
Jefferson