Politics & Foreign Affairs
GEORGE WASHINGTON T0 JAMES MONROE
CHAPTERS 11-12
George Washington
1789 - 1797
A.
B.
C.
D.
Title – Wanted nothing more than “Mr. President”
Presidential Cabinet
1.
Set up the different departments of the executive branch.
2.
The department heads became his cabinet
Money & Whiskey
1.
Treasury empty – Congress taxes whiskey in 1791, lowered in 1793
2.
Tax collectors tarred and feathered in PA.
3.
Washington himself led 13,000 troops to crush rebellion
A Weak Country
1.
No army after Revolution
2.
Surrounded by threats (Canada – British, Florida – Spain)
George Washington
1789 - 1797
D.
Washington’s Foreign Policy
1.
E.
Isolationism – U.S. could gain nothing by being involved in other
nations
Farewell Address – Washington’s Message to the Nation
1.
The benefits of federal government - UNITY
2.
Warns against the party system – It will distract and agitate
3.
Stresses the importance of religion and morality - OBLIGATIONS
4.
Importance of stable public credit – Use sparingly, AVOID DEBT
5.
Warns against permanent foreign alliances
6.
Warns against over-powerful military – could affect our Liberty
George Washington’s
Farewell Address
Alexander Hamilton(Federalist)

Strong central government – wide
powers due to Elastic Clause

Thomas Jefferson (Republican)

People motivated by self-interest –
only elite govern effectively
Limited federal power – “powers
not belonging to the government
belong to the people”

Loose interpretation of
Constitution
Common man makes good
choices with proper information

Strict interpretation of Constitution

Favored tariffs and taxes

Opposed tariffs and taxes

Assumption of state debt by
nation to strengthen nation’s
credit

Opposed assumption of state
debts – many states had already
paid them off

Government sponsored bank to
support business


Supported British
Envisioned agricultural society –
government should stay out of
economic matters

Limited freedom of speech and
press

Supported France

Upheld Bill of Rights as sacred

John Adams
1797-1801
A.
B.
C.
Election of 1796
1.
Republicans – Jefferson, Federalists – Adams
2.
Adams ahead 3, Jefferson becomes VP
Jay Treaty
1.
Britain agrees to leave Ohio Valley (France had hoped it would lead to war)
2.
France feels betrayed. Attacks 316 U.S. ships bound for Britain
XYZ Affair
1.
Adams sends envoy to France to end attacks
2.
French agents X,Y, Z say no peace until money paid
3.
Congress votes to build army of 10,000, build new ships, and allow private ships
to launch undeclared war on sea (captured 80 French ships)
John Adams
1797-1801
D.
E.
Peace Mission (1799)
1.
Napoleon eager to meet – ordered end to seizure of U.S. ships and
released sailors
2.
U.S. government will pay ship owners for their property (cost reelection)
Alien & Sedition Acts
1.
Alien Acts – lengthened time to become citizen from 5 to 14 years and
allowed President to jail/deport aliens suspected of causing trouble
2.
Sedition Act – made encouraging rebellion against the government a
crime
3.
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions – statements opposing acts only
adopted by Virginia and Kentucky
Election of 1800
Election of 1800
A.
Candidates
1.
Republicans – Jefferson (P) and Aaron Burr (VP)
a)
2.
B.
Supported Constitution and states’ rights
Federalists – Adams (P) and Charles Pinckney (VP)
a)
Record of peace and prosperity
b)
Hamilton’s followers refused to support him because of his foreign policy
Results
A.
Ended in a tie between Jefferson and Burr
B.
Sent to House with each state getting a vote – another tie
C.
6 days, 35 ballots later Hamilton breaks tie by telling supporters to vote
for Jefferson
D.
12th Amendment (1804) – separate ballots for President and Vice
Thomas Jefferson
1801-1809
A.
End of Peace
1.
France & Britain at war (1803)
Both begin seizing U.S. ships, kidnapping sailors and forcing them
to serve in their navy as though they were deserters
b) British ship Leopold stops American ship Chesapeake looking for
deserters (1807)
a)
1.
c)
2.
Captain refuses, 21 Americans killed
Between 1803-1807, Britain seizes 1000+, France seizes 500+ ships
Embargo Act of 1807
a)
No foreign ships can enter U.S. ports and no U.S. ships can leave
unless trading with other U.S. ports
1.
55,000 men lost jobs
2.
Act repealed in 1809
3.
Still attacked
Thomas Jefferson
1801-1809
B.
Piracy
1.
Barbary States of North Africa seized ships entering
Mediterranean and holding for ransom
2.
U.S Response
a)
Washington and Adams had paid total of $2 million
b)
Jefferson sends warships
c)
1.
U.S. ships bombard Tripoli with cannon fire, run ship ashore, crew
captured (1804)
2.
Naval officer leads raid into Tripoli, sets ship on fire
3.
Peace Treaty signed – Tripoli stops demand of tribute, $60,000
paid for ransomed crew
All pirate bases finally destroyed (1815)
James Madison
1809-1817
A.
New Approach to Britain and France
1.
B.
New Deal – stop attacks, U.S. won’t trade with enemy
a)
Napoleon agreed but still seized ships heading to Britain
b)
Madison cuts trade with Britain. Britain continues seizing ships
War of 1812
1.
2.
Reasons
a)
Impressment (seizing) of U.S. sailors
b)
British creating trouble with Natives
Battles
a)
British beat Napoleon and send 15,000 troops to Canada
b)
British invade D.C., burning Capitol and White House. President
Flees.
James Madison
1809-1817
B.
War of 1812 cont.
c)
Baltimore Port attacked – Francis Scott Key watches and is inspired
1.
d)
3.
British defeated here and in NY
Battle of New Orleans
1.
Gen. Andrew Jackson and 7,000 men (Africans, pirates, Natives) defend
2.
2,000 British killed, only 20 Americans
3.
Unnecessary battle – peace treaty 2 weeks before in Europe
Results
a)
Weakened Native resistance in northwest
b)
National pride
c)
Federalist party badly damaged by opposing war
War of 1812
James Monroe
1817-1825
A.
B.
Latin American Revolutions
1.
Mexico – Miguel Hidalgo leads 10 year revolution. Free from Spain 1821
2.
Venezuela – Simon Bolivar leads revolution 1810
3.
Argentina – Jose de San Martin leads revolution
4.
All Spanish troops out by 1825
Monroe Doctrine
1.
C.
Britain asks U.S. to join in sending message for Europe to leave Americas
alone
a)
Nations of North and South America were not to be subject to future colonization.
b)
U.S. would view efforts to take over as dangerous to our safety
Effect on Foreign Policy
1.
Return to Isolationism as principle in foreign policy
2.
U.S. would not accept European interference in American affairs
Monroe Doctrine