Download The Political Crisis of the 1790`s

The Political Crisis of the 1790’s
At the end of the 18th century a political crisis occurred when the Federalist Party split into factions over
financial policy and the French Revolution. Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson would offer
contrasting visions for the United States. Jefferson hoped the U.S. would remain agrarian with local
officials governing, while Hamilton hoped for a strong national government and an economy based on
manufacturing. Whose vision would win?
pp. 207-212
Jefferson’s Agrarian Vision
1. What was the high price Hamilton paid for his victory over the financial crisis?
2. Identify the two new “factions” that had emerged in American politics by 1794:
a. __________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. What role did Jefferson envision for the United States in an international economy?
4. What circumstances brought Jefferson’s vision closer to reality?
5. What event in particular boosted the economies of Georgia and South Carolina?
The French Revolution Divides Americans
6. What position did President Washington take with regard to the outbreak of war between Britain
and France, and how did this position initially impact the U.S. economy?
7. On what basis did many Americans support the French Revolution?
8. On what grounds did some Americans condemn the new French government?
9. What was the connection between the Whiskey Rebellion and the French Revolution?
10. Why did Washington dispatch John Jay to Britain to negotiate a treaty?
11. What controversial conditions of the treaty caused many Americans to call it “too conciliatory”?
12. As long as the Federalists were in power, the United States would have a
_____________________________ foreign policy.
The Rise of Political Parties
13. Before the emergence of the First Party System, how did most Americans feel about political
parties?
14. Who supported the Federalist Party?
15. Who supported the Republican Party?
16. How did the election of 1796 crystallize political party identity?
17. What circumstances led to an undeclared maritime war with France?
Constitutional Crisis and the “Revolution of 1800”
18. What coercive laws did the Federalist controlled Congress enact to squelch Republican-minded
critics of their anti-French policies? Which one became the most controversial?
19. What did Jefferson and Madison do to protest the law they considered to be extremely
unconstitutional?
20. What was the ultimate significance of this constitutional crisis?
21. What personal attacks did Federalist make against Jefferson in the Election of 1800?
22. What circumstances caused the election of 1800 to be decided by the House of Representatives?
23. How was the stalemate in the House of Representatives resolved? Why?
24. Why did Jefferson call the election of 1800 the “Revolution of 1800”?
25. What did Jefferson mean when he said, “We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists”?
pp.217-219
The Jeffersonian Presidency
26. Why did Jefferson decide to pay “tribute” to the Barbary pirates rather than engage in all-out war?
27. What was the intent of the Judiciary Act of 1801 and Adams’s appointment of the “midnight judges”?
28. How did Federalist Chief Justice, John Marshall counteract the claims of state sovereignty in the
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions?
29. What numerous actions did Jefferson take to peel back Federalist authority and legislation? (5)
30. What did President Jefferson do with the once-hated Bank of the U.S.?
IDENTIFY the following terms: (You may need a separate sheet of paper)
Proclamation of Neutrality:
Whiskey Rebellion
Jay’s Treaty
X,Y,Z Affair
Sedition Act
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
Death of Alexander Hamilton
“Virginia Dynasty”
“Midnight Judges”
Judiciary Act of 1789