Download George Washington Through the Jefferson Era

A Detailed Look at the First 4 Presidents
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At 53 years of age, Washington was looking
forward to a life of retirement but he was
elected unanimously into the presidency with
John Adams as his vice-president.
Washington knew that everything he did in
office would be scrutinized and shape the
future of the U.S.
His first order of business was to be
addressed as Mr. President while in office.
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Washington chose the most prominent
political figures of his day such as: Thomas
Jefferson-secretary of state, Alexander
Hamilton-secretary of the treasury, Henry
Knox-secretary of war, and Edmund
Randolph as attorney general.
Vice president Adams’ vote broke the tie that
allowed Washington to dismiss any members
without the Senate’s approval.
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This set up the court system of federal courts
that would be able to reverse any state court
decision.
John Jay was nominated the first Supreme
Court chief justice.
This started a lot of the fears many had that
the federal government would oppress
state’s rights but all Americans trusted
George Washington.
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James Madison wanted to calm the fears of
Americans afraid of a powerful federal
government by adding this to the
constitution.
This measure protects individual rights of
liberty, such as freedom of speech, and rights
of persons accused of crimes, including trial
by jury.
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To pay the debt from the Revolutionary War,
Hamilton proposed to issue bonds-paper
notes promising to repay the money in a
certain period of time.
Speculators- people looking to make a profit
by selling the bonds for less than their value,
sent opposition into a frenzy because they
feared the speculators would become rich
and a government is not supposed to profit.
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In 1792 there were only 8 banks in the country
and all were established by state
government.
Hamilton asked Congress to create a national
bank and Congress did which sent divisions
throughout Washington’s cabinet as Madison
and Jefferson hated the idea.
Hamilton then proposed tariffs to protect
America’s industry from foreign competition.
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Most Americans made their living by farming
and the tariffs protected the northern
industry but the south hated them because
they had no industry and did not see the
benefit.
The states felt like they were losing power
from a strong federal government powered
by the wealthy class and it divided the
cabinet and the nation.
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Hamilton’s taxes set off a rebellion in
Pennsylvania because of a special tax placed
on whiskey.
Most farmers traded whiskey for other
supplies they needed so no money was ever
exchanged and they rarely had cash so how
could they pay the tax?
The protests were usually peaceful until July
of 1794.
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Washington's message was swift as the
armed rebellion quickly fell apart as the
Continental Army marched over the
Appalachian Mountains.
This action let citizens know that if they had a
problem with federal taxes they had to
resolve it peacefully through constitutional
means and not through armed resistance.
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The Indians that lived there did not recognize
any power that the new US government had
over them.
Washington made treaties with the Indians
and hoped that would settle disputes but the
American settlers ignored the treaties and
moved onto lands set aside for the Native
Americans.
The Brits were encouraging Indians to attack.
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GW sent an army to restore order under
General Arthur St. Claire and in November of
1791 his forces were badly beaten by Little
Turtle the chief of the Miami people where
over 600 American soldiers died in a single
battle at the Wabash River.
Avoiding a risky alliance with the French
against the British, Spanish, and Native
Americans was GW’s concern.
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When the Native Americans demanded that
all settlers leave the Ohio Valley area,
Washington again sent armed forces to
challenge the threat of over 1,000 Indians
near present day Toledo, Ohio under the
command of General Anthony Wayne.
The Battle of Fallen Timbers in August of
1794 crushed any hope of Native Americans
to reclaim their land.
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While some praised the French people for
rising up as Americans did, many were turned
off by the violence that occurred like the
execution of the French King and Queen.
Britain and France went to war again and the
US was divided as to who to support.
The NE wanted to favor Britain as a trading
partner while the South favored France for
their help in the Revolutionary War.
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GW issued a Proclamation of Neutrality in
April of 1793 to not take sides in the European
war but Edmond Genet, a diplomat from
France managed to sign up several American
merchant ships to fight the British.
The British responded by attacking any
American ships that traded with the French
which outraged many Americans and moved
us closer to another war with Britain.
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GW sent Chief Justice John Jay to work out a
deal with Britain and the two sides agreed to
several proposals.
In Jay’s Treaty the Brits agreed to remove all
claims to American soil, pay for damages for
the American ships seized, and allow
American ships to trade with the Brits in the
Caribbean.
GW did not like the treaty but was glad for
peace.
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Since Britain and America could work
together, Spain feared they might be next
and Thomas Pinckney was sent to Spain.
Pinckney’s Treaty gave the US the right to
travel on the Mississippi River and trade with
the City of New Orleans.
GW announced he would not seek a 3rd term
as president and feared the presence of
political parties.
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While GW was very popular as president, he
did have many critics from supporters of
Thomas Jefferson.
GW was certain political parties would divide
the nation & the Federalists emerged to
support the policies of GW & his cabinet.
Jefferson & Madison created the
Democratic-Republicans which wanted
small govt. & favored by southerners.
Jefferson & Hamilton both quit Washington’s
cabinet before his term was over because of their
differences.
 The Federalists wanted John Adams as president
& Charles Pinckney as vice president & the DR’s
wanted Thomas Jefferson as president.
 This ruined Adams & Jefferson’s friendship & they
became fierce rivals after Adams won.
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Federalists-Leader Alexander Hamilton-Rule
by the wealthy class, Strong federal govt.,
Manufacturing, Loose interpretation of the
Constitution, British Alliance, National Bank,
& Protective tariffs
Democratic-Republicans-Thomas JeffersonRule by the people, strong state govt.,
agriculture, strict interpretation of the
constitution, French alliance, state banks,
free trade
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Under the provisions of the Constitution at
that time, whomever received the second
number of electoral votes became vicepresident so Thomas Jefferson became John
Adams’ vice president and the two grew to
hate each other while they were in office
because of their distinctly different party
beliefs.
No, it does not mean examine your zipper.
Adams wanted to avoid war with France because
France was mad that the US had a treaty with
Britain so it appeared to them we were working
against France.
 France sent three unnamed agents to meet with
US delegates to demand a bribe and a loan for
France; the Americans flatly refused.
 Adams told the US to prepare for war and
referred to the agents as X, Y, & Z.
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France and the US was now having an unofficial
declared war with several clashes at sea & at
home several voters voted Republicans out
because of not changing their position on France
as a trading partner.
 A growing fear from French supporters of the
French Revolution now living here, the A & S Acts
were created to remove anyone from European
Revolution happening here.
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These two encouraged the states to
challenge the federal power of these acts and
they backed the Virginia & Kentucky
Resolutions of 1798 & 1799 stating the A & S
Acts were unconstitutional.
Adams political career was in trouble as he
refused to step up the pressure for war
against France to help his cause & paved they
way for Thomas Jefferson in 1800.
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The Federalists knew Adams would not win
re-election but saw a chance to mess up
Jefferson’s presidency by throwing their
support for his vice-president Aaron Burr &
the two candidates ended up with the same
electoral votes at 73.
Hamilton had to urge one Federalist not to
vote for Burr, breaking the tie.
The 12th Amendment was created to prevent
this from happening again.
In a shrewd move he reached out to the Federalists,
urging that we were all the same.
 Jefferson then moved to reduce the size and power
of the federal government using the French
philosophy of laissez-faire which means “let the
people do as they choose”.
 Jefferson long believed in state’s rights which meant
slavery would flourish beginning the Antebellum
Period in the South.
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First Jefferson cut the army size by 1/3 and
reduced the navy from 25 to 7 ships which helped
to quickly pay off the national debt.
 He removed the hated whiskey tax and all other
federal taxes only leaving taxes on foreign goods
and the sale of western lands.
 Jefferson believed the national government
should only deliver mail, conduct a census every
10 years, and collect custom duties.
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No, the Supreme Court remained as Adams
wanted it because of chief justice John
Marshall.
In fact under Marshall’s careful knowledge of
the law, he expanded the power of the
Supreme Court over the State’s regional
courts.
He determined that the Constitution is the
supreme law of the land & must be followed.
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Spain changed their policy in the Mississippi
region giving France full control & Jefferson
worried that Spain may have given France
sole control over the region.
Napoleon Bonaparte had plans for an empire
in Europe & the Americas & Jefferson quickly
authorized more than 10 million dollars to
purchase the region from France.
Napoleon may have never taken the money if he
could have kept control of a critical seaport in
present day Haiti called Santo Domingo.
 Without this port, he really had no need of the
territory so he gave the Americans much more
territory than they originally bargained for at an
increased price of 15 million.
 In 3 years, Jefferson doubled the US’s size.
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With the purchase complete, Jefferson hired
Lewis & Clark to explore the territory as a
scientific venture because Congress was
interested in the possibility of commercial
profit and future forts.
Assembling a crew, L & C met a Shoshone
guide named Sacagawea who served as an
interpreter & after 18 months & 4,000 miles
they brought back their findings to Congress.
Just like the Civil War would separate the nation into
two, the Federalists looked to remove New York and
the Northeast from the Union by supporting Aaron
Burr as governor of New York & then secede from
the US.
 Alexander Hamilton defeated Burr, won the
election, Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel but
Hamilton refused to shoot, was wounded & later
died & Burr fled to avoid arrest.
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While Jefferson easily won re-election, the
booming sea trade during his time in office
had its share of problems as well as enormous
profits.
The Barbary Pirates had captured a ship and
refused to let the prisoners free until a 60,000
ransom was paid.
Britain’s & France’s war threatened to drag
the US into it at sea as well.
Madison was nominated President once Jefferson
decided he would not seek a third term and left
Madison with many problems.
 Failed embargos with France & Britain did not have
the desired effects Jefferson had intended & war
hawks were crying for war.
 American ships had been fired on, damaged, sailors
killed & kidnapped & forced into service for Britain &
France (impressment)
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Ohio became a state in 1803 & white settlers
continued encroaching on lands set aside for Indians
& these Indians began renewing old contacts w/the
British & fur traders.
 A Shawnee chief Tecumseh & his brother known as
The Prophet brought NA’s from neighboring lands
to start a town called Prophetstown near present
day Lafayette, Indiana and war was looming there
as well.
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The governor of the Indiana territory,
General William Henry Harrison sent a letter
which pretty much sounded like a threat to
make Tecumseh stop trying to recruit tribes
to unite against settlements in the territory.
While Tecumseh was in the south recruiting,
Harrison struck & two hours later
Prophetstown was destroyed during the
battle of Tippecanoe.
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Not much really, while the Americans were
successful in removing Indians from
Prophetstown, Tecumseh did just what
Harrison feared & made an alliance with the
British in Canada.
When it was revealed that the British had
supplied the Indians with guns, the rallying
cry for war & taking Canada sparked a desire
to expand under a plan of nationalism.
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Henry Clay of Kentucky & John C. Calhoun of
SC were the leaders of the war hawks &
westerners wanted the fertile lands of
southern Canada while southerners wanted
Spanish Florida for cotton.
Ironically the US declared war at the same
time Britain decided to end its policy of
searching & seizing American ships but once
it was declared war was inevitable.
The war started when General William Hull attacked
from Detroit & moved into Canada & there he was
met by Tecumseh’s warriors.
 Hull feared a massacre by the Indians and
surrendered Detroit to a small British unit & General
William Henry Harrison could do no better & figured
Canada was out of reach as long as the British
controlled Lake Erie.
 Oliver Hazard Perry’s fleet was sent to take Lake
Erie away from the British Navy.
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Sept 10, 1813 Perry defeated the Brit navy &
sent Harrison the message “We have met the
enemy and they are ours.”
As the Brits & Tecumseh’s warriors tried to
pull out of Detroit Harrison’s forces cut them
off & at the Battle of the Thames on Oct 5th
Tecumseh was killed.
Even though the US burned much of York
(Toronto) Canada would not be taken.
Tecumseh had talked to the powerful Creek Indian
nation of the Mississippi about an alliance but
Andrew Jackson from Tennessee ruined that plan
as he slaughtered 550 Creek Indians at the Battle of
Horseshoe Bend.
 The Creeks were forced to give their lands along the
Mississippi to the Americans & set the stage for a
later battle at the mouth of the Mississippi River &
helped the US win.
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Once Napoleon was defeated, the Brits could
concentrate solely on the Americans and sent
an invasion fleet sailing into Chesapeake Bay
with designs on destroying everything in their
path that was connected with the US
government, including the White House &
related structures.
Madison watched as the Capitol and the
white house burned from outside the city.
Dolly was born near Greensboro, North Carolina &
moved to Philadelphia & after her first husband died
she married James Madison & became the unofficial
first lady to Thomas Jefferson who was not married.
 When Madison became president, she saved many
treasures, documents, & paintings while the white
house burned during the assault by the British &
became a heroine.
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A violent thunderstorm saved the buildings
from burning to the ground & the British
troops moved to take over Baltimore.
Baltimore was ready with a constant
bombardment from Fort McHenry & 13,000
militiamen defending the city.
Francis Scott Key witnessed the battle &
wrote the poem that became The Star
Spangled Banner our National Anthem.
As the British were turned back at Baltimore, an
invasion force from Canada was defeated at Lake
Champlain & the Brits felt it was a waste of time
trying to take America.
 The Treaty of Ghent was signed in Dec of 1814 but
word did not reach the US before a final Battle of
New Orleans where Andrew Jackson led a victory
where hundreds of Brits were killed & helped
Jackson become president 13 years later in 1828.
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