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The Early Republic 1789-1830 • 1789- George Washington is inaugurated as the first president of the United States • 1794- The beginnings of the Whiskey Rebellion During this time, a tax was put on whiskey, part of the financial plan for the US. Farmers from PA to Georgia were outraged by this tax and refused to pay. In the summer of 1794, a group of farmers in Western Pennsylvania staged the Whiskey Rebellion One armed group beat up a tax collector, tarred and feathered him, and stole his horse. George Washington was determined to enforce the tax on whiskey. In October 1794, 13,000 troops marched to western Pennsylvania. The rebels fled when they heard of the army coming. George Washington had made his point- the government has the power and the will to enforce the laws. 1796- John Adams becomes 2nd president of the United States During this time, relations between France and the US were tense. Britain and France were at war. To keep the US from trading with the British, France began to seize US ships. The federalists wanted to go to war with France. Adams instead sends Charles Pinckney, John Marshall, and Elbridge Gerry to Paris for talks to help end the tension. When they arrived, the French minister of foreign affairs refused to meet Finally, three French agents, called X, Y, and Z arrived to tell the Americans that the minister would hold talks under two conditions: • America would loan $10 million to the French • Pay the minister a bribe of $250,000 The Americans refused stating “No, no not a sixpence.” This event became known as the XYZ Affair. Americans were outraged at the request for bribes and once again wanted to go to war with France. In 1798, the US cancelled its treaties with France and allowed the US to seize French ships. Congress also set aside money to expand the navy and army. Justification for Alien & Sedition Acts “The United States . . . were threatened with actual invasion . . . and had then, within the bosom of the country, thousands of aliens, who, we doubt not, were ready to cooperate in any external attack.” Summary of Alien and Sedition Acts (1798) Naturalization Act To be eligible for citizenship, an alien must prove 14 years of residence within the United States (previously 5 years). Alien Act President may deport any alien he views as “dangerous to the peace and safety of the U.S.” No trial or evidence required. No defense. Alien Enemies Act President may, in case of war, deport aliens of an enemy country or impose severe restraints on them. Summary of Alien and Sedition Acts (1798) Sedition Act 1) Illegal to conspire to oppose any measure or to impede the operation of any law of the United States. 2) Illegal for any person to write print or publish “any false, scandalous and malicious writing . . . . against the government of the United States, or either house of the Congress . . . or the President . . . with intent to defame or to bring them into contempt or disrepute; or to excite against them the hatred of the good people of the United States. The end of the Alien & Sedition Acts The acts were repealed (found unconstitutional) under the presidency of Thomas Jefferson