The Federalist Era

Presidents George Washington and John Adams

George Washington• He was elected the first

president of the U.S. unanimously by the electoral college in 1788 and 1792

• He established many precedents for future presidents to follow including:– The use of a cabinet to

advise the President– The tradition of presidents

serving only two terms

Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation

• When the French Revolution broke out in 1789, the French thought the U.S. should assist them due to the Franco-American Alliance

• Washington instead issued a proclamation of our neutrality in the conflict

Washington chose neutrality because:• He favored non-

intervention in Europe and wanted to avoid siding with France against Britain

• He did not feel that our new government was ready for a foreign war and feared the effect it would have on the U.S.

• He considered the war a civil conflict

Better British Relations

• Britain was persuaded to forgive many pre-Revolutionary debts of the U.S. and to drop trade restrictions on American trade

• This ushered in an era of booming trade with Britain

Whiskey Rebellion• An excise tax was placed on

whiskey to help pay for the states’ debts from the Revolutionary War

• It hit the small grain farmers in on the western frontier the hardest because they were forced to make liquor from their grain to make it easier to transport

• They even used the whiskey as a medium of exchange (money)

• Armed violence broke out on the frontier as the farmers frightened and attacked federal excise tax collectors

• Washington quieted the rebellion by leading a large military force to the western frontier to force them to pay the tax

• Washington demonstrated his constitutional authority to enforce the law

• Americans who did not like a law would have to petition Congress peacefully to change it

This was the first challenge to the authority of the new government.

Washington’s Leading Cabinet Members

• Thomas Jefferson: Secretary of State– Believed the national

government must limit its power to those areas specifically listed in the Constitution

• Alexander Hamilton: Secretary of the Treasury– Believed the powers of

the national government could be expanded to stabilize the nation and the economy

The Original Political PartiesDemocratic Republicans

• Led by Thomas Jefferson• Favored strict interpretation

of Constitution• Limited powers held by the

national government• Fear of over-powerful

government• Agricultural Economy• Trade with France• Paying off national debt only• Believed the national bank

unconstitutional

Federalists• Led by Alexander Hamilton• Favored loose interpretation

of the Constitution• Strong powers held by

national government• Fear of mob rule• Industrial Economy• Trade with Britain• Paying off national and state

debt (debt consolidation)• Supported National Bank

Election of 1796• Washington decided not to

run for a third term• The two parties competed

for the presidency by attacking each other in the campaign

• John Adams (a Federalist) won the election with Jefferson finishing a close second

Washington’s Farewell AddressHe warned the country

against:• Permanent alliances

(which could force us into unwanted foreign conflicts)

• Political parties (which he felt would divide the nation)

• Electing ungodly, self-centered political candidates

John Adams• Was plagued by

conflicts with France and Britain that crippled the nation’s economy

• Received harsh political criticism from Vice President Jefferson

XYZ Affair• Adams tried to send a diplomat to

France to improve relations but he was rejected

• A group of three diplomats returned to France to try again but were also rejected

• Three French agents approached the diplomats and promised acceptance of the diplomats for $20,000, a $10 million loan, and an apology from Adams

• The diplomats refused and many Americans wanted to go to war with France

• Adams refused, but the Quasi War (violence on the seas) raged between France and the U.S.

Alien and Sedition Acts

• Passed by Adams to quiet the Republican attacks on him prior to the election of 1800

• Included the:– Alien Act – allowed the president to

deport dangerous immigrants (mostly Republicans)

– Naturalization Act – increased the residency requirements from 5 to 14 years for citizenship

– Sedition Act – provided harsh penalties for negative statements about the national government (limited the rights of speech and press)

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions• Jefferson was alarmed by the

unconstitutional Sedition Act and believed there should be some check on Congress’ power to pass laws

• He and Madison drew up the VA and KY Resolutions that would have allowed the states to nullify (refuse to enforce) acts of Congress they considered unconstitutional

• This was the beginning of the States’ Rights Theory