Early Presidents and Early Problems

EARLY PRESIDENTS AND
EARLY PROBLEMS
Chapter 8
Chapter 9

KEY TERMS
Precedents = Traditions
Cabinet = mentors to the President on specific
issues
Impressment = forcing people in to the military
Faction = political parties
Implied powers = powers not expressly forbidden
in the Constitution
Laissez-faire = French philosophy meaning let the
people choose

QUESTIONS TO PONDER
What traditions to you have in your family?
What traditions would you like to carry on when you have your own
family?
How did those traditions begin?
How many of you have step-families that you live with?
What was the adjustment like to moving in with them?
Do you think there will be struggles with our new government?

PRESIDENT WASHINGTON’S DECISIONS
John Adams = VP
Called Mr. President (instead of His Highness the President of the
US)
Three depts. In the executive branch (Cabinet members)
State Department = handles relations with other nations
(Thomas Jefferson)
Treasury Department = dealt with financial matters
(Alexander Hamilton)
War Department = provide for the nation’s defense (Henry
Knox)
President can fire his cabinet w/out Senate’s approval

FINANCIAL PROBLEMS – HAMILTON'S PLAN
Hamilton wanted to pay the cost for the states for helping
the war effort
Problem: many people had sold their war bonds, so the
speculators who bought them would be rich
Problem: Southern states would have to pay more than
their fair share
Compromise =
Capital would move closer to the South between the
borders of Virginia and Maryland
Southerners agreed to help pay off debt

WHISKEY REBELLION
Hamilton imposed a tax on imports (tried to encourage
purchase of American goods)
Farmers in Western Penn upset when tax collectors came
Armed rebellion began
Washington called in the military to stop rebellion
Result = people would have to peacefully protest (through
Constitutional means)
HOW DOES THIS DIFFER FROM SHAYS REBELLION?

PROBLEMS WITH EUROPE
French Revolution began
People take sides as to whether to help them in their fight for freedom
Washington issued a Proclamation of Neutrality
British began to capture American Merchant ships and forced people to fight for them
Jay’s Treaty
Relations with Spain
British were removed from American soil
Damage to ships was paid for
American trade open to British colonies in the Caribbean
Americans had to pay for debt to Britain from pre-1776
Spain feared American involvement in Spanish Empire
Pickney’s Treaty
Allowed American navigation of Mississippi
Right to trade in New Orleans

NEW PRESIDENT AND POLITICAL PARTIES
Washington set precedent of two terms
Discourage political parties fearing it would tear apart the nation
Do you agree???

FEDERALISTS
Now applied to the group of people who supported
Washington’s admin.
Strong federal govt.
Admired Britain for its stability
Rule by the wealthy class
Loose interpretation of the Constitution
Alexander Hamilton and John Adams

REPUBLICANS (DEMOCRATIC-
REPUBLICANS)
In favor of limiting govt. power
Supported the French
Small farmers and merchants (mid-Atlantic and South)
Strong state governments
Rule by the people
Strict interpretation of the Constitution
Thomas Jefferson and James Madison

ELECTION OF 1796
Federalists nominate John Adams (Charles Pickney for VP)
Republicans nominate Jefferson (Aaron Burr for VP)
Results
Adams = 71 electoral votes
Jefferson = 68
Constitution states that the second highest # of votes
becomes VP
Federalist President Adams and Republicans VP Jefferson

ADAMS PRESIDENCY
XYZ Affair
Issue with France and secret agents
Adams told Congress the US needed to prepare for war with the
French
Congress established a Navy Dept. And set aside $ for warships
Increased the size of the army
Americans/Pres Adams negotiated peace with France before anything
happened
Hurt Adams chance for re-election
Federalists split – Thomas Jefferson will ease into the Presidency in
1800

THOMAS JEFFERSON – OVERVIEW OF THE MAN