History 7a Final Study Guide

CH7&8: The Early United States of America 1781-1823

-Major Themes in United States History

• Slavery
• Territorial Expansion
• Debates/disputes regarding the nature of U.S. government

-American War for Independence

• Americans fought to protect their rights/liberties from a strong English government.
• Increasing power of English government threatened American rights/liberties
• War financed by individual states/colonies, wealthy Americans, and by foreign countries (e.g. France)

Early U.S. History

• 1st government: Articles of Confederation 1781-1788 (weak)
• Economic troubles from war for Independence
• Constitutional Convention: May-Dec 1787
• Federalist

• In support of strong national government
• Pro-government

• Anti-Federalists/Democratic Republicans

• In opposition of strong national government

Articles of Confederation

• Ratified 1781.
• First system of government in the United States.
• Government: loose connection of the states

• Each state had a single vote in Congress;
• No executive nor judiciary office;
• Congress power to conduct foreign affairs, matters of war and peace, maintaining army;
• Congress could not directly tax citizens.
• States enjoy a high degree of sovereignty

Economic Crisis

• Recall: War for Independence financed by states.

• Paper money was printed.

• Soldiers were paid with bonds that were to be redeemed at a future date. They rejected

• After war, runaway inflation.
• Difficult for U.S. government to pay off debt.

• Articles of Confederation ineffective in dealing with the economic crisis.

• Demands for revising the Articles of Confederation.
• Some (nationalists) wanted a strong central government.

The Constitutional Convention

• 55 delegates from the various states met in Philadelphia in May 1787. Rhode Island didn’t participate
• Delegates debated over the political representation in Congress:

• Large states (population) vs. small states
• Free states vs. slave states

• James Madison proposed a new system of government

• Great Compromise: Congress would be a bicameral body.

• One house based on population (House of Representatives).
• One house based on equal representation of states (Senate). 2 per state
• Three-fifths compromise: three-fifths of a states’ slave population would be counted towards political representation and taxation.

• Electoral college established to ensure that election of president was not a popularity contest

• Each state has a certain number of electors

• Based on the number of representatives in the House and the Senate- bigger state has more

• Under new Constitution:

• A system of checks and balances (Executive-president-enforce the law, Judicial-supreme court, and Legislative Branches);
• Congress had the power of taxation

• Also had power to borrow money, regulate commerce, declare war, and negotiate with foreign nations;

• President had power to enforce the law;
• Supreme Court interpreted the law;
• Individual states enjoyed certain amount of sovereignty.

• Overall, a stronger system of government under the Constitution.
• Supporters of Constitution called Federalists.

• Argued that a strong government would protect American liberties.

• Opponents of Constitution called Anti-Federalists.

• Feared that the government had too much power, which threatened the liberties of American citizens.
• Also known as Democratic Republicans, or simply Republicans.

The Bill of Rights

• Anti-Federalists demanded a Bill of Rights to protect the inalienable rights of American citizens.

• Anti-Federalists would not ratify the Constitution unless the demand was met.

• James Madison, a supporter of the Constitution, introduced the first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights.
• Constitution ratified in 1788.
• Overall, the Constitution defined the powers of the federal government and the rights of American citizens.
• Tenth Amendment- If a specific power is not given to the Federal government by the Constitution then the individual states have the right to assume that power

Washington’s Presidency

• Washington elected president in 1789. Hero of war
• Congress established various departments/secretaries:

• State* international relation
• Treasury* finance
• War
• Justice

• Under Washington, Thomas Jefferson appointed Secretary of State and Alexander Hamilton appointed Secretary of Treasury.

• Jefferson an Anti-Federalist. Don’t like strong government
• Hamilton a Federalist. Supporter of constitution

Hamilton’s Controversial Fiscal Program

• In 1790, Hamilton issued several financial proposals to deal with the economic crisis.

• Protective tariff (tax) to develop American industry; foreign goods

• Promote American made product; keep money in

• Credit program (government bonds); improve credit

• Guarantee to get money back

• Creation of a Bank of the United States.

• central bank to pay everything
• Want rich people to invest

• Opposition to Hamilton’s program:

• Anti-Federalists (Jefferson) argued that the government did not have the power, under the Constitution, to create a Bank.

• Strict interpretation of the Constitution.

• Federalists (Hamilton) argued that the Constitution implicitly gave the government the authority to use whatever means were “necessary and proper” to carry out its enumerated powers.

• Loose interpretation of the Constitution. Implied power

• Washington supported Hamilton’s loose interpretation of the Constitution.
• Compromise to the acceptance of Hamilton’s Fiscal Program:

• Southern states demanded that the capital be moved further south.

• Worry that political authority concentrated in the northern states.

• Capital moved from New York City to a spot on the Potomac River between Virginia and Maryland.

• Would become Washington D.C.

American Expansion

• During 1780s, Congress (Articles of Confederation) approved measures that would expand U.S. territory west.
• Land Ordinance of 1785:

• Allowed for land to be surveyed and sold.
• Land north and west of the Ohio River

• Northwest Ordinance of 1787:

• Once population of a western territory was large enough, it could petition for statehood and join the Union. As an official state
• Slavery prohibited in states north of the Ohio River.
• New states:
• Kentucky (1792)
• Tennessee (1796)
• Ohio (1803)
• Indiana (1816)
• Illinois (1818)
• Michigan (1837)
• Wisconsin (1848)

French Revolution

• 1789-1799: Start of the Revolution; similar principles to American Revolution
• A popular revolution that was initially rooted in many similar principles to the U.S. War for independence.
• France mired in debt; French King, Louis XVI turned to direct taxes on the people; many peasants would have to pay tax.
• 1791-1792: French King made to accept a constitutional monarchy
• 1793- Louis XVI executed
• 1793-1796: Reign of terror
• 1799: Napoleon Bonaparte; Napoleon assume control of France
• 1802-1803: Napoleon in control of Spain

American International Relations

• 1789: French Revolution

• Initially, Americans supported the Revolution.

• 1793: French Revolution turned violent and chaotic.

• American supported faded.

• Washington proclaimed the United States neutral in the conflict.
• Washington elected to a second term as President.

• Retired after second term (1796).

• In farewell address, Washington set out U.S. foreign policy:

• Friendly, but neutral, relations.

Jefferson’s Presidency

• John Adams elected president in 1796.

• Vice president under Washington.
• Served only one term.

• Jefferson elected president in 1800.

• As president, Jefferson sought to reduce the power and size of the federal government.
• Promoted western expansion.
• Served two terms as president.

• In 1803, Jefferson would be confronted with an opportunity that would challenge his adherence to a “strict interpretation” of the Constitution. Nature of us government

The Louisiana Purchase

• 1799: Napoleon Bonaparte took control of France.

• Quickly dominated most of western Europe, including Spain. Conquer Spain

• Acquired Louisiana territory in 1800. Spain colony

• Bonaparte at war with England and needed money to finance war.

• 1803: Bonaparte offered to sell Louisiana to the United States for $15 million.
• Jefferson presented with a dilemma:
• Purchase Louisiana
• Constitution had no clause about government purchasing land from a foreign power.
• If Jefferson purchased Louisiana, he would go beyond the powers defined by the Constitution.
• Not purchase Louisiana
• Jefferson consistent in his “strict interpretation” of the Constitution.
• However, would alienate many Americans who wanted to expand west.
• Ultimately, Jefferson chose to purchase Louisiana.
• Admitted that he had gone beyond the bounds of the Constitution.
• Claimed that his act was justified because it benefited the American people.
• Louisiana purchased doubled the size of the United States.

A Contradictory Indian Policy

• Western tribes resisted American efforts of western settlement.
• Jefferson hoped that Indians would either:

• Assimilate to white (American) civilization; or
• Move west across the Mississippi.

• Some native tribes organized resistance to American expansion.

• Led by Tecumseh.

• Native organized resistance would make an alliance with the English (Canada) outside help

Problems with American Neutrality

• The United States traded with both England and France while the latter two were at war with each other.

• England created a naval blockade around France.

• England sized American trading vessels.

• England forced American sailors to serve in the English navy.
• Impressment

• Jefferson protested English actions.

• Attacks on American economic freedom (freedom of trade)
• Failed negotiations.
• Then threats, which England ignored.
• 1807: Jefferson persuaded Congress to pass an Embargo Act.
• The United States refused to engage in international trade.
• Meant to force England’s recognition of America’s neutrality and America’s freedom to engage in foreign trade.
• Embargo Act backfired:
• England continued to capture American sailors & ships; and
• Created an economic depression in the United States.

Madison and an Impending Crisis

• Madison won the 1808 presidential election.
• During first year of presidency, Madison repealed the Embargo Act.
• However, Madison continued to enact punitive measures against the English.

• Measures still proved ineffective.

• Some Congressmen called for war against England.

• Known as the War Hawks.

The War Hawks