Chatper 10 Precis
Essay title: Chatper 10 Precis
Americans saw a central authority as something to be distrusted, but necessary. In order to have the Ship of America stay afloat, it needed a captain which would be brave enough to face the storm
George Washington – 1789 – first unanimously elected president. Secretary of State: Thomas Jefferson, Treasury: Alexander Hamilton, War: Henry Knox
Bill of Rights – Created because antifederalists criticized Constitution for its failure to guarantee individual rights such as freedom of religion and trial by jury. Organized the Supreme court. First Chief Justice – John Jay
Alexander Hamilton – “Father of National Debt,” eager to shape policies to favor wealthy for economic and political support. Assumed debts of states. Assumption would shift attachment of wealthy creditors from states to government. Debt swelled to 75 mil. Thought a debt was what kept the country together and vitalized the financial system and government. Import and whiskey tariff.
Bank of the United States – Private, modeled after Bank of England. Deposit box for governments surplus money. Seen as unconstitutional by Jefferson (strict construction), but seen as proper and necessary by Hamilton(implied powers, loose construction). Commercial and financial centers of the North liked it, agricultural South opposed it.
Whiskey Rebellion – When troops reached Pennsylvania, the guys who started rebellion came apart or were captured. Very miniscule. New respect for government.
Democrat Republicans: Jefferson and Madison first organized their oppposition to Hamilton(National Republicans, Federalists). Founders at Philadelphia did not envision the existence of permanent political parties. Balances out the government.
French Revolution – 26 years, affected American political and social life. Louis XIV executed. French vs. Austria(Britain). At first the Democrat-Republicans were overjoyed at the second revolution, but they regretted the bloodshed.
Neutrality Proclamation 1793 – Franco-American alliance 1778 still valid. Had to help French defend west indies from British ships. Washington wanted to avoid the fight. Strategy of delay in order to grow. Told Americans to be impartial to both sides. Did not consult congress. French ambassador Citizen Edmon Genet thought Americans really wanted the neutrality to end. Recruited armies to invade Spanish Florida, Louisiana, and British Canada. Proclamation illustrated that self-interest was the basic cement of alliances.
British did not abide the peace treaty of 1783 and retained northern frontier posts on U.S. soil. British agents sold firearms and firewater to the Miami Confederacy(8 indian nations who terrorized American invaders)
“Mad Anthony” Wayne beat Miamis at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. Britain abandoned them. Indians offered peace.
Treaty of Greenville – 1795, confederacy gave up a lot of Old Nothwest, and recieved 20,000 and annual 9,000, the right to hunt in the ceded lands, and indians hoped it was recognition of indians sovereign status
British also thought the US would help defend Britain. Seized 300 american merchant ships, took seamen to go into British vessels, and threw others into dungeons. However, Hamilton said any hope of economic development depended on trade with Britain.
Chief Justice John Jay went to london in 1794. Promised to evacuate the posts on US soil. Pay for seizure of ships. Didnt pledge anything about future seizures and supplyying arms to Indians. Still had to pay debts. Jay becomes unpopular, Democrat-Republican party vitalized, treaty seems like a surrender. POSITIVE: Spain granted Americans everything they demanded;