President George Washington in American History Response & Discussion Initial Post Chapters 6 and 7 discuss the early Federal period, the beginning of ou

President George Washington in American History Response & Discussion Initial Post

Chapters 6 and 7 discuss the early Federal period, the beginning of our nation’s development. During this time the nation doubled its size stretching all the way to the Rocky Mountains and south to Florida.
It won respect from the British in the War of 1812. The fledgling nation had survived.
There were cultural, political, social, technological, and economic changes during this time as well.

1) Pick a person or decision made in the period 1789-1815 which you think is most important in understanding American history. It must be someone or something that we have studied.
2)Why do you think the person or decision is significant to the development of the United States?

3) Explain your choice using facts and evidence from the reading and/or resources for Week 7.

No direct quotes longer than 1.5 sentences.

You must use the reading and module for this week which begins on page 171 “Completing the Structure” through Chapter 7 of the text. Prof. Haber Content Comments Chapters 6b-7
Washington
Defined the American presidency—based on what he did precedents he set and the respect he
gave to the office. He gave life to the Constitution. It was just a skeleton when Washington took
power. Washington became the symbol of the nation.
Political Parties
There were coalitions built around the ratification of the Constitution –Federalists and
Antifederalists.
Federalists and Antifederalists were divisions about the question should eliminate the Articles of
Confederation and adopt the new Constitution written at Philadelphia in the summer of 1787.
Once the Constitution was ratified these 2 groups “disbanded”.
Once the Constitution was ratified and became law the 2 groups that debated the Constitution
(Federalists and Antifederalists) were no longer needed.
The Constitution was now the law of the land.
With Washington’s Presidency political parties developed. In Chapter 6 with Washington we
discuss the issues and the party affiliations that developed after the Constitution was ratified.
These new parties (Federalists and Republicans) formed over the issues surrounding the new
government under the new Constitution. Not all Federalists after the debate over the ratification
of the Constitution remained Federalists. In fact, some Federalists became Republicans–think of
Madison and Jefferson for instance.
During Washington’s administration (the first President under the new Constitution) new parties
developed. These new parties debated ideas about the role of government which are still being
debating today–the size and scope of the federal government, America’s role in the
world, taxation, and tariffs for examples.
The nation and the political parties that developed also were divided on the interpretation of the
Constitution–loose or strict construction or interpretation is still a subject of debate.
Elastic clause or Necessary and Proper clause
Article 1 section 8’s last paragraph it states” To make all laws which shall be necessary and
proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this
Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.”
This last paragraph has been called the “necessary and proper clause” or the elastic clause…as to
make any laws necessary and proper for the functioning of the above list stretches the powers
that one can interpret as given to Congress. (find more detail on this vocabulary term in your
Assignments folder, Week 7).
The Republicans charged the Federalists were corrupt; however, they were only doing political
maneuvering that the Federalist papers had envisioned. Both parties were building coalitions
and lobbying the Congress. The opposition called the Federalists “an overbearing majority”
because the Federalists controlled all 3 branches of government in the early years of our republic.
Politics then and now
We don’t really know what either would say as times and circumstances are so different. We do
know their philosophy and values as they left many papers. What has changed is the money
involved as both the state and federal government have grown and have money due to
taxation. Back then the only money the government (federal) had was from excise taxes, postal
fees, and the tariff (customs duties). Politicians were not “celebrities” and had none of the perks
of the politicians today. Ordinary people could walk into the White House. All Lincoln had was
two secretaries and a guard who had the night off when Lincoln got shot. Political office was for
the most part seen as service–Washington and Jefferson could not wait to leave office. Neither
went back to the capital again when their terms were over.
Gender and Race equality
The culture believed that women’s place was in the home. Women’s role was to be private not
public, so this view of women’s role impacted women’s education. A change after independence
was that some were calling for more education for women. The new idea was that women could
play a role in the nation by being educated and having that positive impact on children–raising
good virtuous citizens. Schools were limited though to women who had means. Most schools in
this period didn’t teach rigorous subjects to women. We will see a change and the development
of many schools for women (high school and college) in the 1830s (Chapter 12).
Free blacks were about 10% of the population in the free states. The free black population
formed their own schools, churches and community institutions because of segregation. In the
South slavery becomes more restrictive as we go through time. The slave South needed to protect
its institution that was under attack in the other parts of the U.S. Education was a path to
knowledge and freedom stated ex slave Frederick Douglass. That’s why Southern states began to
pass laws against teaching slaves to read and write.
Women and Education
Before the American War for Independence education varied throughout the nation. There were
dame schools, private schools for girls, apprenticeships and some public schools in the North,
especially New England. Subjects tended to be basic for girls some arithmetic, writing, reading,
music. Some of these schools also taught dancing and painting and sewing and fancy
needlework. After the revolution, it was believed that educated wives and mothers were a
necessity (known as Republican Motherhood or Republican Mother) to the new republic. New
female academies blossomed in the 1790s even in the South. The clientele of these were from
wealthy families. The idea that women’s minds were not strong enough to learn “hard subjects”
such as science, math, debate, history fueled the disparity in education. Also, it was believed that
women didn’t need to work for pay as their “sphere” was domestic or inside the home.
Therefore, they didn’t need to learn these subjects. We will see how women challenged this idea
in the 1830s and 1840s (Chapter 12).
Federalist Party foreign policy
The Federalists believed that America’s natural ally was England. To them we had the historic
relationship and the English were still our primary trade partner. The Federalists thought it would
be foolish to do otherwise. On the view of the French Revolution–the Federalists were appalled
at the violence and lawlessness of the French Revolution. Remember the French Revolution
began as a moderate revolution against the Crown and nobility and then it turned from moderate
to radical.
Adams and the XYZ Affair
Adams was a great diplomat before his Presidency This incident led to a wave of anti-French
sentiment in the U.S. led by the Federalists. Adams supported the building of the navy–in fact he
is called the “father of the navy”. However, Adams refused to go along with most of his party
and actually declare official war on the French. That’s how he lost Federalist support and lost
votes in the election of 1800.
Adams and the Federalists
He sacrificed his Presidency as he was resolved not to be drawn into a ruinous war with France.
We were a weak fledgling republic. Adams alienated many Federalists as he didn’t support their
agenda of war with the French. He was more moderate on the issues that the Congress strongly
supported such as the legislation to curb immigration, speech and citizenship. He lost the election
not only because of the unpopularity of his party’s policies, but also because his party didn’t
support him. He chose what he believed was right (keeping us officially neutral) knowing it
would hurt him politically.
Federalist anti French sentiment
The French Revolution started out peacefully and as a Constitutional one–with more rights for
the people against the King. It turned radical with mob rule. The Federalists were admirers of the
British anyway. They also said that since Britain had the strong navy and was our primary
trading partner we should ally with the British. They looked at the French as the anti-thesis of
Constitutional government (as the French Revolution turned radical). They feared using the
French as an example. The Republicans though thought the British were too attracted to
monarchy and aristocracy. The Republicans supported the French. This is the background of the
Alien Act. The French revolution turned conservative and many radicals were fleeing the country
to other areas of Europe and to America. Federalists didn’t want the French radicals who they
saw as anti-religion, anti-law and order coming into the U.S. bringing what they felt would bring
down the nation with them.
Sedition Act and the Federalists
Note the background of the law. Some French immigrants who were fleeing France were
entering the U.S. Federalists were concerned that they were bringing the lawlessness of the
French Revolution with them. Also note the issues with France such as their attack on our trade.
(pp.175-176). The problem was the Sedition Act was used against the political opponents of the
Federalists. They used it against newspaper editors. The Federalists didn’t understand the
concept of a “loyal opposition”–that you can criticize the government (we were not in a declared
war) and still be a loyal American. These newspaper editors were jailed for criticizing the John
Adams’ administration. The Sedition Act was used against newspaper editors.
Republican victory in 1800
The Federalists who were so flexible and innovative and willing to compromise in 1789 became
stodgy and rigid and inflexible. The also abused their power. Jefferson’s campaign was well
organized. He promised things that the public valued. Note Adams came in 3rd in the election of
1800.
Thomas Jefferson
He is complex because of what he “asserted and what he did” (Richard Norton Smith); he laid
done the ideals, but he has been called a hypocrite because he supported slavery and Heming’s
affair. Jefferson was antigovernment, but he put the national interests in front of his ideological
beliefs to support the Louisiana Purchase. He was a great intellect, a man of incredible scientific
interest and curiosity about the world around him. The Lewis and Clark exhibition was an
example of this.
Aaron Burr
There was hatred between Burr and Jefferson from the beginning due to the tie in the Electoral
College in 1800. Burr should have stepped aside., but he did not, and the election went to the
House.
Jefferson’s tactics to control the Judiciary
Jefferson was trying to get the courts out of Federalist hands. Remember that it was the only
branch of government still in Federalist control in 1801. When he tried to prevent Adams’ judges
from taking their jobs by withholding their commissions, Marbury sued and took it all the way to
the Supreme Court. Marshall established the right of judicial review in the case Marbury v.
Madison.
Jefferson then tried to impeach judges to get them off the bench, but he only succeeded in getting
one removed.
Jefferson and Louisiana
Jefferson was very much concerned with our survival as a nation. All the superpowers were
continuing to threaten us. The British envisioned moving down the Mississippi to New Orleans
and capturing our West. This would have ensured that the U.S. was no more than a strip along
the Atlantic seaboard. Anti slavery activists (including Thomas Paine) pressed Jefferson to
support making the Louisiana Territory a free territory (no slavery). Jefferson was unwilling to
do so fearing it would hurt the economy. This is a blot on Jefferson’s record in my opinion.
Jefferson and Barbary States
These were Islamic states of North Africa who had been in the business of capturing sailors and
typically selling them into slavery. They were state sponsored pirates–Morocco, Tunisia, Libya,
and Algeria. Barbary is the adjective for Berber mountains. The U.S. had no means of fighting
back against these once we were independent as a nation since we didn’t have the protection of
the British navy. The Europeans had paid off the pirates. Jefferson had asked the Europeans to
form a coalition against them and they turned him down. The Continental Congress sent
Jefferson as an emissary to Libya to make peace. The Libyans turned him down. They didn’t
want to stop their practices. In 1787 there were 187 sailors taken–typically as galley
slaves. They were going out and attacking our commerce, taking cargoes and enslaving crews.
Adams administration was paying ransoms. In 1801 over 300 sailors kept hostage. Jefferson sent
forces to rescue our captives. When the Pasha of Tripoli cut down the flagpole he was declaring
war . (cutting down a flagpole meant a declaration of war).
This BBC website has an interesting and in-depth account of attacks on British vessels.
This is good article on the Barbary States and their attacks on European and American ships
Adams and Jefferson
Adams and Jefferson were political rivals and enemies. They renewed their relationship in 1814
through the mediation of a friend and wrote each other until they both died on the same day, July
4, 1826.
Cotton gin
The cotton gin (engine) saved time because it removed the sticky seeds from the fiber; however
one still needed human labor to plant and pick the cotton. Slave labor expanded as the planters
needed cheap laborers. As cotton production increased, so did slavery
War of 1812
The focus used to be on maritime rights as the main cause of the war; however if that was the
chief cause of why we entered the war against Britain why did more New England Congressmen
vote against the war? Western Congressmen overwhelmingly supported going to war in
1812. Thus, western issues played a large role in why the Congress voted for war.

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