1. Proposal for “Council of revision” from VA plan was dropped, and no provision on judicial review was added
ii. No bill of rights restraining government
1. Madison opposed idea
a. Specifying rights would limit those rights
iii. Others feared that without rights, authority would be abused
VI. The Constitution of 1787
a. Greatest contribution 2 do made by James Madison (most creative political thinker of his generation)
i. Devised VA plan
ii. Drafted most of the Constitution himself
iii. Helped Resolve *Question of sovereignty and *Question of limiting power
b. Question of sovereignty- Source of Friction between Americans and British
i. England- Sovereignty could not be divided
1. Created Parlmnt, composed of Lords & Commons 2 be stable center of pwr
ii. Colonial assemblies- no indpdnt assemblies b/c it would be a division of sovereignty
iii. Amrcans not comfortable w/ divided Sovereignty, & that idea shap’d 1st form of gvnt
1. Articles of Confederation- authority resided in individual states
iv. Federal Constitution required answers to the question of sovereignty
1. All power at all levels comes from the people
2. No governments truly sovereign
3. “We the People of the (USA)…”
a. Belief of power from the people
4. Logical obstacle to division of power was removed
c. Resolution of sovereignty- made possible a distinct feature of the Const- distribution of pwrs b/w national & state
i. National features
1. “Supreme law of the land”
2. Power to tax, regulate commerce, control the currency, and make “necessary and proper laws”
ii. Federal Features
1. Gvn’t accepted existence of states and left important powers in their hands
d. Constitution provided a resolution to problem of concentrated authority
i. Avoid the problems of England
ii. Fear of concentrated authority- obstacle to creation of national government at all
iii. Ideas of Baron de Montesquieu
1. Avoid tyranny by keeping the government close to the people
2. Republic should be confined to a small area
3. Large nation- people distant from government and out of control
4. Led to belief of individual sovereignty by states
iv. Ideas of Madison
1. Large republic less likely to produce tyranny
2. Different factions- no group would dominate
3. “Separation of Powers”
4. “Checks and Balances” among the 3 branches of government
e. System to prevent any one person or group from exercising excessive power
i. Forces of Government would compete with one another
ii. Bicameral Congress (House and Senate)
1. Members elected different way and for different terms
2. Both would have to agree before a law could be passed
iii. President’s power
1. Veto acts of congress
2. Special process of election
a. Electoral college (composed of state delegates elected any way they like) would cast votes for President and VP
b. No majority- up to the House of Reps- each state gets one vote
iv. Federal Courts
1. Justices appointed by President and Approved by Senate
2. Served for Life
f. Federal structure of Government (division of power), and checks and balances protected USA from England’s problems and the tyranny of the People
i. Fear of ‘mob’ was as important as single rebel
ii. Shays Rebellion- Example of what could happen
iii. Only House of Reps would be elected directly by the people
iv. Senate, Justices, and President insulated in some ways from Society
v. Madison’s view- even more important protection
1. Protection from groups becoming too powerful
2. Real power would be held by a small group of talented people who would look out for society interests as a whole
g. Constitution did not satisfy everyone
i. Edmond Randolph- refused to sign document
ii. Delegates from smaller states withheld their approval
iii. Most members overlooked fears
1. 9/17/1787- 39 delegates signed constitution
VII. Adoption and Adaptation
a. PHILA delegates exceeded instructions from Congress and the states by creating a plan for an entirely new form of government
i. Reason to doubt that Constitution would be approved by unanimous decision
ii. Constitution specified only 9/13 states need approval for it to be in effect
iii. Recommended that it be sent to state conventions rather than legislature for consideration
VIII. Federalists and Anti-federalists
a. Congress in NY passively accepted work and submitted it to states for approval
b. All states except RI elected delegates to ratifying conventions
c. Before conventions left, a debate over Constitution had begun
i. Intense, but peaceful and deliberative
ii. Only in Albany, NY (one occurrence) resulted in injuries and deaths
d. Whole people did not get involved in ratification process
i. Women, blacks, un-propertied white males- no voice
ii. ¾ of people with voice failed to vote
1. Indifference
iii. Of voters, most approved Ratification
iv. Constitution was a complex doc covering a lot of ppl, so its standing was in doubt
e. Friends of Constitution- advantages
i. Better organized
ii. Famed and superior leadership (Washington and Franklin)
iii. “Federalists”
1. Implied less commitment to a national government than they actually were
2. Support of A. Hamilton, J. Madison, and J. Jay – “Publius”
a. Wrote series of essays known as the federalist papers
b. Greatest commentary on Const. & Amrcan support 2 polt’l theory
iv. Anti-federalists
1. Implied opposition stood for nothing or chaos
2. Tried to call themselves “federal republicans”, but anti-federalist stuck
3. No anti-federalist papers, but tried to make case for themselves
a. Ignored by press
4. Retorted to negative argument
a. Constitution was illegal
i. If by Confederation standards- it was
b. New Gvnt wud up taxes & dictatorship & make laws only 4 the “well born”
i. End to individual liberty
c. Constitution lacked Bill of Rights
i. Revealed their mistrust of human nature and capacity of humans to hold power
ii. No gvnt cud b trustd not 2 infringe on citizen liberties & by enumeratin the natural rights of ppl wud these rights b protectd
iii. Echoed early fears of tyranny and despotism
a. Federalists shared fears, but said Constitution would protect them from Tyranny
v. Ratification went smoothly during 1777-78
1. DELA- first to ratify the Constitution unanimously
a. NJ and GA did the same
b. PA and MASS, the anti-federalists put up a fight, but lost over all
c. NH- 9th state to ratify (1788)
i. No possible for constitution to go into affect
f. New Government could not succeed without participation from NY and VA
i. Conventions remained closely divided
ii. End of June, both ratified the constitution by narrow margins
iii. NY Convention yielded to expediency
1. State’s commercial incentives would suffer if all other states accepted the Constitution and left it out
iv. MASS, VA, and NY ratified the Constitution w/ the assumption that a bill of rights wud b +d
v. NC waited to see what became of assumptions
vi. RI did not call a convention
IX. Completing the Structure
a. First elections held in early 1789 and it showed that constitution would be in its friends’ hands
i. Newly elected congressmen favored ratification
ii. Most elected to PHILA convention as delegates
b. No doubt as to who would be the first president
i. George Washington received all votes of electors
ii. John Adams received next highest number of votes and became Vice President
iii. Congressmen were slow 2 reach NY (the capital), so it wasn’t until April that an official count was made and messenger sent to notify Washington of his election
iv. Washington Inaugurated on April 30
c. Responsibilities of First president and Congress
i. Rules for 2 houses of congress to conduct business
ii. Code of etiquette by which to govern
iii. Title of Chief executive
iv. True meaning of vague phrases is Constitution
v. Setting precedents that gave lasting direction to new government
d. First Congress much like Continental Congress, acting to fill gaps in the Constitution
i. Drafting a bill of rights, necessary to satisfy Constitution opponents
1. Dozens of amendments were proposed, and Madison reduced them and sent them to states for ratification
a. Approval of 12 amendments on 9/25/1789
b. 10 ratified by the states at the end of 1791
c. Bill of Rights
i. 9/10 placed limitations on congress
ii. 10th Gave states rights 2 all pwrs not specifically w/held
ii. Federal court system
1. Congress had to decide the number of justices to appoint and the kind of lower courts to be organized
2. Judiciary Act of 1789- 6 Mmbr Supreme Court (Chief Justice & 5 associates), 13 district courts with one judge apiece and 3 for circuit courts of appeal
a. One district judge sits with 2 Supreme Court Justices
b. Supreme Court given pwr 2 rule on cases involving constitutionality of state laws
i. Maintain Constitution as ‘supreme law of the land’
iii. Executive Departments
1. Referred to indirectly, not mentioned how many or what
a. 3 1st departments, state (Thms Jeff), treasury (Alexdr Hamilton), & war (Gen. Henry Knox), [attorney general- Edmond Randolph]
2. From time 2 time, Washngtn calld them each as individls, but not a cabinet
a. Senate (21 mmbrs) was da original advisory council, assumd Wash.
b. Changed his mind after he took a treaty draft for their advice
i. They order’d dat he let them check it & alter it as they plz
ii. Never again sent 2 Senate until talks have been complete
iii. Precedent for Successors
X. Federalists and Republicans
a. Disagreements still about nature of New Government
i. 1st 12 yrs. Under Constitution, politics was characterized by acrimony
ii. Framers of Constitution did not solve disagreements, but vaguely compromised them
1. Plagued the new government
iii. Same Difference in Philosophy
1. 1 side- strong national government
a. Genuine nation state, centralized authority, complex commercialism, proud world standing
2. Other Side- minority gaining strength- modest central government
a. Stronger than Confederation, but Weaker than English counterpart
b. Not aspire to be highly commercial or urban, but rural and agrarian
c. Centralize- “Federalists”- Hamilton
d. Non-centralize- “Republicans”- Madison and Jefferson
XI. Hamilton and the federalists
a. Control of government from beginning lay in the hands of the Federalists (12 Yrs.)
i. George Washington
1. Dreamed of strong central government- did little to alter with that dreams
2. Passive role in Federalist program
a. President not directly involved in political controversies
b. Avoided personal involvement in debate and few efforts to mediate
ii. Dominant figure in administration- Alexander Hamilton
1. Exerted more influence in office and out
2. Most aristocratic in personal tastes and philosophy of politics
a. Irony- humble childhood
3. Believed that stable government required elite ruling class
4. Authority in hands of ‘enlightened few’
5. Adapt British system of king and aristocracy to USA
6. Government strengthened by support of wealthy
a. Public debt fund’d by callin in certificates of indebtedness & replacin them w/ interest-bearing uniform bonds, payable @ certain dates
b. Debt of states to be assumed by the Central Government
c. DID NOT envision paying odd and eliminating the debt
d. Permanent national debt- new bonds issued, old ones paid off
e. Creditors have permanent stake in seeing government survive.
7. National Bank
a. Loans and currency to businesses
b. Give government safe place for deposit of funds
c. Collection of taxes and distribution of government expenses
d. Keep up the price of bonds
e. Chartered by Federal Gvnt with a monopoly of banking business
f. Controlled by directors 1/5 appointed by Government
8. Funding and assumption of debts, With interest= much $$$
9. Adequate sources of revenue
a. Taxes
i. Excise to be paid by distillers of alcohol
1. PENN, NA, NC
2. Small frmrs who cnvrt’d corn&rye crops n2 whisky
ii. Tariff on imports
1. Raise Revenue
2. Inspire Amrcn inspire by raisin foreign prices
3. 1789- Tariff law passd, but level of duties was low
4. 1791 “report on Manufactures”
a. Stimulate the growth and industry of USA and glowingly described the advantages
b. Factories make nation more self sufficient in wartime
c. Home market for produce of farms
d. Fuller utilization of all kinds of labor including women and children that could be spared from farm work
b. Federalists offered vision on what America could become
i. Wealthy, enlightened ruling class
ii. Vigorous, independent commercial economy with thriving industry
iii. Prominent role in world economic affairs
XII. Enacting the Federalist Program
a. Hamilton’s program faced opposition, and from 1789 to 1792- there were bitter debates
b. End, he won passage of almost all measures
c. Few Congressmen objected to Hamilton’s plan for funding
i. Opposed to fund debt at par (exchange new for old bonds at dollar-to–dollar basis)
ii. Many original holders sold their bonds to speculators at a fraction of the cost
iii. Disagreement on who the money should be paid to
1. James Madison devised a plan where new bonds would be split between old bondholders and the speculators
2. Hamilton suggested that the plan was impractical and Congress passed Hamilton’s form of the bill
d. Hamilton’s proposal that federal government should assume the states’ debts
i. Opposition- people of one state would have to pay taxes for another state’s debt
ii. MASS owed far more money than VA
1. VA representatives opposed the bill
2. Hamilton struck bargain for Virginians and got bill passed
a. Location of National capitol near Virginia in the South
i. Banks of Potomac River on land selected by Washington
b. Jefferson and Hamilton agreed to place capitol in the South in exchange for Virginia’s votes for assumption bill
c. Easy settlement of issue of assumption
e. Bank bill sparked the first great debates
i. Hamilton- National bank compatible with the Constitution
ii. Opposed by Madison, Jefferson, and Randolph
iii. Both House and Senate agreed with Hamilton’s bill
1. Washington first displayed uncertainty about bill, eventually signed it
2. Bank of the United States
a. Charter gave it right to continue for 20 years
3. Excise Tax
4. Tariff Act of 1792- effective, but not as high as Hamilton hoped
f. Hamilton’s bills won support of many influential areas of the population
i. Public credit restored
ii. Bonds of USA selling at or above prices at home and abroad
iii. Manufacturers and Speculators had many profits
iv. Merchants in seaports benefited from new banking system
g. Opposition
i. Small Farmers
1. Bore brunt of excise tax and tariff
2. Federalists only served wealthy elites
3. Organized political opposition arose
XIII. The Republican Opposition
a. Constitution made no reference to political parties
i. Most farmers, and G. Washington, thought that they were evil and should be avoided
1. Most mn wud disagree, but they shudn’t lead 2 formation of prmnnt factions
b. Not many years after Constitution did Madison and followers become convinced that Hamilton and allies had become an interested majority
i. Federalists enacted a program that many leaders opposed and that brought out the worst features in the party
1. Control over appointments to reward supporters and win allies
2. Encouraged the formation of local aristocratic associations
3. Many of same things that corrupt British did
c. No alternative but to form a vigorous opposition
i. “Republican Party”
ii. Late 1790s, Republicans at greater lengths to create partisan influence
1. In every state, formed, committees, societies, and causes
2. Corresponding across state lines
3. Banding together to win elections
4. Justification- they represented the true interests of the nation and fighting to defend the people against corrupt federalist
d. Both parties believed that they represented best interests
i. Neither side admitted to acting as a party or concede the right of the other to exist
e. Major Republican figures- Thomas Jefferson and James Madison
i. Jefferson- Magnetic personality and prominent spokesman
1. Farmers were God’s chosen people and ideal republic consisted of sturdy citizens, each farming own land
2. Aristocrat at birth, but thought farmers could be trusted to govern themselves through republican election
3. Urban people- danger
a. Opposed mnfcturers because they would lead to property less wrkrs
b. Planned a decentralizd society dominated by small, agrarian, property owners
c. Small amount of industrial activity
4. Farmers market crops through national and international trade
5. Differed with Hamilton so much on bank, that he resigned from ‘cabinet’
a. Washington persuaded him to remain as secretary of State
b. Two secretaries serving same president worked against each other
i. Each organized Congress following
f. Debate between Fed. And Rep. Was likes the debate between Fed. And Afed.
i. Rep. Attracted support from favorable people to the Constitution (Madison)
ii. Republcns didnt denounce Const, but stated 2 b its friends (Fedralists were violatin it)
iii. Regional and economic differences
1. Fedralists strong in Commercial centers of northeast and Southern Seaports
a. Watched in horror as French revolution grew radical in 1790s
2. Rep. Numerous in South and West (Rural)
a. Applauded French Revolution (democratic, anti-aristocratic)
b. Imitation of French Radicals
g. 1792 election, Jefferson and Hamilton encouraged Washington to run for a 2nd term
i. Political figure above partisan battle
ii. Reality, more in sympathy with federalists than republicans
XIV. Asserting National Sovereignty/ Securing the Frontier
a. Fedrlists consolidatd position by helpin 2 stabilize the Frontier & improvd America’s position in world affairs
b. Despite NW Ordinance, Congress had been unable to tie western lands firmly to the Gvnt
i. Farmers in W. MASS had revolted
ii. VT, KY, and TN wanted to separate from Union
iii. 1794- W. PENN Farmers raised challenge by failing to pay whiskey tax and terrorizing the tax collectors
1. Federal government did not leave Whiskey Rebellion to PENN authorities as they had left Shays rebellion to MASS authorities
2. Instead, called out militias of three states, raised army of nearly 15,000 and personally accompanied them into PENN
3. At approach of militia men to PITT (rebellion centered), the farmers ran and rebellion collapsed
c. Fed. Government won allegiance of Whiskey Rebellion participants by intimidation
i. Won loyalties of other frontiersmen by accepting new Union states
1. Vermont- 14th State- 1791
2. Kentucky- 15th State- 1792
3. Tennessee- 16th State- 1796
d. Greater challenge inherited from the Confederation in the NW and SW were the Indians who challenged republic’s control to the areas that it claimed
i. Ordinances of 1784-87 established terms of white settlement in the west and produced a series of border conflicts with the Indians
1. Continued with few interruptions for a decade
2. USA dominated, but question of control remained unanswered
ii. Constitution did not place Indians in federal structure of Government
1. Article I excluded Indians not taxed from being counted in population totals
2. Congress power to regulate Commerce with the Indian tribes
3. Article VI bound the government to accept treaties under confederation
4. No clear legal standing of Indians
a. One hand, recognized tribes as legal entities
b. Other- made sure that they were not foreign nations, such as Spain, etc. and that members were not citizens of the USA
c. No representation
d. No resolution of land issues
i. Indians lived within USA boundaries, but claimed sovereignty to their territories
ii. Link b/w tribes and USA was determined by a series of treaties, agreements, etc. (process continued for 2 centuries)
XV. Maintaining Neutrality
a. 1791- Great Britain sent minister to USA because Madison and Reps. Threatened to place trade restrictions on British ships
b. Difficulty of legitimacy in British Eyes
c. Crisis in 1793- Fr Gvnt, executing King Louis XVI went to war with Great Britain & allies
i. USA uncertain how to respond
ii. Washington issued proclamation in 1793- USA remained at peace and neutral
iii. 1794- Neutrality act prohibiting use of American soil as a base for either side
d. First challenge to American Neutrality when French- Edmond Genet arrived in America
i. Arrived at Charleston and made plans for using American ports for French war ships
1. Commissioned George Rogers Clark on an overland expedition against Spain
a. Ignoring proclamation and violating Neutrality act
b. Conduct Infuriated Wash. & the Federalists and embarrassed Reps.
c. Washington demanded that Genet be recalled
i. His party, the Girondins, were out of power, and extreme Jacobins (French Radicals) were in control
ii. Washington granted him political asylum in USA
iii. First neutrality task survived
e. 2nd Challenge- 1794 from Great Britain
i. Royal Navy seized USA ships engaged in French W. Indies trade
1. Anti- British feeling (rose higher when the Governor of Canada gave a war-like speech to Indians on the NW frontier)
a. War meant an end 2 Eng imports, main source of $ (taxes & duties)
XVI. Jay’s Treaty
a. Feds. Could not rely on State Department for a quick settlement with Britain
i. Jeff resigned in 1y93- successor, Edmond Randolph, more Pro-French than he was
ii. Fedrls swayd Wash 2 appoint current chief justice John Jay as a special official 2 Eng
1. Secure compensation for British assaults on American shipping, demand withdraw of forces from frontier posts, and to negotiate treaty for commerce that would not violate existing treaty with France (1778)
iii. Treaty in 1794
1. Ceded more to G.B and obtained less for USA than instructed, but gave USA valuable time for peaceful development
2. Undisputed American sovereignty over entire NW
3. Satisfactory commercial relationship
4. When terms were announced, Jay was denounced
a. Thought of as a surrender to Britain and an assault on France
b. Opponents of treaty tried to defeat it in the Senate
c. USA -> French minister James Monroe and Edmond Randolph cooperated closely with French to avoid ratification
d. After making amendments, the Senate consented to JAY’S TREATY
b. Treaty led to settlement with Spain
i. Spanish government eager to appease the USA
1. Thomas Pinckney arrived in Spain as a negotiator, had no problems obtaining everything that USA had asked for.
a. Right of Amrcns 2 navigate the MISS & deposit goods @ N.O.
b. Northern Boundary of Florida at 31st Parallel
c. Required Sp authorities to prevent Indians to come across border
XVII. Downfall of the Federalists
a. Federalists’ impressive feats didn’t ensure control- it creat’d problems that led 2 its downfall
i. Emergence of Republicans gave Federalists threat to national stability
ii. When faced w/ choice b/w individual liberties and stability, the Feds. Chose stability
iii. Result- political disaster
1. Never won another election
2. Gvnt survived, but Federalists slowly vanished as an effective political force
XVIII. The Election of 1796
a. People urged Washington to run again (2 elections, no votes against him (Electoral))
i. Washington chose to retire to Mount Vernon
1. Composed “Farewell address” to the American People
a. “Insidious wiles of foreign influence- not just a warning of international problems, but denouncing of Republicans who conspired with French to destroy Federalists
b. T. Jefferson and Aaron Burr were the P and VP for Republicans
c. Federalists- difficult choice
i. Hamilton not ‘available’ because his views caused too much hatred
ii. John Jay- public denouncing of Treaty
iii. Thomas Pinckney- man from SC when ppl thought that next pres. Shud b northerner
iv. Johan Adams received nomination for president, with Pinckney being VP
d. Feds. Still dominant, but without Washington, they fell to factional rivalries
i. Hamilton and other S. Feds. Did Not like J. Adams and preferred Pinckney
ii. Feds. Elected majority of electors, but some declined to Vote for Adams
1. Adams only won by 3 electoral votes
2. Jefferson became VP (2nd most votes)
a. 12th Amendment changed that
e. Adams presided over a divided party with lots of Republican opposition
i. Hamilton remained most dominant figure in the party, not Adams
1. Adams was an accomplished statesman, but was an unskilled politician
a. No ability 2 pacify disputes, 2 solicit support, or 2 provide interest
b. assumed accuracy of position & virtue wud sustain him, wrong
XIX. The Quasi War with France
a. Nation’s relations with France (Directory Government) went from Bad to Worse
i. French vessels captured American ships and sometimes imprisoned the crews
ii. When Charles Pinckney arrived in France to replace James Monroe, the government refused to recognize him
b. Some presidential advisors favored war
c. Most (Hamilton) recommended trying to reach a peaceful settlement
d. Adams chose conciliation and formed a bipartisan committee
i. Charles Pinckney
ii. John Marshall (later C.J. of the S. Court)
iii. Elbridge Gerry (republican) to negotiate with the Directory
1. Arrived in France in 1797, three agents of the Directory’s foreign minister, Prince Talleyrand, demanded French loan and bribe before beginning negotiations
2. Pinckney- NO!
e. Adams urged readiness for war and denounced French, and wouldn’t send another minister to France until they were guaranteed to be treated with Respect
i. Republicans asked for proof of insult
ii. Adams turned report over 2 congress, designating the Fr. agents only as X, Y, and Z
1. XYZ affair Reaction
a. Strong popular support for Federalist response
b. 1798-1799- undeclared war with France
f. Adams quickly persuaded Congress to cut off all trade with France, revoke treaty of 1778, and authorize USA vessels to capture French armed ships
i. 1798- Department of Nave- construction of new War Ships
ii. Nave won many duels with France
g. USA abandoned neutrality in War against Britain and France, and sided with British
i. Adams denied British offer to lend ships for navy (USA building one up)
ii. Br did provide shot & shell, officers help with training, & signalin & communicatin info
h. France began to see wisdom in alliance with USA
i. Adams sent new three man commission to Paris in 1800 and formed a treaty canceling the Treaty of 1778 and established new commercial agreements
1. Federalists in Senate said that treaty failed to compensate 4 Am losses @ c
2. Delayed ratification until Adams left office
3. “Quasi War” came to peaceful end
XX. Repression and Protest
a. 1798 hostilities caused Federalists to increase their majorities in Congress
i. Authority went to their heads, and they looked for new ways to Silence Republicans
ii. Protection from foreign and subversive influence in midst of undeclared War
iii. Resulted in Alien and Sedition Acts
b. Alien Act
i. People that were foreign by birth
ii. Obstacles for those wishing to become citizens
iii. Increased president’s authority in dealing with aliens
c. Sedition Act
i. Prosecute those in Sedition against the Government
ii. Libel or Treason
iii. Stifling of any opposition
iv. Most of those accused were Republican newspaper ed.s who criticize Fedrsts in Gvnt
d. Republicans reacted in anger and dismay and this was the spark that ignited political passions
i. John Adams signed the laws, but was cautious in implementing them
ii. Not act to deport Aliens
iii. Prevented Government from launching crusade against aliens
iv. Significant repressive affect
1. Alien & Naturalization Acts ended immigraton & some had 2 exit da country
e. Republicans faced questions as deciding how to oppose laws (which branch of gov’t should decide Constitutionality)
i. Supreme Court never invalidated any acts of Congress
ii. Reps. (Jefferson and Madison) suggested states should decide
iii. 2 Revolutions in 1798 and 1799
iv. Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
1. Federal government formed by a compact among the states
2. Limited Government with delegated powers
3. When exercising un-delegated powers, its actions were void
4. States must decide for themselves
5. State nullification was the rightful remedy
f. Reps. Failed to win support (only VA and KY)
i. Succeeded in elevating dispute with Federalists to national crisis
1. Every community, state, etc. plagued by partisanship
2. H. Of R., Matthew Lyon, (R-Vermont), responded to an insult from Roger Griswold (F-MASS) by spitting in his eye
a. Fight back and forth- soon, wrestling on the floor
3. Embarrassing to both Congress and Public
4. 1800- seemed Nation was dissolving into chaos
XXI. The Revolution of 1800
a. Same candidates for 1800 election as 1796
b. Campaign ugliest in history
i. Adams and Jefferson displayed reasonable dignity
ii. Supporters showed no restraint
1. Jefferson’s romantic involvement with black slave
iii. Each side argued that opponents threatened existence of the Republic
1. F- accused Jefferson of being radical and bringing a reign of terror compared to the worst parts of the French Revolution
2. R- accused Adams of tyrant conspiring to become king and subverting human liberty and imposing slavery
c. Election was close (crucial contest in NY)
i. Aaron Burr got the Tammany Society to serve as the Republican political machine
1. Republicans carried the city and State
2. Jefferson was elected (apparently)
d. Complication jeopardized republican victory
i. Constitution called for each elector to vote for 2 people (P and VP)
ii. Votes counted, and Jefferson and Burr each had 73
iii. Run-off with each delegation casting a single vote
iv. Federalists majority, & had privilege of decidin which opponent wud b next president
1. Some hoped to salvage election for Feds.
2. Others wanted to strike deal with Burr and elect him
3. Feb 1801, no majority was reached
4. Week b4 induction, Feds decided Burr was 2 unreliable 2 trust w/ Presidency
5. Jefferson elected on 36th Ballot
e. Election 1800- Repblicans captured presidency & majority of seats in both houses of Congress
i. Only branch to Feds- Judiciary, and Adams took steps to secure hold on courts
ii. Judiciary Act of 1801, reduced justices by one but increased judgeships
1. Circuit courts of appeal, standing between federal district court and S. Court
2. 10 new district judgeships
3. Adams quickly appointed Feds. To new positions (appointment for life)
f. Despite F Efforts, R viewed their victory as nearly complete
i. Nation had been saved from tyranny
ii. New era where true principles would govern the land
iii. Exuberance toward future
iv. “Revolution of 1800”
v. Remained to be seen how revolutionary it would be