Lecture Notes - the Founding Fathers and early US history.

by hgrewal96 (student)

International Baccalaureate History

12-11-13 2:17 PM

November 13, 2012
The development of Political Parties in the United States
Forging the new republic

George Washington (1788-1796)

Hero of American revolution
Unanimously elected by electoral college in 1788 as 1st president of US
Sworn in on april 30 1789 on wall street
2 main problems

creating new government
finding unity and trust with the American ppl

Thomas Jefferson
John adams
James madison
Problems with the new nation

Financial situation
Federal government/articles of confederations
Law breaking citizens/rebellions
Paper money is worthless → nothing to back it up

Government

Washington forms his cabinet
Judiciary act of 1789 established the supreme court
Congress creates bank of United States

Coonflicts

Native americans fight against white settlemet in Northwest Territory
US and GB fight war of 1812

Exoansion

Louisana purchase roughly doubles size of US
Lewis and Cark explore the west

Organizing the government

Feb 1789 – washingon elected predsidentl john adams became vp
Congress created 1st executive department: sate, treasury and war. Department leaders became known as president’s cabinet
Secretary of state: Thomas Jeffereson
Secretayr of TreasuryL Alexander Hamiliton
Secretary of War: Henry Knox
The first congress

Only 10 states had joined government presided over by VP adams
Sent propsed amendments to states (bill of rights)
Judiciary Acr of 1789 organized judicial branch, 6-person supreme court with one chief justice and 5 associates
John Jay – first chief justice

Development of Political parties during early national period

Founding fathers initially opposed political parties, might lead to factions
However parties necessary so that citizens who disagree with each other can check or gain decision-making power eithout resorting to violence
Political parties in US developed around issue of which institution should have more power- fed gov or individual states and economic problems facing the new nation

Alexander Hamliton

GW’s secretary of treasury
Goald were to obtain an income for the fed govt that would free it from dependence on the states and establish a sound financial footing for the new nation
Believed citizens should think of the fed govt instead of states, as center of financial power and stability
Goals:

Congress funded national debt by paying it off at its full value – individual americans
Nationa govt took over state war debts- tying states and citizens to national govt
Congress authorized a national bank in an ...

This is a preview of the whole essay

Alexander Hamliton

GW’s secretary of treasury
Goald were to obtain an income for the fed govt that would free it from dependence on the states and establish a sound financial footing for the new nation
Believed citizens should think of the fed govt instead of states, as center of financial power and stability
Goals:

Congress funded national debt by paying it off at its full value – individual americans
Nationa govt took over state war debts- tying states and citizens to national govt
Congress authorized a national bank in an attempt to atbilize new nation;’s currency
Congress enacted a high tariff barrier to protect infant American industry and to encourage development of american manufacturing
OPpposition

Financial program laid a solif basis for stability of new govt and for future economy < Jefferson and Madison opposed it)
Envisioned nation of small farmers with signifigant individual liberty
In adopting Hamilton’s program, v-ngress defined role of fed govt broadly and seemed to favor business interest over farming interests

Democrat-Republican Party

Political oppponenst of Hamilton formally organized themselves1791

November 19 2012
Election of 1800

contest marked first time power passed from one American political party to another
Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson against Federalist John Adams
The campaign was vicious.
Supporters of each side made their arguments in letters and newspaper editorials, which often made wild accusations and spread scandalous stories

Federalists claimed that

Jefferson was dangerously pro-French
Jefferson wanted to destroy organized religion because of his interest in science and philosophy

Democratic-Republicans claimed that

Adams wanted to crown himself king.
The Federalists would try to limit Americans’ rights (using the Alien and Sedition Acts as proof of their claims)

Aaron Burr

Problems

The election ended in a tie between Jefferson and Burr.
Political parties did not specify who was the party’s preferred candidate for president.
The House of Representatives was deadlocked for 35 votes.
Hamilton urged Federalists to vote for Jefferson. On the 36th vote, Jefferson was chosen president.

These problems with the voting system led to the passage of the Twelfth Amendment (1804), which said that electors must cast separate ballots for president and vice president.
Burr held a grudge against Hamilton for supporting Jefferson and for preventing him from winning the governor’s race in New York in later years. In 1804, Burr killed Hamilton in a duel

Jefferson Makes Changes
Succeeded in reducing government

Only customs duties and the sale of lands produced revenue for the government.
Reduced the size of the executive department staff

Succeeded in reducing size of military

Reduced the size of the army and navy
However, built up navy to help merchant ships when attacked by pirates

The Louisiana Purchase
November 22 2012
WAR DEBATE
DOMESTIC POLICY
We are independent already, they no longer control us
We are and have the right to be in control of our own trade
They are interrupting our trade, and once again taking over our country
Economy

Disrupting our trade
Wrecking our economy
No right to do so

Land from Canada

To expand our territory
Benefit from expansion as our boundaries will increase

Get our rights back

British will control us againa even though we independent

FIGHT

Take back what is rightfully ours, we fought and won to gain control of this nation, they should not be able to take it back
We must ward them off
We did it once, we can do it again—we have the power
American revolution worked and proved to be very beneficial to our nation, we can do it
This is the only act they respond to, evident by the American revolution, we are capable of overthrowing them

November 23 2012
1812 VIDEO
November 19 2012
Louisiana Purchase

1800- France signed treaty to reacquire Louisiana from spain → Louisiana costly to administer, paid few taxes, vulnerable to US desires fr western expansion
US alarmed by this move → Jefferson worried about americans being cut off access to gulf of Mexico through new Orleans (Pickney’s Treaty 1795)
Jefferson sent James Monroe to france to offer up to $10 million for new Orleans and florida, if this attempt failed, Monroe ordered to proceed to England to discuss british-american alliance
Napoleon told him he was willing to sell of of Louisiana for $15 million

Why did the French sell Louisiana territory to Americans

Napoleon needs money
Slave rebellion in Haiti proved too costly
War about to resume in Europe, and Louisiana vulnerable to British sea power → French decide it was better for weak USA to gain Louisiana than the British
Sale of Louisiana to USA would decrease probability of American-British alliance

Significance of Louisiana purchase

Averted possible war with france, and entanglement with Britain
Doubled size of US and greatly encourage western settlement
Removed strong and potentially hostile country from america’s western border
Established a precedent for future acquisition of territory
Opposition of federalist party to Louisiana purchase and addition of western farm land hurt the party
Stimulated American nationalism

Lewis and Clark Expeditions

Jefferson sent corps of discovery (referred to as Lewis and Clark Expeditions) to explore territory of Louisiana purchase
Led by Meriweather Lewis (Jefferson’s secretary) and William Clark
Task to find out if there was a NW water route to the pacific
Expedition strengthened American claims to the Oregon territory and illustrates American desire for access to and control of pacific coast of NA

6 THEMES OF FOREIGN POLICY
Social justice

Loans and aid to developing countries
Develop international laws

E.g. Canada – Haiti (humanitarianism) (earthquake)

Peace and Security

Peaceful international relations
Defense arrangements
Arms control
Peacekeeping
Friendly relationships

E,g Canada – involvement in Afghanistan (NATO)

Economic Growth

Trade
Immigration
Resource management
Transportation
Communication
International trade agreements

E.g. Canada – NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)

Safe Environment

Preserve and protect environment
Manage natural resources

E.g Canada – Kyoto Protocol

Quality of Life

Cultural
Technological
Scientific exchanges
Betterment of people

E.g. Canada – would benefit if for example Russia comes up with cure to cancer

Sovereignty

Controlling own affairs without interference from foreign powers; independence

WAR OF 1812 – MOVIE
Canada remembers because that’s when they got independence

However 1st nations WERENT happy b/c they lost independence

Inspired to start b/c of british vs. napoleon’s france

British cut off French-american trade

Pissed off America even tho they wanted to stay neutral=more $

Tcaseum

Shaunee leader
‘george washington’ - same ideas
wanted to unite all ‘indians’ to stand up against americans all together

June 1812

declaration of war – against british

impressing sailors
stirring trouble with natives – aiding
disrupting trade

Lecture Notes - the Founding Fathers and early US history.

Document Details

Author

hgrewal96
Author Type

Student
Word Count

1473
Page Count

6
Level
International Baccalaureate
Subject

History
Type of work

Homework assignment

Lecture Notes - the Founding Fathers and early US history.

This is a preview of the whole essay

Document Details

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