Land of the Free

1783-1800
The Constitution of the United
States (1789)
The Federalist Era (1790-1800)

Independence brought
many changes to America:
It provided new land
opportunities, especially in the
lands west of the Appalachians.
It led to greater social equality,
blurring the distinctions
between the social classes.
It drastically changed
government in the colonies.

Bi-cameral - means two-house

Ratify means approve

Articles of Confederation
Established a confederacy in which
the central government is subject to
the state governments
The central government consisted of
a Congress in which each state had
one vote, regardless of size
Congress had certain limited powers
to deal with foreign and domestic
affairs

Weaknesses in the Articles

of Confederation:
1. 9 States had to approve a measure
before it could be passed by
Congress and all 13 states had to
approve a bill to amend the
Articles.
2. There was no executive or judicial
branch of government.
3. Congress lacked the power to tax.

Shays Rebellion

Led by Daniel Shays. Farmers took up arms

to defend their farms when faced with
mortgage payments they could not pay.

Northwest Ordinance
Provided for the establishment
of new states north and west of
the Ohio River
Guaranteed freedom of religion,
trial by jury, public education,
and it prohibited slavery

Constitutional Convention
May, 1787. Delegates from the
States assembled to address the
weaknesses of the Articles of
Confederation.

Amendments
Additions to the Articles of
Confederation

James Madison
Most important member at the
Constitutional Convention. His
ideas on law, order, and
Christian responsibility greatly
influenced the Constitution.

George Washington
Was unanimously elected to
preside as president over the
Constitutional Convention.

Benjamin Franklin
He suggested that they begin
each morning of the convention
with prayer, asking for Gods
guidance & wisdom.
From that day forward, the
convention proceeded smoothly.

Virginia Plan

Larger states proposed this plan

calling for representation
according to state population.

New Jersey Plan

The smaller states proposed this

plan calling for equal
representation in Congress for
each state.

Connecticut Compromise
Called for a bicameral (two-house)
legislature
Senate: Each state would have two
senators.
House of Representatives: The
number of representatives would be
based on population
Known as the Great Compromise

Three-fifths Compromise
The Southern states wanted to
count slaves for representation
but did not want to count them
for taxation. Conclusion:
They counted three of every five
slaves for representation and
taxation

The Commerce & Slave

Trade Compromise
Congress was granted power to
regulate commerce w/ certain
limitations:
It could not levy export tariffs
It could not regulate the slave
trade, at least until 1808

Amendments to the
Constitution
The constitution could only be
changed by a 2/3 majority vote
in both houses of Congress
of the states had to approve
the change

Federalists
Those who approved the new
Constitution
They wanted a federal system
of government in which the
power is divided between the
states and the national
government

Anti-Federalists
Those who opposed the Constitution
Warned that the new Constitution
did not guarantee basic liberties,
such as freedom of religion
Feared that a federal system would
allow the national government to
take power away from the states

Federalist Papers
A series of articles supporting
the Constitution.
Carefully explained each
section of the Constitution,
anticipating questions that
concerned citizens might have.

May 29, 1790

All 13 states had ratified the
Constitution of the United
States

Bill of Rights
Adopted in 1791
First 10 amendments to the
Constitution
Listed the peoples individual
rights and freedoms

First Amendment
A guarantee of religious liberty

Church & State

There should be no established church
which required people to pay taxes for
its support.
The United States was the first
country in the world in which people
could preach and practice their faith
without some form of government
control.

Federal Republic
A government controlled by its
citizens through elected
representatives

Balancing Power
Individual states and local
governments would keep most
of their power
A central government would
maintain law and order, assure
free trade and sound money, and
protect the nation in time of
war.

Three Branches
Check & Balance
Separate but equal powers

Legislative make the laws

Executive enforce the laws
Judicial interpret the laws
according to the Constitution

Pages 106-113

George Washington
First President

John Adams
First Vice President

New York City

First Capital of our nation

Inauguration
Formal ceremony in which a
president is officially placed in
office

Cabinet
The Presidents
advisers

Washingtons Cabinet consisted of:

Alexander Hamilton
Thomas Jefferson
Henry Knox
Edmund Randolph
Samuel Osgood

Alexander Hamilton
Secretary of the Treasury in George
Washingtons cabinet

Thomas Jefferson

Secretary of State in George Washingtons

cabinet. (represented the US in foreign
affairs)

Henry Knox
Secretary of War in George
Washingtons cabinet

Edmund Randolph
Attorney General in George
Washingtons cabinet

Samuel Osgood
Postmaster General in George
Washingtons cabinet

Judiciary Act of 1789

Set up a federal court system as
outlined in the Constitution

Patent Rights
Established to promote
inventions and to protect
private property

Protective Tariffs
Tariff placed on imported
products with the purpose of
keeping foreign goods out of the
United States and aiding in the
development of American
Manufacturing.

Excise Tax
A tax on a product produced,
sold, and consumed within the
home country.

The Whiskey Rebellion

The first federal excise tax was
placed on whiskey
The people protested
Washington met the rebellion
with a show of force
Helped build confidence in and
respect for the federal
government

Gold Standard
All bank notes (paper money)
must be backed by silver and
gold

Mint Act of 1792

Provided for the coinage of gold,
silver, and copper

Loose Constructionists
Believe that the federal
government is not limited to
those powers expressly listed in
the Constitution.
Supported Alexander Hamilton
These people were known as
Federalists

Strict Constructionists
Interpret the Constitution
exactly as it was written
Supported Jefferson
Stood for states rights and
opposed expanding the powers
of the federal government.
They became known as the
Democratic-Republicans

Elastic Clause
Gave Congress the power to do
what is necessary and proper
to perform its duties and
responsibilities.

Proclamation of
Neutrality
Issued April 22, 1793.
Declared the nation neutral
toward all warring nations in
Europe.

Jay Treaty
England agreed to abandon
forts in Americas northwestern
frontier by June 1, 1796.

Pinckney Treaty
Settled the disputed boundaries
between Spanish West Florida
and the United States.

Washington, DC
New capital
District of Columbia
President Washington never
lived there

Benjamin Banneker
Designed the nations capital

Pages 114-116

 Caucus- a political party

conference

Election of 1796
The Federalist party supported
John Adams for Presidency and
Thomas Pinckney for Vice
President.
The Democratic Republican
party supported Thomas
Jefferson for Presidency and
Aaron Burr for Vice President.

Results of the Election

of 1796
The Federalist candidate, John
Adams won the Presidency and
became the 2nd President of the
United States.
Thomas Jefferson received the 2nd
highest number of votes and became
the Vice President.
For the only time in U.S. history, the
President and Vice President were
from different political parties.

XYZ Affair
Three Americans met with three
French officials to negotiate
with the French government.
The French tried to bribe the
Americans
This outraged the American
people when they heard about
it.

Department of Navy
Created in 1798. Its purpose was
to build up American sea power

Alien and Sedition Acts

Aliens (people who were not yet
citizens) had to wait longer to
become citizens, and the
President could deport those
believed to be dangerous
Made it a crime to be involved in
any activity to overthrow the
established government.

Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions

Kentucky and Virginia legislatures
drew up resolutions against the
Alien and Sedition Acts. They
insisted that the Constitution was a
contract between the individual
states and the government and that
the states could judge for
themselves what acts violated the
contract.

The Death of George Washington

Henry Lee delivered a famous
eulogy (a testimony given at a
funeral)
The British fleet lowered its
flags in respect for the
American general who had
defeated the forces of England

Federalist Era
First 12 years of the
Constitutional republic.
Federalists held most of the
political power.

Thomas Jefferson

3rd President of the United States

John Marshall
Before leaving office, John
Adams appointed John Marshall
to Chief Justice of the Supreme
court.