"I shall only say that I hold with Montesquieu, that a government must be fitted to a nation, as much as a coat to the individual; and, consequently, that what may be good at Philadelphia may be bad at Paris, and ridiculous at Petersburg [Russia]." - Alexander Hamilton, 1799
A New Ship on an Uncertain Sea:
Population doubled every 25 years in late 1700's.
90% population was rural, 10% in cities. 5% lived outside of Appalachian Mountains. 4 million people total.
12 years brought the overthrow of British power and the replacing of the Articles of Confederation. Not a good start so far.
Americans didn't want a central power, for they considered it evil.
Territory around the mouth of the Mississippi was dangerous because it was Spanish territory. Americans in this area were very loyal.
Revenue was next to nothing and public debt was huge. Worthless paper money was everywhere.
The Americans were trying to set up a Republic on a vast territory. This was something traditionally held to be impossible, and European monarchs feared that it might succeed.
Washington's Profederalist Regime:
Washington was the only president to be unanimously voted into office by the Electoral College (1789).
His political abilities weren't as keen as his character, but his character was strong enough to command his followers.
Washington established the cabinet (which the constitution did not mention) to help him administrate, which replaced asking the heads of the administrative branches for their opinions.
Secretary of State: Thomas Jefferson
Secretary of the Treasury: Alexander Hamilton
Secretary of War: Henry Knox
The Bill of Rights:
Many states ratified the Constitution with the understanding that an amendment would be made giving people their rights.
James Madison decided to write the amendments himself to avoid calling another constitutional convention. He soon became the lead figure when he guided the amendments through congress.
The ten amendments included freedom of religion, speech, and press; the right to bear arms and for trial by jury; the right to assemble and petition the government for redress and grievances; and protection from cruel and unusual punishment and arbitrary seizing of private property.
The ninth amendment states that, simply because certain rights are in ink doesn't mean that other rights do not exist. Certain rights are retained by the people.
The tenth amendment states that powers not assigned to or prohibited by the constitution are the states' or peoples' right to enforce (i.e. education).
Judiciary Act of 1789 - Congress created the Supreme Court, with one chief justice and five associates.
Hamilton Revives the Corpse of Public Credit:
People doubted Hamilton's loyalty to the republic.
He acted as prime minister in the cabinet, and he got into other departments. This pissed Thomas Jefferson off.
Madison wanted a system that favored the rich, so that they would gladly support the government.
He told Congress to pay off the national debt, including interest, and assume the debts of the states. This would create support from the people.
National debt was $54 million, and state debt was $21.5 million.
Some states were heavy with debt, so they liked Hamilton's proposal, but others weren't, so they weren't too receptive to the idea.
Virginia had a small debt, so Congress decided to place the District of Columbia on the Potomac, something which benefitted Virginia economically, so Virginia would vote for assumption (of debts by the government).
Assumption was carried out in 1790.
Customs Duties and Excise Taxes:
(LEFT OFF P.193)
Chronology:
1789 - Constitution formally put into effect
Judiciary act of 1789
Washington elected president
French Revolution begins
1790 - First official census
1791 - Bill of Rights adopted
Vermont becomes fourteenth state
Bank of the United States created
Excise tax passed
1792 - Washington reelected president
1792 - 1793 - Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties formed
1793 - Louis XVI beheaded; radical phase of French Revolution
France declares war on Britain and Spain
Washington's Neutrality Proclamation
Citizen Gênet affair
1794 - Whiskey Rebellion
Battle of Fallen Timbers
Jay's Treaty with Britain
1795 - Treaty of Greenville: Indians cede Ohio
Pinckney's Treaty with Spain
1796 - Washington's Farewell Address
1797 - Adams becomes president
XYZ affair
1798 - Alien and Sedition Acts
1798 - 1799 - Kentucky and Virginia resolutions
1798 - 1800 - Undeclared war with France
1800 - Convention of 1800: peace with France