The Federalist Era 1790 1800

1
The Federalist Era1790 - 1800
2
Washingtons Presidency (1789 -1797)

• International Events
• War broke out between England and France in 1793.
• The United States and France had signed a treaty
  of alliance in 1778.
• Would the United States honor that treaty?
• Washington declares neutrality.

3
Washingtons Presidency (1789 -1797)

• Citizen Genet Affair
• Citizen Genet, the French ambassador to the U.S.,
  encourages U.S. merchant ships to mount guns,
  become privateers, and attack British merchant
  vessels.
• Washington orders Genet to stop and Genet ignores
  Washington.
• Washington orders Genet out of the country, but
  he is allowed to stay after he agrees to stop his
  activities.

4
Washingtons Presidency (1789 -1797)

• Impressment
• The British were attacking and seizing U.S.
  merchant ships and forcing (pressing) American
  citizens to join the Royal Navy.

5
Washingtons Presidency (1789 -1797)

• Jays Treaty with England
• In 1794 Washington sends John Jay to England to
  make a treaty with the British in order to avoid
  a war.
• The British agree to
• remove soldiers from western forts.
• let some American merchant ships trade with
  British colonies in the Caribbean.
• pay for damage done to some American merchant
  ships.

6
Washingtons Presidency (1789 -1797)

• Pinckneys Treaty with Spain
• Spain was alarmed by Jays Treaty fearing that
  The U.S. and Britain were conspiring to seize
  Spains possessions in North America.
• Spain agreed to
• allow Americans use of the Mississippi.
• recognize American land claims along the
  Louisiana border.
• grant Americans the right of deposit in New
  Orleans.

7
Washingtons Presidency (1789 -1797)

• Domestic Events
• Whiskey Rebellion (Summer 1794)
• Farmers in western Pennsylvania were upset over a
  seven cents a gallon tax on whiskey.
• The excise tax was Hamiltons idea.
• Farmers on the Pennsylvania frontier rioted.
• Washington led 12,000 militia from Pennsylvania,
  Maryland, and Virginia to put down the uprising.

8
Washingtons Farewell Address

• On Unity (Domestic Affairs)
• The most commanding motive is to preserve the
  "union of the whole.
• The North, South, East, and West all depend on
  each other.
• Unity leads to greater strength, resources, and
  security.

9
Washingtons Farewell Address

• On Political Parties
• Political Parties.
• creates "animosity of one part against another."
• can lead to "riot and insurrection."
• opens "door to foreign influence and corruption."

10
Washingtons Farewell Address

• On Foreign Relations
• We should exercise "good faith and justice
  towards all nations.
• "Passionate attachments" will lead us into
  "quarrels and wars."
• We should not get involved in Europe's affairs.
• "Steer clear of permanent alliances with any
  portion of the foreign world."

11
Adams as President (1797 -1801)

• International Events
• The XYZ Affair (1798)
• France was angered by Jays Treaty and began
  raiding American shipping. Adams sends diplomats
  to France.
• Talleyrand, the French Foreign Minister, would
  not speak to the Americans until he received a
  bribe.
• Talleyrand also wants the U.S. to loan France a
  large sum of money.

12
Adams as President (1797 -1801)

• The XYZ Affair (1798)
• Adams recalls our diplomats and suspends our
  treaty of alliance with France.
• This results in an undeclared naval war with
  France.

13
Adams as President (1797 -1801)

• Domestic Events
• Americans were outraged by the XYZ Affair.
• The Federalist Congress passed the Alien and
  Sedition Acts (1798).
• Foreigners are required to live in the U.S. for
  14 years before they can become a citizen.
• The president could expel from the U.S. any
  foreigner suspected of threatening the safety and
  security of the U.S.
• Americans could be arrested for making critical
  statements about the government.
• Many Republicans were arrested under this law.