Launching the New Republic

Chapter 7 part II

What issues faced U.S. from 1793 – 1800?

• Foreign Affairs– Naval problems w/ Britain and France– Native Americans

• Political parties & divisive politics– Federalists vs. Republicans– Elections of 1796 and 1800

• Constitutional problems• Social changes for women & non-whites

Foreign Affairs• Problems w/ Britain

– Impressment – to discourage US from helping France– British aid to Indians in Ohio Valley region

• Solutions– Jay’s Treaty

• Withdraw British troops from US soil• US gains trade access to markets in British West

Indies• US gives up trade access to French colonies

during war

Foreign Affairs

• Jay’s Treaty – effects on US– Economic

• Stimulated US trade – w/ Britain and colonies in West Indies and India

– Political • Avoided war w/ Britain• Increased divisions between Federalists and

Republicans

Foreign Affairs• Problems w/ Native Americans

– Shawnees & allies challenging U.S. hegemony over Ohio Valley region

• Solutions– Attempted treaty w/ Shawnee Indians & allies -- rejected by

Shawnees– Military action – Shawnees defeated at Fallen Timbers by Gen.

Mad Anthony Wayne– Treaty of Greenville – opened Ohio & Indiana to white settlement

Foreign affairs

• Problems w/ Spain– Spain aiding Indian resistance on frontiers

• Solution?– Pinckney’s Treaty

• Unrestricted, tax-free access to trade via Mississippi River

• Spain takes down all forts in America• Spain recognizes 31st parallel as US southern

boundary• Spain will discourage Indian attacks

Foreign Affairs• Problems w/ France

– France angry over Jay’s Treaty– Seizure of US ships– XYZ Affair– Quasi-War – naval war in Caribbean– France encouraging rebellious thought in US

• Solutions?– Army increased– US gets naval aid from Britain – protects trade– Wins Quasi-War– Alien & Sedition Acts

Constitutional Crisis

• Alien & Sedition Acts – terms?– 1. est. procedures for dealing

w/ possible foreign spies or saboteurs

– 2. Pres. can deport “dangerous” foreigners w/ no proof of guilt

– 3. residency req. for voting raised from 5 to 14 yrs

– 4. Sedition Act – illegal to speak/write/print ideas critical of Pres. or gov’t

Alien & Sedition Acts

• Purpose?– Proposed, passed by Federalists (J. Adams Pres.,

Feds. Controlled Congress)– Discourage pro-French thought in US– Residency measure aimed to reduce Irish immigrant

vote (usually voted for Republicans)– Stop Republicans from criticizing Federalists (law set

to expire in 1801 in case Republicans won in 1800)

Alien & Sedition Acts• Response?

– Militias in VA and KY sign petitions against acts– Jefferson and Madison draft Resolutions against Acts– Jefferson writes Kentucky Resolution, Madison writes

Virginia Resolution• Arguments of VA and KY Resolutions?

– States have rights to determine if federal laws are unconstitutional

– Jefferson introduces nullification – right of a state to “nullify” any federal law deemed unconstitutional

Party Politics• How did Party politics affects Adams admin. (1796-

1800)?– VP (Jefferson) from different Party

• What did parties disagree over?– Basic human nature– Who should govern– Interpretation of

constitution– Ideal economy– Centralized gov’t

Press and Politics

• Role of Press?– Newspapers partisan – owned by party

supporters– Mudslinging:

• Federalists accused of being Pro-British, elitist, wanting a hereditary aristocracy

• Republicans accused of being pro-French, radical, “mob” mentality, rabble rousing, atheist

Social Changes • Changes for Women?

– Fewer arranged marriages (free choice)– Women had fewer children

• Avg # of kids in NE down from 9 to 6– Sexual double standard scrutinized (but not

eliminated)– Divorce rates up– Subordinate status questioned (but not

remedied)– Educational opportunities expanded

Social Changes• Changes for African-Americans?

– Progress stalled, gains erased– Free blacks stripped of vote in some places– Enlistment in military banned– Fed. Gov’t restricted citizenship to whites– Churches segregated services for free blacks– African Methodist Episcopal Church est.

• Native Americans?– Many turned to alcoholism– Indian movement to combat alcoholism incl. adopting

Christianity – Others went back to more traditional Indian culture,

hatred of white culture