The Federal Experiment

1
The Federal Experiment

• The Precarious Peace, 1783-1786
• The Constitutional Convention, 1787
• A New Political Nation, 1789-1791
• From Factions to Parties
• Undeclared War
• Toward a Party System
• The Revolution of 1800

2
The Precarious Peace

• Commercial Decline Recovery
• Market saturated with British goods
• British close W. Indian ports
• Debtor Relief
• Solutions to heavy debt print money, postpone
  payments
• Shays Rebellion

3
The Constitutional Convention, 1787

• Nationalists in Philadelphia
• Now called Federalists Washington, Hamilton,
  Madison, Franklin, Morris dominate
• Absent Jefferson, Adams, Patrick Henry
• Forming the Constitution
• Virginia Plan legislature elected by the people
  (favors large states)
• New Jersey Plan legislature elected by states
  (favors small states)

4
The Constitutional Convention, 1787

• The Connecticut Plan The Great Compromise
• Three equal branches of government checks and
  balances
• Bicameral legislature
• Senate states
• House people
• 2, 6, 4 year terms
• 3/5 compromise
• Abolish slave trade in 20 years
• Electoral College
• Federalism
• Federalist/Anti-Federalist Debate

5
Federalism
Interstate Commerce Defense War Foreign
Relations Taxation
Central (Federal)
State
State
State
State
All Other Powers
6
Checks and Balances
Favors Small States Senators Appointed by
States 6 Year Term w/Reelection
Senate
Legislative Create Laws
Favors Large States Reps. Directly Elected 2 Year
Term w/Reelection
House
Judicial Interpret Laws
Executive Enforce Laws
Elected by Electoral College 4 Year Term
w/ Reelection
Appointed by President Confirmed by Senate Serve
For Life
7
A New Political Nation, 1789-1791

• The first Congress
• Judiciary Act 1789 6 justice Supreme Court
• Bill of Rights
• Hamiltons Plans (Loose Constructionist)
• Federal assumption of State debts
• National Bank
• Credited with restoring economy/credit
• Article 1, Section 8, necessary and proper
  clause

8
From Factions to Parties

• Hamiltonians (Federalists) vs. Jeffersonians
  (Democratic-Republicans)
• Parties not anticipated by the framers
• Madison and Jefferson oppose Hamiltons idea of a
  strong central government
• Rifts Widen
• French Revolution War between France and
  England
• Jefferson favors France
• Hamilton favors England
• Washington declares neutrality
• Impressments of U.S. sailors Shanghai

9
The First Party System
10
Undeclared War

• The Election of 1796
• Adams vs. Jefferson
• Adams wages undeclared war on France because of
  French meddling in U.S affairs
• Federalists sponsor legislation to supress
  dissent
• Alien Act Allows President to imprison or
  deport non-citizens
• Naturalization Act raises residency from 5 to
  14 years
• Sedition Act prohibits printing of attacks on
  the President or Congress

11
Toward a Party System

• Democratic Republicans jailed under Sedition Act
• Jefferson and Madison mobilize sentiment against
  the Acts
• Madison Virginia Resolution states can
  nullify Federal laws
• Jefferson Kentucky Resolution states can
  ignore offensive laws by Congress

12
The Revolution of 1800

• Election Jefferson vs. Adams
• Electoral College splits between Jefferson and
  Aaron Burr election goes to House
• Federalist controlled Congress tries to prevent
  election of Jefferson but Hamilton finally urges
  Jefferson over Burr
• Peaceful transfer of power