Chapter 8 questions

1. There were many issues that the new government had to address. The very first issue was, what to call the president. This was a big issue because what they called the President would represent the power and dignity of the government. After much debate the House of Representatives settled on the title "Mr.President." The next big issue at hand was how to settle America's debt. To come up with an economic plan Alexander Hamilton was chosen to the Secretary of treasury. America owed 11 million dollars to foreign countries, especially France. The national and state governments owed 24 million to the American citizens. The problem was that the congress agreed that the national debt had to be payed fast and in full but they were not sure if they should do that for the state debt too. Alexander Hamilton proposed that the National government add the state debt to the national debt. This would cause the money from southern, middle and western states flows into the Northeast colonies who held 4/5 of the national debt. Hamiliton also proposed the creation of a Bank of United States and to put an excise tax wines, coffee and tea. The citizens of America were not happy because Hamilton economic plan closely resembled that of the British which the Americans did not like.

2. In 1789 the American government consisted of federalists, who were supporters of the constitution. An opposition party formed against Hamilton over the debate on the Bank of United States. Thomas Jefferson who was part of the opposition party argued that Congress did not have the right to create a national bank and that it gave congress to much power. Hamilton's argument was that congress was able to charter a bank under the necessary and proper clause. Jefferson and his supporter also opposed the federal excise tax and the idea of including the states debt as part of the national debt. Jefferson argued the Hamilton was only favoring merchants and speculators who only make up a small part of the overall population. The opposition party feared that Hamilton was using the Bank of America to buy the loyalty of the congress and turn the government into a monarchy such as the British government. The federalist response was that a strong central government was the key to the survival of the republic. The federalists believed that without a strong central government, America would return to the localism of 1780's which proved to be a failure.

3. When Washington was in power he had to make the decision of America's involvement in the French Revolution. The Federalist opposed the involvement in French Revolution while the Jeffersonians supported it. According to the treaties signed in 1778 United States was allied with France but in 1793 President Washington declared American neutrality. President Washington and the Federalist wanted a good relationship with Great Britain because the United States commerce depended on the relationship with Great Britain. Ninety percent of American imports came from Great Britain and 90% of America revenue came from the taxes on these imports. Jeffersonians wanted to breaks all tie from the monarchical politics of British and supported the French for carrying on the Republican revolution. When Adams was in power he had to make a decision of going to war with France or destroying American commerce.

4. Problems in the frontier had a big impact on foreign affairs. The Shawnee and other Indian tribes in the Northwest territory were plotting with Britain to drive out all the settlers. This hurt America relation with Britain. Also, settlers in the frontier were refusing to pay the excise tax on whiskey. This led to the Whiskey rebellion. General Anthony Wayne was able to help washing end the Whiskey rebellion and the Indian-British threat. In order stay on good terms with Britain, Washington sent John Jay and the Jay treaty was created. The Jay treaty was a quick fix but it did not solve all the problems.

5. The Alien and Sedition Acts mainly attacked immigrants and the Republicans. The first three acts extended naturalization period from 5 to 14 years, gave the president the power to detain enemies during war, and the power to deport anyone seemed dangerous to the United States. The Sedition Act set jail terms and fines for persons who wrote of spoke maliciously about the government of government and the President of United States. The Alien acts did not have much affect but under the Sedition Act 14 Republicans were prosecuted. The Republicans response was the Virgina and Kentucky Resolves. These resolves reminded the Congress of the fundamental ideas of the Constitution. The Kentucky Resolve which was created by Jefferson argues that the Alien and Sedition Acts gave powers to national government which weren't given by the constitution.

6. Foreign affairs increased rivalry between the Republicans and the Democrats. When the French revolution broke out Democrats did not want to support the french but the Republicans did. Republicans wanted not connection with Britain but the Democrats knew that without Britain their commerce would plummet. These different views of who to support led to discussion of if the political parties were supporters of revolutionary ideas. For supporting Britain, the Republicans argued that democrats were not supporting the revolutionary ideas and views of the common people.

7. The election of 1796 was a very unrepublican and undemocratic election. The federalists candidate for presidency was John Adams and Democratic Republican candidate was Thomas Jefferson. Adams support mainly came from New England and Jefferson's support came from southern states. The crucial states that would decide the winner of the election were Pennsylvania and New york. Jefferson won the electoral votes of Pennsylvania because of John Beckley. He circulated a list of respected candidate in the state legislature so the presidential electors for Pennsylvania were elector who supported Jefferson strongly. In New york, Adams won the state's electoral votes and won the election. In the election of 1800 Thomas Jefferson had the upper hand because the Alien and Sedition Acts made the Federalists and John Adam very unpopular. The Alien and Sedition Acts and the strenghtening of the army made the settlers believe that Federalists really were trying to overthrow the American Republic. The Federalists countered by saying that if Jefferson were to be elected then the French Revolution would be unleashed in the Streets of United States. The Democratic Republicans mainly focused on gaining the votes of New york. In the end, Republicans did win New York's vote and won the election.

8. Jefferson and the Republican's distrusted the Federal courts especially after the Judiciary Act of 1801. The Judiciary Act packed the federal courts with federalists, making it impossible for Jefferson to put one of his candidate because Federal court officers could only be removed through impeachment. The Jeffersonian Republicans did not like the idea of an independent judiciary and wanted judges to be selected by popular vote. In order to replace the members of the Federal courts, Jefferson impeached them without an explanation of how the justices acts were "high crimes and misdemeanors." Jefferson first impeached John Pickering for being an alcoholic. Jefferson also impeached Samuel Chase for prosecuting many Republicans under the Sedition Act.

9. From 1803-1807 U.S. exports really rose but it came to a halt when France, Britain and America continually passed bill and decrees to stop the other countries trade. Britain Blockaded Europe to stop trade with France. Britain also passed the Rule of 1256 where the Royal Navy could seize American ships involved in the reexport trade with France. In Response, Congress passed the No Importation Act which forbade importation of British goods. Napoleon responds to the British blockade with with the Berlin decree which outlawed all trade with the British Isles. This of bill and decrees went on until all of American commerce with Europe was outlawed.

10. In the war of 1812 the War hawks strategy was confusing to many people. Instead of preparing for war over seas like the Federalist and Republican expected, the war hawks prepared for a land invasion of Canada. The War Hawks decided to invade Canada because it was valuable and vulnerable. Canada had bases where British armed Tecumesh's Indian Confederacy. Also, Canadian farmer were supplying colonies in the West Indies when Great Britain was not able to . To the War Hawks invading Canada was the key to end the war. The plan was to invade Upper Canada from the North west to cut of any pro-British Indian tribes but due to a poorly trained army the invasion turned into a occupation of Upper Canada by Great Britain. The invasion from the east didn't go as planned either. First, the U.S. army crossed Lake Champlain and surprised Britain but the militiamen refused to cross the river and reinforce the army. All in all, the war of 1812 in Canada was a complete failure and it proved that the militia cannot be trusted during invasion of other countries.