Early Republic Review

Overview

• Focus on early presidents: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe.
• Key themes: political parties, foreign relations, economic policies, and significant events.

George Washington (1789-1797)

• Challenges:
  • War debt from the Revolutionary War.
  • Need for a strong national government.
• Neutrality Policy:
  • Advocated for America to remain neutral in conflicts, particularly between Great Britain and France.
• Economic Measures:
  • Appointed Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury.
  • Hamilton's 4-part plan:
    1. Repay national debt.
    2. Establish a national bank.
    3. Tax whiskey.
    4. Create a protective tariff.
• Whiskey Rebellion (1794):
  • Farmers protested the whiskey tax.
  • Washington responded by sending the army to restore order.
• Farewell Address (1796):
  • Warned against political parties and permanent alliances.

Political Parties Emergence

• Federalist Party:

  • Leader: Alexander Hamilton.
  • Advocated for a strong federal government, pro-British stance, loose interpretation of the Constitution.
  • Emphasis on manufacturing and protective tariffs.

• Democratic-Republican Party:

  • Leader: Thomas Jefferson.
  • Advocated for stronger state governments, pro-French stance, strict interpretation of the Constitution.
  • Emphasis on agriculture and free trade.

John Adams (1797-1801)

• XYZ Affair:
  • French attacks on American ships.
  • Adams chose not to declare war, demonstrating civic virtue by prioritizing the country over political pressure.

Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809)

• Presidency Key Aspects:
  • Peaceful transfer of power from Adams.
  • Focused on reducing military size and government spending (laissez-faire policy).
• Marbury v. Madison (1803):
  • Established judicial review, allowing the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional.
• Louisiana Purchase (1803):
  • Doubled the size of the U.S. at a cost of $15 million.
• Embargo Act (1807):
  • Halted trade with all nations to pressure Britain, but hurt the U.S. economy.

James Madison (1809-1817)

• War of 1812:
  • Conflict due to British attacks on American shipping and alliances with Native Americans (Tecumseh).
  • Declaration of war led to various battles, including the Battle of New Orleans.
  • Treaty of Ghent: Restored pre-war boundaries without territorial changes.

James Monroe (1817-1825)

• Era of Good Feelings:
  • Nationalism and political unity after the War of 1812.
• Monroe Doctrine (1823):
  • Declared opposition to European colonization in the Americas, aimed particularly at Spain and France.

Conclusion

• Early Republic shaped by key figures, pivotal events, and the establishment of political parties, which defined the future of American governance.