Notes from September 23

Mechanization

Cotton did not come from Europe. Europeans developed machines to process cotton fibers into fabrics
Instead of buying cloth from foreign countries, Europeans saved money by only buying the fiber
Cotton plantations in America thrived, supporting the slave system
Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, making cotton production economical in other parts of America
Spinning Jenny
Water Frame – led to cotton mills
Cotton Gin – removes seeds

More terms

Laissez-faire (French) “let them do”
Term from Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations
Smith believed people should have the freedom to create their own wealth
“Invisible hand”
Also by Smith. He believed the free marketplace would make society better by itself, without the need for government intervention
New markets (stocks, bank loans) were more risky but had fewer restrictions. More profit could be made
In reality, the rich were able to invest and make more money, but the poor still had no capital

Key Terms
Democracy:
A political system were citizens can vote to pass legislation
Republic:
A system of voting for representatives to vote for your best interests in a government body
Federal:
A strong central government has the final say over all jurisdictions
Confederacy:
A loose connection of states with relative autonomy, held together
Key Terms 2
Federalists:
Supported the strong central government in the Constitution
The Federalist Papers were written by James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton to get New York to ratify the Constitution
Antifederalists:
Worried that a strong central government would take away rights from the people and become despotic like a monarch
Usually poorer and more rural than the more aristocratic Federalists
Many only supported the Constitution with the promise of a Bill of Rights in the future

Federalists

Washington's Secretary of the Treasury
Alexander Hamilton was a self-made aristocrat
He thought that those who were successful deserved the benefits of their hard work
Considered Britain to be most similar to the US and encouraged a stronger relationship with them
Feared that with too much power, the public would give into temporary panics
National stability would come from wealthier, more intelligent people

Jefferson

Washington's Secretary of State
Born to a wealthy, plantation-owning family
Spent time in France and admired their people's own fight for equal rights
Believed that wealthy and greedy people contributed to corruption in government
Feared that with too much power, the rich and the government would again oppress Americans
National stability would come from the will of the people, not the actions of a select few
“Jeffersonians” became “Republicans” then “Democrat-Republicans” then “Democrats”

Financial Aid

US had to pay for the Revolutionary War. States held most of the debt
Hamilton suggested the federal government would absorb the states' debts
Centralize the economy
Give economic weight to the federal government
Paying off debt would increase the value of the dollar and allow other countries to trust us with their investments
Hamilton also wanted a central Bank of the United States to sell bonds and encourage economic growth

Detractors to Hamilton

Madison thought a Bank would encourage corruption
Jefferson knew the Bank would help the rich become richer and increase federal power
And anyway, a National Bank isn't mentioned in the constitution
Hamilton: the Constitution has implied powers that enable the government to execute foregoing powers. Washington eventually agreed
“Loose interpretation” of the Constitution
Jefferson and Madison helped defeat other plans for economic development

Summary:

“The Republicans (Jeffersonians) advocated states' rights, strict interpretation of the Constitution, friendship with France, and vigilance against 'the avaricious, monopolizing Spirit of Commerce and Commercial Men.'
“The Federalists urged a strong national government, central economic planning, closer ties with Great Britain, and maintenance of public order, even if that meant calling out federal troops.”

Foreign Affairs

Great Britain still occupied foreign outposts in American land, blocked the US from trading in some countries, and even kidnapped American sailors to make them work on British ships
The French Revolution had popular support in the US, but it quickly devolved into violent anarchy
1793: France declares war against Great Britain (again). Whose side should we be on?
Neutrality: US decided not to take sides
Jefferson wanted to give France special privileges
Hamilton wanted Britain to be “appeased”

"Nothing is more essential than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular nations, and passionate attachments for others, should be excluded; and that, in place of them, just and amicable feelings towards all should be cultivated. The nation which indulges towards another an habitual hatred, or an habitual fondness, is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest. Antipathy in one Nation against another disposes each more readily to offer insult and injury, to lay hold of slight causes of umbrage, and to be haughty and intractable, when accidental or trifling occasions of dispute occur. Hence frequent collisions, obstinate, envenomed, and bloody contests. The peace often, sometimes perhaps the Liberty . . . of nations has been the victim." --George Washington's Farewell Address

John Jay

Early ambassador and diplomat
With Spain, Jay negotiated a treaty that wouldn't let the US navigate the Mississippi River for 25 years
With Britain, Jay could not get them to accept the US's neutral position or stop taking US sailors
France despised Jay's Treaty and wouldn't even talk to US representatives. In retaliation, they started taking American ships
XYZ Affair: 3 French agents asked for bribes so the US could talk to the French government
Quasi-War: undeclared war between US, France

Alien and Sedition Acts

John Adams, a Federalist, became President after Washington
Can the government limit free speech, especially during wartime?
Should the US deport people from countries they are at war with?
Should we restrict the ability for new immigrants to become citizens?
Should the US punish Americans who criticize the government and its leaders?
Matthew Lyon : Sedition Act of 1798 :: Eugene V. Debs : Sedition Act of 1918

Moving West

Americans began to form regional identities: Southern, Northern, Western
Regionalists identified with geography, way of life, and opinions on states' rights/slavery
North: produced livestock, grains
South: tobacco, rice, cotton
West: just beginning to farm corn and other staples
Population increased greatly in coastal cities and new western territories

Jefferson

Elected President in 1800, Jefferson and the Republicans had several goals
Reduce the size of government and the national debt
Repeal the Alien Acts
Promote peaceful international relations
Promote strict interpretation of the Constitution
Support states' rights
Jefferson was bound by the legacies of previous Presidents
Political patronage put Federalists in government jobs
Belief in strong, central government kept offices and the military large
Jefferson became less idealistic and more pragmatic

Louisiana Purchase

In 1800, Spain gave Louisiana to Napoleon
US wanted New Orleans for shipping and transportation
Jefferson thought expansion was inevitable but wanted to avoid war
Jefferson worried about his strict interpretation of the Constitution. Can he buy land?
Since Louisiana contained former French and Spanish settlers, Jefferson appointed government officials, NOT allowing elections
Lewis & Clark were hired to explore the Purchase

International Problems

Pirates! Jefferson refused to succumb to extortion
Defeating the Barbary States when European nations did not earned Jefferson more popularity
France declared war on Britain in 1803. The British were able to fight them off
Continuing neutrality, US profited off of both sides with “broken voyages”
Britain increased its impressment of US sailors, forbid neutral commerce
Like John Jay, another treaty was drawn up, but it did not address important US-British issues
The US was too weak for war or embargoes

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Marbury was a justice of the peace appointed by President Adams, a Federalist
Jefferson's Secretary of State, Madison, would not provide the commission papers, saying the job was not needed
Chief Justice Marshall:
The Judiciary Act that gave Marbury his job was unconstitutional
The Supreme Court has the right to decide whether acts of Congress are Constitutional
Fletcher v. Peck: The Supreme Court also has the power to rule the constitutionality of state laws

Slavery

Not cool
Remember the 3/5 Compromise? The Founding Fathers could not agree over slavery
The Constitution banned any change in slave laws for 20 years
Jefferson banned the importation of slaves starting in 1808. Slaves could still be owned and traded internally
Britain banned the slave trade in 1807. “The Royal Navy captured American slave smugglers off the coast of Africa . . . the British explained that they were merely enforcing the laws of the United States.”

President Madison

A Republican and Jefferson's Secretary of State
Britain and France did not respect US neutrality
Meanwhile, the US expanded westward into Indian lands. Natives had to get help from the British to defend themselves
Americans began seeing Britain as a military threat
Americans elected “War Hawks” to Congress that threatened to take Canada
By taking Canada, Madison could get Britain to negotiate over impressment and neutrality, and get lots of free maple syrup

War of 1812 - Stalemate

Just like the Revolution, the US military was underfunded, undermanned, and poorly trained
The US burned York (now Toronto)
Britain burned Washington, DC
Britain also took over Fort Niagara and marched to Buffalo, setting it on fire
The US Army set up headquarters in Batavia to reorganize
US had some naval successes and won the Battle of New Orleans, but that was after the war ended
Neither the US or Britain gained from the war