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Overview of the Early National Period

 Digital History ID 2911



The United States was the first modern nation to win independence through a successful revolution against colonial rule. It set a precedent that was followed in the 19th century by nations across Latin America and in the 20th century by nations in Asia and Africa. Like those other countries, the United States faced severe political, economic, and foreign policy problems after achieving independence. 

In this section you will learn about how the United States addressed those problems and established a stable political and economic system. You will learn about the creation of new state governments and a new federal government based on the principles of popular sovereignty, rule of law, and legislation by elected representatives. You will also learn about the internal difficulties besetting the new republic, such as financing the war, the threat of a military coup, a hard-hitting economic depression, and popular demands for tax relief. In addition, you will read about efforts to expand freedom of religion, to increase women's educational opportunities, and to address the problem of slavery. 

Other important topics include the drafting and ratification of the Constitution; the adoption of a bill of rights protecting the rights of the individual against the power of the central government; the enactment of a financial program that secured the government's credit and stimulated the economy; and the creation of the first political parties to involve the voting population in national politics. 

In addition, you will learn about the purchase of Louisiana Territory from France; British and French interference with American shipping; the causes, fighting, and consequences of the War of 1812.

Summary:
The United States faced severe economic and foreign policy problems. A huge debt remained from the Revolution; paper money issued during and after the war was worthless; and Britain and Spain occupied territory claimed by the United States. 

The new nation lacked the machinery of government. It consisted of nothing more than 75 post offices, a large debt, a small number of unpaid clerks, and an army consisting of just 672 soldiers. There was no federal court system, no navy, and no system for collecting taxes. Congress enacted a tariff to raise revenue; created departments of state, treasury and war; and organized a federal judicial system. 

To strengthen popular support for the new government, Congress approved a Bill of Rights in the form of ten amendments to the Constitution protecting the rights of the individual against the power of the central government. 

The Constitution provided only a broad outline of the office and powers of the president, and it was up to the first president, George Washington, to establish many precedents. He modeled the executive branch along the lines of a general's staff. He asserted the power to dismiss presidential appointees without the Senate's permission. He negotiated treaties and then sent them to the Senate for ratification. 

To secure the nation's credit, the first Treasury Secretary, Alexander Hamilton, had the federal government assume the entire indebtedness of the federal government and the states. To issue currency, collect taxes, hold government funds, regulate private banks, and make loans, he recommended that the federal government establish a Bank of the United States. His other proposals to stimulate manufacturing through high tariffs, bounties, encouragement of immigration, and federal aid for roads were defeated. 

By 1796, the United States had produced the world's first modern political parties. Opposition to Hamilton’s plans intensified during the closing years of Washington’s first term. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison feared that Hamilton wanted to model American society along the lines of monarchical England. Partisan divisions deepened in response to the French Revolution and the wars between France and Britain. The Jeffersonians supported the French; the Hamiltonians, the British. President Washington supported a policy of neutrality. 

During 1793 and 1794, Washington’s administration confronted a French effort to entangle America in its war with England (the Genet Affair), armed rebellion in western Pennsylvania (the Whiskey Rebellion), conflicts with Indians, and the threat of war with Britain. In 1796, Washington was able to retire gracefully. He had suppressed the Whiskey Rebellion, defeated an Indian confederacy in the Ohio country, and negotiated Britain out of its western forts. In a Farewell Address, he called on Americans to avoid political partisanship and entangling alliances with foreign nations. 

Deteriorating relations with France during the presidency of John Adams resulted in an undeclared naval war and prompted Federalists in Congress to enact the infamous Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798. These acts were designed to silence dissent and weaken support for the Jeffersonian Republicans, prompting Jefferson and Madison to draft the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions that advanced the idea that states had the power to declare acts of Congress null and void. 

Thomas Jefferson was convinced that the Federalists had threatened republican government by levying oppressive taxes, stretching the provisions of the Constitution, and subverting civil liberties. As president, he slashed army and navy expenditures and eliminated most federal taxes. To encourage land ownership, he persuaded Congress to cut the price of public lands. He also moved Congress to reduce the residence requirement for citizenship, and freed all people imprisoned under the Sedition Act and refunded their fines.
It was during Jefferson’s presidency that the Supreme Court asserted the power of judicial supremacy and judicial review and became a vigorous and equal third branch of government. The acquisition of Louisiana Territory from France in 1803 doubled the country's size. 

During Jefferson's second term the United States became embroiled in the Napoleonic wars, as Britain and France interfered with American shipping. To assert America’s neutral rights, Congress adopted an embargo prohibiting American trade with foreign countries. An unpopular and costly failure, the embargo provoked widespread smuggling. 

By 1812, many Americans believed that only war with Britain could preserve Americans neutral rights and national honor. American grievances included interference with American trade, impressment of thousands of American sailors, and incitement of Indian attacks. 

The War of 1812 was crucial to the future of the United States. It effectively destroyed Indians' ability to resist American expansion. It allowed the United States to solidify its control over the lower Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. It encouraged New England merchants to invest in textile factories. It also ended America’s brief experiment with a two party political system, as the Federalists were branded as traitors for failing to support the war.

Following the War of 1812, a spirit of nationalism pervaded the nation, evident in the creation of a second Bank of the United States; enactment of a tariff to protect industry, and a series of Supreme Court decisions strengthening the power of the central government. The United States acquired Florida from Spain, convinced Russia and Spain to relinquish their claims to the Oregon country, and delivered a strong warning, in the Monroe Doctrine, that European powers were not to interfere in the Western Hemisphere.

A severe economic depression, the Panic of 1819, and a bitter controversy over slavery in Missouri in 1819 and 1820, provoked growing political divisions and a deepening sectional split between North and South.


Copyright 2012 Digital History

Comments

  1. 1.Who was Thomas Jefferson?
    2.How much did the U.S paid the French government?
    3.What year did Jefferson planned an expedition to cross the continent to the Pacific ocean?
    4.What two conflicts caused the war of 1802?
    5.Why was the Embargo Act of 1807 significant?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1. Thomas Jefferson was a Federalist, supporter of Democracy, creator of the Declaration of Independence, and America's third president.
      2. During the time of the Louisiana Purchase the U.S. had to pay a total of 15 million dollars to the French government.And the money was exchange for the entire Louisiana Territory.
      3. Thomas Jefferson planned an expedition to cross the continent to the Pacific Ocean with two guys named, Lewis and Clark in 1803. The purpose of the expedition was to gather geographical facts and investigate prospects for the trade with the Indians.
      4. The two conflicts that caused the war of 1802 was the continuing tensions in Europe, also known as, the 1803 Napoleonic wars. The second conflict was the result of ceaseless westward expansion of white settlement.
      5. The Embargo Act of 1807 was significant because it prevented problems. It prevented problems because it prevented U.S. from leaving with any foreign port, this means for the U.S. any and all exports were illegal.

      Delete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. 1) Why were so many immigrants higher during the 1840's?
    2) Who was troubling France and Europe while Thomas Jefferson was president?
    3) Why did land no longer equal wealth?
    4) What was the war of 1812?
    5) How did technology improve during the 19th Century?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1) Many immigrants were higher during the 1840's because they factories could pay them low wages.
      2) Napoleon was causing conflict while Thomas Jefferson was president.
      3) Wealth no longer equal land because people started to move away from farms and into the cities, technology and working in factories became big and benefitted the higher class people.
      4) The war of 1812 lasted for 2 and a half years, it was fought by the British and the American colonies.
      5) Technology improve during the 19 century by making people life a little bit easier it made transportation good easier but always worried farmers that the price of their crops might decrease due to the new transportation.

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  4. 1) Who was Thomas Jefferson?
    2) What was the Louisiana Purchase?
    3) A few word summary of the "Canal Age"
    4) What conflict did American ships get into for trading through the Atlantic?
    5) Name a pro for being part of the Planter Class in America.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1) 2nd president of the united states
      2)a purchase of land from France
      3)the creation of canals made a increase in the economy
      4)the British did not want american ships in their ports
      5) had free labor from slaves and made lots of money from trade

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  5. 1)What was Jefferson's offer to the Native Americans?
    2)Why was the rush bagot agreement important ?
    3)What was important about recruiting a Native work force.?
    4)When did the decline lf Merchant Capitalism happen and what was it?
    5)How was the Technological Basis of the railroad important?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1) Jefferson's offer to the Native Americans that they would have to convert themselves into settled farmers and assimilate.
      2)The rush bagot agreement was important because it provided for mutual disarmament on the great lakes. It was a treaty between the United States and Britain limiting naval armaments on the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, following the War of 1812.
      3) Transformation of American agriculture in the 19th century. Labor conditions were better than im English industry. The lowell system relied on young married woman, There were many woman workers
      4)Economic historians use the term merchant capitalism to refer to the earliest phase in the development of capitalism as an economic and social system. Early forms of merchant capitalism developed in the medieval Islamic world from the 9th century, and in medieval Europe from the 12th century.
      5)The technological Basis of the railroad was important because it was a form of transportation therefore it was needed to travel without railroads back then it owuld be really hard to travel.

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  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  7. 1) What was the Chesapeake-Leopard incident?
    2) What was the Judiciary Act of 1789?
    3) What was the "Midnight Appointment"?
    4) Why Jefferson had to pay a ransom to the Barbary States?
    5) Why did the British want to arrest Sam Adams and Hancock?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1) The Chesapeake-Leopard Incident was a British-navy boat, the Leopard, opening fire on the Americans' boat, the Chesapeake. There wasn't much damage done but it did create a national outrage to the Americans and it was an event leading up to the War of 1812.
      2) The Judiciary act of 1789 was the United States establishing a federal judiciary in 1789, adding another branch to the powers.
      3) The "Midnight Appointment" was the Judiciary Act of 1801 being signed into law, and it is know to be the last thing President John Adams did in his term. He stayed up until midnight completing it.
      4) Jefferson had to pay a ransom to the Barbary states to free the POWs that the Barbary states captured.
      5) The British wanted to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock because they were considered traitors toward the British. Adams helped prevent disaster to the British and Hancock strongly condemned the British and their actions.

      Delete
  8. 1) What was the Chesapeake Leopard incident about?
    2) Why was Tecumseh important?
    3)What were the reasons why both sides (American and British) accepted the Treaty of Ghent?
    4) What was the Embargo of 1807?
    5) Who were the "Paupers"?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1. The Chesapeake Leopard incident was a naval battle between the British ship the "Leopard" and the American ship the "Chesapeake".
      2. Tecumseh was important because he was one of the leaders of the Indians who allied with the British to fight the Americans in the War of 1812.
      3. The main reason as to why both the Americans and the British accepted the Treaty of Ghent was because it served as a peace treaty to end the War of 1812.
      4. The Embargo Act of 1807 was an embargo that made any American exports to France and Britain illegal. Its purpose was to make France and Britain respect America during the Napoleonic Wars.
      5. The "Paupers" were the very poor people in America during the 19th century.

      Delete
  9. 1. How men salary was different from women salary?
    2. How much did the American pay for Louisiana?
    3.How was Jefferson and Napoleon relationship? Why did it change?
    4. How was the working condition for the immigrant?
    5. What was the advances of the new technology?



























    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1. Men salary was different from women salary in that women usually earned less than most men. Skilled male workers could hope to earn from $4 to $10 per week. While women and childrens earned less whatever their skills.
      2. America payed 15 million for the sale of Louisiana.
      3. Thomas Jefferson and Napoleon Bonaparte relationship was very even-powered. Both men had little in commun in terms of managing a nation but, both shared a good political relationship with each other. Everything changed when Napoleon had the idea of acquiring power in the New World by obtaining the land of Louisiana. Later on, conflicts began rising until Napoleon ceded Louisiana to America for $15 million dollars.
      4. The working condition for the immigrant was been described as noisy, unsanitary, and often dangerous places within the factories they were working in for many hours but with little pay.
      5. The advances of new technologies was the time of brand new developed industries with fine items. Rapid machine technology, sophisticated textile industry and manufacture machine tools are just some of the examples that were been stablished/ created on this new industries.

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  10. 1) Expalin the conflict between Jefferson and Napoleon during the imperial times?
    2) Give examples of ways technology helped businesses expand?
    3) How were the conditions the factories? And in what ways did the workers fight for change in the factories?
    4) Expalin how the Canal age and the Early Railroads improve transportation and communication?
    5) What was the France Continental System and what affects did it have on the Amercians?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1. After failing to seize India Napoleon wanted power in New World. Napolean wanted to regain lands west of the Mississipi.Jefferson unaware of Napoleon’s imperial agenda. Reconsidered position when heard of secret transfer of Louisiana and seizure of New Orleans. Jefferson purchase the whole of New Orleans because of the consequences of the westerner's demand. Napolean accept the Livingston's proposal and offers U.S the entire Louisiana.
      2. Telegraph helped to improve communication among cities and Railroad helped improve transportation which are all factors that helped bussiness to expand
      3.Labor leaders struggled with hostile laws and courts, common law made worker combination as illegal conspiracy. Workers at all levels in industrial economy tried to improve position by making 10-hour workday.
      4. Traffic on large rivers such as Mississipi and Ohio had been mainly flat barges that could not travel upstream. By 1820s economic advantages of canals had generated boom in expanding water routes and made it easier to transport while railroad helped played a secondary role in the transpotion of good from one place to another in a faster and quicker way.
      5. The Continental System began in 1806 with Napoleon's Berlin Decree, which banned British ships from entering European ports.US shipping couldn't expand to control trade between Europe and Indies .

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  11. 1) Who was Thomas Jefferson?
    2) What were the terms in the agreement of April 30, 1803, signed by Livingston and Monroe?
    3) What was the law that the Republican legislators enacted, called Embargo?
    4) What was the most important reason for the merchant capitalism, declaiming by the middle of the 10th century?
    5) What were the 2 systems of recruitment, that were created to bring the new labor supply to expand?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1) Thomas Jefferson was a Founding father. He was also the third president of the United States and a Republican supporter.
      2) The term of agreement was known as the Louisiana Purchase, it lead to the purchase of 827,000 square miles of land for $15 million dollars from the French.
      3) Embargo was a law that banned trade with Great Britain after their increase aggression's towards American trade ships.
      4) Due to the rise in companies and decrease of trade many merchant moved towards investment and productivity of goods.
      5) The contracting of immigrants instead of Americans. And the rise of female and child labor lead to the labor supply to grow.

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  12. 1) Who was the president when the capital of the U.S. was moved? Where did it move?
    2) What were a few ways Jefferson lowered the Federal spending?
    3) When did the Louisiana Purchase occur?
    4)Why was Napoleon a threat to the United's States?
    5)Why was the creation of steam boats and rails such a big deal?

    ReplyDelete
  13. 1. What was the Louisiana purchase?
    2. Who invented the telegraph? When was it invented?
    3. What caused the War of 1812?
    4. Why were immigrants important when it came to labor/work?
    5. What replaced tobacco when its industry declined? Why is this significant?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1)The Louisiana purchase when the United States acquired the Louisiana territory from France.
      2)The telegraph was invented by Samuel F. B. Morse in 1844.
      3)The main reason that cause the War of 1812 was that France wanted some of the American land.
      4)Immigrants were important when it came to work because since they were unskilled, they had heavy jobs.
      5)Cotton replaced tobacco. It's significant because there were a lot of demands meaning more money.

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  14. 1) What is Democratic Simplicity?
    2) What did the elimination of the Judge Act did?
    3) What territory in the New World Napoleon wanted?
    4) How was labor during the Industrial Revolution in America?
    5) How were transportation and communication improved during the Industrial Revolution?

    ReplyDelete
  15. 1. What was one technological advancement in America?
    2.What war did Americans feel it was necessary to fight?
    3. Why did Americans feel that it was necessary to fight the war of 1812?
    4. What did America decide to do with Louisiana, why is it important?
    5. What happened to the judicial branch while Jefferson was president?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1.One technological Advancement in America was railroads.
      2.Americans felt it was necessary to go to war with the British.
      3.Americans thought it was necessary to go to war in order to expand territory.
      4.America decided to purchase Louisiana from the French, this was important because it expanded American territory.
      5.

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  16. 1.What was the conflict with the courts?
    2.Why purchase the Louisiana territory?
    3.What was the Florida fever?
    4.What is "Peaceable Coercion"?
    5.How was the middle class life like?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1.
      2. Napoleon needed the money and Thomas Jefferson saw an opportunity of getting more land so he took it.
      3. Whenthe colonist captures part of Florida with eventually will cause an war
      4. When Jefferson wanted European powers to notice the united States and her shippment status.
      5.

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  17. 1. What was the Revolt of New England?
    2. What was the event that led to the end of the wars of 1812?
    3. How did social mobility changed in the Industrial Society?
    4.What effects did the Cotton Economy had in Colonial America?
    5. List me some examples about the Advances in Technology in America.Why will this advances be helpfull in the future?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1. The revolt of New England was Puritan colonists overthrew Sir Edmund Andros, for religious tolerance was as troubling to England’s political leaders as was Andros’ support of the Anglican Church to New England’s Puritans.
      2. The ratification of the Treaty of Ghent on February 17, 1815.
      3.Opportunity to participate in politics expanded, ballot tied people to community also travel form city to city to search for new opportunity.
      4. The effect of Cotton Economy had in Colonial America was increase trade and the cotton was using in the fabric for cloths.
      5. By 1840 rapid machine technology advances, sophisticated textile industry,Manufacture of machine tools to improved by government supported research for military turret lathe and universal milling machine in early 19th century.

      Delete
  18. 1. Who was Thomas Jefferson?
    2. How much did the Us pay for Louisiana?
    3. What happened between Burr and Hamilton?
    4. Who was William Henry?
    5. Who did Napoleon defeat in 1812?

    ReplyDelete
  19. 1.who explored the new western territory in the US?
    2.when did Jefferson become president?
    3.what were two ways of transportation?
    4.Why did the US purchase the Louisiana territory?
    5.why was the friendship between Jefferson and napoleon needed?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1) Lewis and Clark were frontiersmen who continued to explore the west side of America, they were the main ones mentioned but not the only one.
      2) On Feb 17, 1801 Thomas Jefferson became president.
      3) Horses and Locomotives
      4) To increases side of the United States, it cost them $15 million dollars. They gained about 828,000 square miles from this purchase.
      5) Due to the 1778 treaty and military support in the American Revolution, it was better that Napoleon (Leader of France) and Thomas (Leader of the United States) would stay friends for future wars, and Napoleon accepted the Louisiana Purchase.

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  20. 1. What was the Treaty of San Ildefonso?
    2. What did the Judiciary Act of 1801 do to congress? How did John Marshall change that ?
    3. Why did some Federalist oppose the idea of land expansion once it was granted to Thomas Jefferson
    4. Who was William Henry Harrison? How did he benefit Indians?
    5. How would Journalism lead to the unification of American life?
    6. (optional) How was the south different from other regions in America?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1) The treaty of San Ildefonso was a treaty between france and Spain in which spain returned the colonial territory of Louisiana to France .
      2) The Judiciary act of 1801 reduced the size of the supreme court from six justices to 5 . And it eliminated the justice curcuit duties. John Marshall changed that because he was the foruth justice of the supreme court and he made the supreme court of the United States into a coequal branch of governments, and along came the legislative and executive branches.
      3) Some federalist opposed the idea of land expansion when it was granted to thomas jefferson because they favored greater ties with Britain and felt that a large deal with napolean over this territory could compromise those relations.
      4) William Henry Harrison was the 9th president of the United States. He benefit the Indians because he helped them.
      5)Journalism lead to the unification of American life by a construction of printing network which began the first colonial newspapers.

      Delete
  21. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  22. What were the major causes of the War of 1802?
    Chesapeake Leopard incident was about what?
    Thomas Jefferson is known for what?
    What were two techonological advancement in America?
    Why was Napolean seen as a threat?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1) Although with great admiration for France Jefderson changed his thought due to Napoleon's goal to creating his great French Empire in America, France wanted land that belonged to America, this is what caused the war of 1802.
      2) British as we know at this time had terrible shipboard conditions they forced deserters into their service. So in 1807, when American commander Barron refused the British from searching this ship, the British Leopard fired at the U.S. Which as we now know it is the Chesapeake Leopard Incident
      3) Thomas Jefferson is best known for being one of the presidents of the United State. Also, for being a great politican and milita leader.
      4) Two technological a advancements in American are the telegraph, which allowed us to have long distance communication and the railroads, which improved transportion in the U.S.
      5) Napoleon was seen as a threat because he was a very ambitious person, Napoleon wished to conquer as many land as he could including New Orleans and most of Mississippi

      Delete
  23. What were the major causes of the War of 1802?
    Chesapeake Leopard incident was about what?
    Thomas Jefferson is known for what?
    What were two techonological advancement in America?
    Why was Napolean seen as a threat?

    ReplyDelete
  24. 1. How was Napoleon able to enter the New World?
    2. Who were Lewis and Clark? What were they searching for?
    3. What was the Canadian Invasion?
    4. Was there a scientific revolution in America?
    5) When did immigrants begin arriving to the New World?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1. Napoleon was able to enter in the New World when he restored the slavery in the French colonies in 1794.
      2. Lewis and Clark were explorers who were looking for a water route linking the Columbia and Missouri rivers.
      3. was the first major military initiative by the newly formed Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The objective of the campaign was to gain military control of the British Province of Quebec (today Canada), and convince the French-speaking Canadiens to join the revolution on the side of the Thirteen Colonies.
      4. The 1800's in America was kind of a Scientific Revolution because it is when the Rail System, telegraph, ect, started to be used, which made transportation and communication faster and easier.
      5. By 1600's the first European settlers started coming to the New Wolrd.

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  25. 1.What was the Louisiana Purchase?
    2.What was the Burr conspiracy?
    3.Who were the new source of workers for factories?
    4.Why was declaring war on the British a good war tactic when they were fighting against Napoleon?
    5. What was middle class life like?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1. The Louisiana purchase was when the United States bought Louisiana from the French.
      2.The Burr conspiracy was when Aaron tried to obtain Mexico from the Spanish after fleeing.
      3.Immigrants
      4. Because the Americans would be able to get land from the British and the French.
      5.Middle class life included good neighborhoods, stay at home moms, and cast-iron stoves.

      Delete
  26. 1)who won the war of 1812
    2) who was napoleon
    3)what country was he fighting for
    4) what happened in 1842 in Massachusetts
    5) why was Louisiana purchase made?

    ReplyDelete

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