Contrasting Views of the Federal Government

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French Revolution in America• Americans supported at first• Treaty of 1778 (Fr-US)• 1793 Reign of Terror changed

many Americans’ minds

Whereas it appears that a state of war exists between Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain, and the United Netherlands, of the one part, and France on the other; and the duty and interest of the United States require, that they should with sincerity and good faith adopt and pursue a conduct friendly and impartial toward the belligerent Powers;

GB!Neutralit

y Fr!Neutrality

Proclamation of Neutrality 1794

“Citizen” Genêt

• French ambassador to the U.S.• April 8, 1793

– Arrives in South Carolina– !

• April 22 1793– Proclamation of Neutrality

• May 18, 1793– Arrives in Philadelphia (finally)

• Jan. 1794– Jacobins send arrest warrant– Genêt granted

Jay’s Treaty• 1794• Causes:

– British were seizing US ships and US sailors

• Terms:–

(by June 1796 – was done)– GB compensated ship owners for loss of property (over $10m)– US would favor GB in trading– US would (over $1.5m)– Commission to settle boundaries (not done)– No compensation for slaves lost during the Revolution– No provision about

• Results:– Ratified by Senate ( )– Angered American supporters of France

• Organized the Anti-Federalist Party– Kept Washington’s neutrality

Treaty with SpainPinckney’s Treaty or The Treaty of San Lorenzo

(Treaty of Friendship, Limits, and Navigation Between Spain and the United States)

• Spain gave up of Mississippi

River except Florida• Mississippi River open to

Americans– Including use of

• Set boundary at 31st parallel

The Whiskey Rebellion • Federal excise tax on whiskey production• Western PA farmers refused to pay

Was the US gov’t strong enough to enforce its own laws?

• Washington organized an army of 15,000 militiamen– Rebellion fizzled

Mudslinging

• Thomas Jefferson – Was labeled a radical by

Federalists– Resigned from Washington’s

Cabinet over disagreements with Hamilton in 1793

• Jefferson became the victim of one of America's first "whispering campaigns”– Federalists accused him of

having an affair with one of his slaves

Election of 1796• 1st contested

presidential election• Leading candidates

– (F-MA)– Thomas Pinckney (F-

SC)–

(DR-VA)– Aaron Burr (DR-NY)

A Constitutional Problem with the Election of 1796?

Candidate Party ElectoralVote

John Adams (MA) Federalist 71Thomas Jefferson (VA) Democratic-

Republican 68

Thomas Pinckney (SC) Federalist 59Aaron Burr (NY) Democratic-

Republican 30

Samuel Adams (MA) Federalist 15Oliver Ellsworth (CT) Federalist 11George Clinton (NY) Democratic-

Republican 7

John Jay (NY) Federalist 5Others 10

Farewell…..Unity

Support for ConstitutionDanger of political parties

Public morality and knowledgePreserve national credit

Danger of permanent alliances

Adams’ PresidencyKey Issues•

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The Providential Detection