Changes

:Need to find mental landmarks for each time period: something that you know very well, so that you find your perspective on that period of time.

:Need to find mental landmarks for each time period: something that you know very well, so that you find your perspective on that period of time.

Once we reach 1788, the easiest “landmark” for each period is the president.  That doesn’t mean he is the most important person.  Not by a long shot.  But who was president provides a way to organize the events.  By the end of this course, I should be able to name any date and you should be able to say who was president.

Once we reach 1788, the easiest “landmark” for each period is the President.  That doesn’t mean he is the most important person.  Not by a long shot.  But who was President provides a way to organize the events.  By the end of this course, I should be able to name any date and you should be able to say who was President.

Let’s try it now:  1798.  Who was president?  1793?  1790?

Let’s try it now:  1798.  Who was president?  1793?  1790?

Now we are up to 1800.  The federal or national government has been in operation for a dozen years.  How did it pay for its operations?  George Washington was president.  Did he serve for free?  Who paid for his buildings?  Where was his office?

Now we are up to 1800.  The federal or national government has been in operation for a dozen years.  How did it pay for its operations?  George Washington was President.  Did he serve for free?  Who paid for his buildings?  Where was his office?

Tariffs on imports supported the federal government all the way until World War I in 1916.  What is a tariff?

Tariffs on imports supported the federal government all the way until World War I in 1916.  What is a tariff?

A tariff is a tax imposed on imported goods, which are goods brought into our country from another country.  When a foreign country sent goods to the United States, we would slap a “tariff” or surcharge on those goods as a condition for them to be sold in this country.  The more goods we import, the more the revenue from the tariffs.  Tariffs were ultimately replaced by the income tax on individuals as the primary means for supporting our government, because President Woodrow Wilson thought tariffs caused wars.  In a sense, he was right.  The tariffs were even a cause of our Civil War.  But more about that later.  Some tariffs still exist today.

A tariff is a tax imposed on imported goods, which are goods brought into our country from another country.  When a foreign country sent goods to the United States, we would slap a “tariff” or surcharge on those goods as a condition for them to be sold in this country.  The more goods we import, the more the revenue from the tariffs.  Tariffs were ultimately replaced by the income tax on individuals as the primary means for supporting our government, because President Woodrow Wilson thought tariffs caused wars.  In a sense, he was right.  The tariffs were even a cause of our Civil War.  But more about that later.  Some tariffs still exist today.

Our nation’s capital was located in marshy land now known as the District of Columbia as a compromise.  Our capital was initially in New York City but then Hamilton brokered a compromise with Jefferson whereby the capital would move to Philadelphia in 1791 for ten years, and then in D.C. starting in 1800.  In exchange Hamilton was able to have the federal government assume the war debt.  So Washington suppressed the Whiskey Rebellion by riding from Philadelphia, as a student suggested last week.

Our nation’s capital was located in marshy land now known as the District of Columbia as a compromise.  Our capital was initially in New York City, but then Hamilton brokered a compromise with Jefferson whereby the capital would move to Philadelphia in 1791 for ten years, and then in D.C. starting in 1800.  In exchange, Hamilton was able to have the federal government assume the war debt.  So Washington suppressed the Whiskey Rebellion by riding from Philadelphia, as a student suggested last week.

Much of history is a combination of wars and compromises.

Much of history is a combination of wars and compromises.

'''Election (peaceful “revolution”) of 1800.'''

'''Election (peaceful “revolution”) of 1800.'''

Jefferson learned the art of politics by first serving in the House of Burgesses in Virginia (an early Virginia legislative system similar to what became Congress.)  Jefferson was a brilliant writer but a terrible speaker.  In fact, he avoided public speaking.

Jefferson learned the art of politics by first serving in the House of Burgesses in Virginia (an early Virginia legislative system similar to what became Congress.)  Jefferson was a brilliant writer, but a terrible speaker.  In fact, he avoided public speaking.

Political parties formed because politics is a team sport.  Jefferson ran against the Federalists, and even started a new political party to defeat the Federalists: "Democratic-Republican Party."  Today both the Democrats and the Republicans can claim roots in Jefferson’s party.

Political parties formed because politics is a team sport.  Jefferson ran against the Federalists, and even started a new political party to defeat the Federalists: "Democratic-Republican Party."  Today, both the Democrats and the Republicans can claim roots in Jefferson’s party.

President Adams was badly beaten in a bitter election, called the "[[Revolution of 1800]]."

President Adams was badly beaten in a bitter election called the "[[Revolution of 1800]]."

Jefferson and his running mate, [[Aaron Burr]], won the same number of votes and thus tied for president.  It made sense that everyone who voted for Jefferson would also vote for his running mate, since both were with the same political party, the Democratic-Republicans.  But the inability of the election system to resolve the "tie" and reflected a mistake in the Constitution in how presidents and vice presidents were chosen, which had to be fixed by the [[12th Amendment]].  Prior to the 12 Amendment, Congress had to resolve the tie.

Jefferson and his running mate, [[Aaron Burr]], won the same number of votes and thus tied for President.  It made sense that everyone who voted for Jefferson would also vote for his running mate, since both were with the same political party, the Democratic-Republicans.  But the inability of the election system to resolve the "tie" reflected a mistake in the Constitution in how Presidents and Vice Presidents were chosen, which had to be fixed by the [[12th Amendment]].  Prior to the 12 Amendment, Congress had to resolve the tie.

Burr was a bad guy.  As the grandson of [[Jonathan Edwards]], Burr had access and wealth, and a good deal of charm.  But even the even-tempered [[George Washington]], who got along with everyone, felt compelled to banish Burr during the Revolution.  Now [[Congress]] then needed to choose between him and Jefferson as to which would be president.

Burr was a bad guy.  As the grandson of [[Jonathan Edwards]], Burr had access and wealth, and a good deal of charm.  But even the even-tempered [[George Washington]], who got along with everyone, felt compelled to banish Burr during the Revolution.  Now [[Congress]] then needed to choose between him and Jefferson as to which would be President.

Hamilton had fought Jefferson for over a decade.  But Hamilton knew how Burr was rotten to the core.  So Hamilton persuaded Congress to make Jefferson president.  Some suspect that Jefferson cut a deal with the Federalist Hamilton to act like more like a Federalist as president than he would have otherwise.

Hamilton had fought Jefferson for over a decade.  But Hamilton knew how Burr was rotten to the core.  So Hamilton persuaded Congress to make Jefferson President.  Some suspect that Jefferson cut a deal with the Federalist Hamilton to act like more like a Federalist as President than he would have otherwise.

In 1803, Jefferson appointed the former anti-Federalist [[James Monroe]] to negotiate terms for the purchase from France of New Orleans and West Florida, and to offer $2 million for this land but to go as high as $10 million if necessary.  But by this time [[Napoleon]] had suffered a costly failure in connection with a slave revolt in [[Haiti]], and he had decided that France should not try to colonize the New World further.  So France asked Monroe how much he would pay for all of France's territory, which included the vast tract of land northwest of Louisiana (stretching all the way along the Missouri River what what is now Oregon on the Pacific coast).  Monroe was able to negotiate extremely favorable terms of $11.25 million to France for all of the property, which was equal in size to the entire United States at the time.  The overall purchase price was $15 million because Monroe also agreed that the United States would assume nearly $4 million in debts owed by France to American citizens at the time.   

In 1803, Jefferson appointed the former anti-Federalist [[James Monroe]] to negotiate terms for the purchase of New Orleans and West Florida from France, and to offer $2 million for this land but to go as high as $10 million if necessary.  But by this time, [[Napoleon]] had suffered a costly failure in connection with a slave revolt in [[Haiti]], and he had decided that France should not try to colonize the New World further.  So France asked Monroe how much he would pay for all of France's territory, which included the vast tract of land northwest of Louisiana (stretching all the way along the Missouri River what what is now Oregon on the Pacific coast).  Monroe was able to negotiate extremely favorable terms of $11.25 million to France for all of the property, which was equal in size to the entire United States at the time.  The overall purchase price was $15 million because Monroe also agreed that the United States would assume nearly $4 million in debts owed by France to American citizens at the time.   

But the Constitution does not give the President the power to buy new territory.  As a strict constructionist, Jefferson needed to violate his own principles about the Constitution in order to accept this unexpected, but extremely attractive, offer.

But the Constitution does not give the President the power to buy new territory.  As a strict constructionist, Jefferson needed to violate his own principles about the Constitution in order to accept this unexpected, but extremely attractive, offer.

The Senate approved the "Louisiana Purchase" by a vote of 24-7, ratifying it by more than the 2/3rds needed to approve treaties.  Much later, in 1828, the Supreme Court held that the power of the federal government to govern new territories implicitly included the power to acquire new territories also.<ref>''American Insurance Co v. Canter'' (1 Peters 511).</ref>  In 1812, Louisiana because the first state admitted to the United States from this new territory.

The Senate approved the "Louisiana Purchase" by a vote of 24-7, ratifying it by more than the 2/3rds needed to approve treaties.  Much later, in 1828, the Supreme Court held that the power of the federal government to govern new territories implicitly included the power to acquire new territories also.<ref>''American Insurance Co v. Canter'' (1 Peters 511).</ref>  In 1812, Louisiana because the first state admitted to the United States from this new territory.

Back to 1804, when Burr runs for governor of New York, one of the most powerful states.  By then, Hamilton had a newspaper in New York named the New York Post, which still exists.  Hamilton ran stories to defeat Burr.  After Burr lost, he challenged Hamilton to a duel.  In those days, one man could challenge anyone to a duel to fight to the death, and the other man had to accept the challenge and fight.  Many of our presidents had been in duels for this reason.  Burr and Hamilton then met at dawn in Weehawkin, New Jersey, walked twenty or so paces, turned, and only one man fired.  Hamilton purposely did not try to kill Burr.  Burr shot and killed Hamilton.  Burr then fled.

Back to 1804, when Burr runs for Governor of New York, one of the most powerful states.  By then, Hamilton had a newspaper in New York named the New York Post, which still exists.  Hamilton ran stories to defeat Burr.  After Burr lost, he challenged Hamilton to a duel.  In those days, one man could challenge anyone to a duel to fight to the death, and the other man had to accept the challenge and fight.  Many of our Presidents had been in duels for this reason.  Burr and Hamilton then met at dawn in Weehawkin, New Jersey, walked twenty or so paces, turned, and only one man fired.  Hamilton purposely did not try to kill Burr.  Burr shot and killed Hamilton.  Burr then fled.

There was continued conflict with England.  Jefferson follows Washington’s example and resigns after two terms, or eight years, in 1809.

There was continued conflict with England.  Jefferson follows Washington’s example and resigns after two terms, or eight years, in 1809.