Implementation and Challenges to the Constitution

Main Ideas:

1.      State and National Governments disagreed over the implementation of the new powers

2.      Differing opinions led to the rise of political powers

3.      Sectionalism and the issue of slavery tore the nation apart

Material Covered:

1.      President George Washington

a.       Domestic Policy: implementing the new Constitution and creating economic stability (Hamilton’s Financial Plan, Whiskey Rebellion)

b.      Foreign Policy: Neutrality, Jay Treaty, Pinckney Treaty

2.      President John Adams

a.       Domestic Policy: Alien & Sedition Acts, Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions, election of 1800 and the appointment of Midnight Judges

b.      Foreign Policy: XYZ Affair

3.      President Jefferson

a.       Domestic Policy: Revolution of 1800, Marshall Court (Marbury v Madison, McColloch v Maryland, Gibbons v Ogden)

b.      Foreign Policy: Louisiana Purchase& Louis and Clark; challenges to neutrality & Embargo Act

4.      President Madison

a.       War of 1812

                                                                           i.      Causes: Violation of the Treaty of Paris & Freedom of the Seas, natives, War Hawks

                                                                         ii.      Notable battles and wartime facts(Star Spangled Banner)

                                                                        iii.      Results: stalemate, impact on natives, Manifest Destiny, foreign policy (Monroe Doctrine), and nationalism (Clay’ American System)

5.      President James Monroe

a.       Monroe Doctrine: terms, role of English, isolationism or interventionism?, effects

6.      President Andrew Jackson

a.       Jacksonian Democracy: compare/contrast with Jefferson: spoils System

b.      Native American relations:

                                                                           i.      Review history since 1607

                                                                         ii.      Removal Policy: Worcester v. Georgia;  Cherokee Trail of Tears

c.       Jackson responds to growing divergence of regional economies: urban and industrial patterns in the North v. cotton plantations and slavery in the south.

                                                                           i.      Tariff issue: Tariff 1824, of 1828, South Carolina Exposition and Protest, of 1832, South Carolina Ordinance of Succession, Force Bill, Henry Clay and Compromise Tariff of 1832

                                                                         ii.      Bank issue: Congress votes to recharter the Second Bank; Jackson vetoes; pet banks wild cat banks, inflation, VanBuren restructures the Treasury.

7.      Manifest Destiny

a.       Definition

b.      Louisiana Purchase through Gadsden Purchase, circumstances of each acquisition

c.       Transcontinental Railroad, role of immigrants in construction, impact of Natives

d.      Homestead Act

8.      Reforming American Society

a.       Spiritual Awakening: Great Awakening. Emerson and transcendentalists, African-American Church

b.      Abolitionists: American Colonization Society, William Lloyd Harrison, Grimke sisters. Sojourner  Truth, Frederick Douglas, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Harriet Tubman, and the Underground Railroad, Free Soil Party, Republican party

c.       Women’s Rights

                                                                           i.      General Political, economic, and political status

                                                                         ii.      1848 Seneca Falls, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony. Elizabeth Blackwell, Louisa Alcott