Post constitution

• Which three states ratified the constitution unanimously?

  Delaware, Georgia and New Jersey
• New Hampshire ratification


  Achieved through postponing the constitutional convention, and then locking some voters out and getting some drunk
• Constitution comes into effect

  Announced in July 1788. Following this, New York ratified
• Bill of Rights


  12 Amendments submitted in 1789. 10 passed in 1791 as the Bill of Rights
• US Army 


  Established in 1789. Consisted of 1000 men.
• National Capital


  December 1788 Maryland proposes a 10 square-mile area along the Potomac river be set aside for the national capital. July 1790 House of Representatives vote for national capital to be built in that area
• Newspapers


  Gazette of the United states - Federalist. Established 1789.

  National Gazette - Anti-federalist. Established 1791
• First Bank of the United States

  Established in 1791 with a 20-year charter. Hamilton argued for this bank claiming the 'implied powers' of the constitution allowed it to be created. Hamilton's bank was based upon the Bank of England, which meant the democratic republicans especially disliked it. 1/5 of the funds would be supplied by the government and 4/5 would be supplied by private investors.
• Fugitive slave act


  Passed in 1793. Meant that escaped slaves that made it to free states could still be returned to the owners
• Citizen Genet


  Edmond Genet was the new French minister in the US (1794) after the French Revolution. Jefferson supported him being in the US. Genet attempted to go over Washington's head and appeal to the American people, hiring American privateers to attack British and Spanish ships. He was recalled, but refused to leave, and received asylum in the US. This led to Jefferson resigning as he deliberately slowed down communication with France
• Whiskey Rebellion


  A response to the 'Whiskey tax' (Distilled spirits tax) brought in in 1791. The rebellion began in 1791, but intensified in 1794. Concentrated in Western Pennsylvania, the rebels were largely war veterans who believed they were fighting for the principal of no taxation without local representation. Washington and Hamilton rode with 13,000 militiamen to put down the 500-man insurrection
• Nationalisation of debt


  1790, Hamilton's plan for financial credit is adopted. It made the federal government adopt state debts, which benefitted the North massively, which annoyed the South as they had already paid off their state debts. Hamilton made generous allowances to the states who had already settled their debts
• Residency Act 


  1790. This ceded the nation's capital to be permanently in a site on the Potomac river chosen by Washington. This won southern votes from Madison and Jefferson, but damaged Hamilton's popularity in the North as he 'sold away the capital'
• Neutrality Act


  1794. Came as a result of Citizen Genet hiring American Privateers to attack British and Spanish ships. Declared America's neutrality in foreign affairs. This officially ended the Treaty of Alliance signed in 1778 - America argued it was voided as it was signed with King Louis XVI's government
• XYZ affair


  1797-1798 - caused by Talleyrand only discussing with Gerry, who was distrusted by the federalists. This led to the Quasi-war
• Quasi war

  1798-1800. Caused by Congress authorising the US Navy attacking French ships after the XYZ affair. 2000 American merchant ships were taken by 1800
• Direct House Tax


  1798 - To fund his military expansion, Adams introduced the direct house tax. It was a tax on property - including dwelling-houses, lands and slaves. Taxes on slaves further angered the South. This generated $2 million, with each state paying a certain amount.
• Fries' rebellion


  1798 - Pennsylvania had a tax bill of $237000, but because of the low slave owning population in the state, the bill fell on dwellings-house owners. John Fries began organising resistance to the tax, which led to intimidation of the assessors of the tax in Milford. This led to the imprisonment of the rebels, with Fries being sentenced to being hanged, before Adams pardoned him.
• Alien and sedition acts


  1798 - made up of the naturalization act, the alien friends act, the alien enemies act, and the sedition act. This targeted Republican Voters, and the sedition act led to pro-Jefferson newspaper owners being arrested
• Naturalization act


  1798 - Alien and Sedition Act. Increased the residency period from 5 years to 14 years before naturalization
• Alien Friends Act

  1798 - Alien and Sedition Act. Allowed the president to imprison and deport non-citizens deemed to be dangerous
• Alien Enemies Act

  1798 - Alien and Sedition Act. Allowed the president to imprison and deport anyone from a hostile foreign nation (at war)
• Sedition Act

  1798 - Alien and Sedition Act. Criminalised making false statements that were critical of the government