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Chapter 8 - A New Nation Vocabulary
Chapter 8 Vocabulary - A New Nation
50
History
8th Grade
02/13/2011

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Term
George Washington
Definition
1) First President of the United States.
2) Established the tradition of the two-term President
3) Crushed the Whiskey Rebellion
Term
Thomas Jefferson
Definition
1) First Secretary of State (The State Department handles relations between the U.S. and other nations)
2) Leader of the Republican (also known as Democratic-Republican) political party, whose views differed from those of the Federalists and George Washington's administration in part because Jefferson and the Republicans insisted on a strict interpretation of the Constitution, and did not generally believe in assuming any "implied powers" (except where absolutely necessary to carry out the explicit powers) of the respective branches of government, and felt that State governments had authority in such areas.
Term
Alexander Hamilton
Definition
1) First Secretary of the Treasury (The Treasury Department handles the nation's financial matters)
2) "Hamilton's Plan" was to pay off the nation's debts to other countries, to individual citizens (bondholders), and to the individual states. Hamilton believed that paying off state debts would give the states a strong interest in the national government, but the plan was very controversial.
3) Leader of the Federalist political party, which favored a loose interpretation of the Constitution and, differing from the Republicans, believed in the general assumption of "implied powers" belonging to the Federal government where the Constitution did not explicitly state that a branch of the government had such a power.
Term
Henry Knox
Definition
1) Secretary of War (The War Department is now called the Defense Department, and provides for the nation's defense against any and all enemies) in George Washington's Cabinet
Term
Edmund Randolph
Definition
1) First Attorney General, in George Washington's Cabinet. The Attorney General handles the legal affairs of the federal government
Term
Charles de Talleyrand
Definition
A French foreign minister during John Adams' administration who was notorious for the "XYZ affair." Adams had sent men to France to try to resolve a dispute, but de Tallyrand refused to meet them, and instead sent men (later called "X, Y and Z" by Adams) to demand a bribe, and a loan for France from the Americans.
Term
John Jay
Definition
1) First Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
2) "Jay's Treaty" which was controversial, was eventually passed, and led to the British withdrawing from occupying American soil.
Term
Blue Jacket
Definition
Shawnee Chief who was defeated by the U.S. army in the Battle of Fallen Timbers, forcing the Native Americans to give up most of the land that forms present day Ohio.
Term
Little Turtle
Definition
Native American, Chief of the Miami people. Defeated General St. Clair's forces in a battle at the Wabash River, killing 600 American soldiers.
Term
Edmund Genet
Definition
French diplomat sent to the U.S. to recruit American volunteers to attack British ships. His efforts were undone by Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality, which prohibited American citizens from taking part in the French Revolutionary War.
Term
Thomas Pinckney
Definition
Once Jay's Treaty gave the U.S. and the British the opportunity to collaborate against Spanish interests in North America, Pinckney was sent to negotiate with Spain. Pinckney's Treaty of 1795 gave Americans free navigation of the Mississippi River and the right to trade at New Orleans.
Term
John Adams
Definition
1) First Vice-President of the United States (served 2 full terms under Washington)
2) Second President of the United States.
3) Federalist
Term
James Madison
Definition
With Jefferson, helped to form the Republican Party
Term
Precedent
Definition
A tradition.

Sometimes used to note the first instance of something that thereafter becomes a tradition.
Term
Cabinet
Definition
A group of key advisors to the President. Each member of the Cabinet leads a department of the Executive Branch. For example, the Secretary of the Treasury leads the Treasury Department
Term
National Debt
Definition
The amount of money a national government owes to other governments or its own people
Term
Bond
Definition
A note issued by the government, which promises to pay off a loan, with interest
Term
Speculator
Definition
A person who risks a certain amount of money in the short term, for the chance to make a large profit eventually
Term
Unconstitutional
Definition
not agreeing or not consistent with the Constitution
Term
Tariff
Definition
A tax on imports or exports, which can make trade more costly for merchants and consumers.
Term
Washington's Farewell Address
Definition
1) Warned against the evils of Political Parties
2) Warned against U.S. involvement in the affairs of foreign governments. Washington urged his fellow citizens to "observe good faith and justice toward all nations... Tis our policy to steer clear of permanent alliances."
Term
Neutrality
Definition
taking no side in a conflict
Term
Impressments
Definition
Forcing people into service, such as in the Navy
Term
Partisan
Definition
Favoring a particular side of an issue
Term
Implied Powers
Definition
Powers not specifically granted in the Constitution. The problem with implied powers is that they are subject to interpretation and can therefore cause controversy.
Term
Caucus
Definition
A meeting held by a political party to choose their party's candidate for President or to decide on the party's policy.
Term
Alien
Definition
An immigrant living in a country in which he or she is not a citizen
Term
Sedition
Definition
Activities aimed at weakening established governments
Term
Nullify
Definition
To cancel or to make ineffective
Term
State's Rights
Definition
1) Can refer to the rights and powers independent of the federal government that the Constitution reserves for the states.
2) Can refer to the belief that state's rights supersede federal rights and law
Term
Washington's Cabinet
Definition
The Congress created the key departments of the Executive Branch, but Washington as President had the right to choose who would head each department
Term
Judiciary Act of 1789
Definition
Congress established a federal court system with 13 district courts and three circuit courts to serve the nation. State laws would remain, but the federal courts would have the power to reverse state decisions, with the U.S. Supreme Court being the final authority on controversial issues.
Term
Hamilton's Plan (and reaction to his plan)
Definition
Hamilton wanted to pay off the nation's debts to a) Foreign nations, b) the citizens of the U.S. (bondholders), c) the state governments

Citizens who had sold their bonds at a discount to speculators were against the idea of paying off bonds they no longer held, because it would make the speculators rich.

The Southern states had not incurred as much debt as the Northern states, so they were not in favor of having their funds used to pay off debts mostly incurred by the Northern states.
Term
Fight over the National Bank
Definition
Alexander Hamilton proposed the Bank of the United States, a national bank, believing it would help to strengthen the national economy. Private investors and the government would own the bank's stock.

Opponents including Jefferson felt that the bank was unconstitutional, but Washington signed the bill to create the bank.
Term
The Whiskey Rebellion
Definition
An angry mob of farmers on the western frontier who were opposed to laws placing a tax on the trading of whiskey and other farm products, attacked tax collectors and burned buildings until Washington sent army troops to put down the rebellion, insisting that if the citizens felt the law needed to be changed, they must work to do so peacefully, through constitutional means.
Term
Treaty of Greenville
Definition
The Treaty signed by the Native Americans after their defeat at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, surrendering most of the land in present-day Ohio.
Term
Proclamation of Neutrality
Definition
George Washington issued this Proclamation that the United States would remain neutral in the French Revolutionary War, which pitted the French against the British. The Proclamation prohibited U.S. citizens from fighting in the war, and barred French and British warships from American ports.
Term
Jay's Treaty
Definition
Chief Justice John Jay negotiated this Treaty by which the British agreed to withdraw from American soil, to pay damages for ships they had seized, and to allow some American ships to trade with British colonies in the Caribbean. The Treaty also provided for the settlement of debts from before 1776 (before the Declaration of Independence).
Term
Pinckney's Treaty
Definition
Once Jay's Treaty gave the U.S. and the British the opportunity to collaborate against Spanish interests in North America, Thomas Pinckney was sent to negotiate with Spain. Pinckney's Treaty of 1795 gave Americans free navigation of the Mississippi River and the right to trade at New Orleans.
Term
Battle of Fallen Timbers
Definition
In 1794, an army led by Anthony Wayne defeated the Shawnee chief Blue Jacket and 1,000 of his tribe. The Native Americans were forced to surrender the land in present-day Ohio.
Term
Federalist Platform
Definition
The Federalists believe in and/or favored:
1) Rule by the wealthy class
2) Strong federal government
3) Emphasis on manufacturing
4) Loose interpretation of the Constitution
5) British alliance
6) National bank
7) Protective tariffs
Term
Republic Platform
Definition
The Republicans believed in and/or favored:
1) Rule by the people
2) Strong state governments
3) Emphasis on agriculture
4) Strict interpretation of the Constitution
5) French alliance
6) State banks
7) Free trade
Term
Views of the Constitution
Definition
Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, believed the government had "implied powers" that were not expressly forbidden by the Constitution

Republicans, led by Jefferson and Madison, believed that implied powers were only constitutional when they were absolutely necessary in order to carry out the expressed powers.
Term
Election of 1796
Definition
1) First election in which candidates were members of political parties.
2) Caucuses were held to determine candidates for each party.
3) The vote was very close.
4) Adams became President, and his opponent, Jefferson, became Vice-President, even though they belonged to different parties.
Term
XYZ Affair (Relations with France)
Definition
In an attempt to resolve ongoing tension with France, 2nd President John Adams sent a delegation to negotiate a resolution. French foreign minister Charles de Tallyrand, however, refused to meet with the Americans, and instead, sent 3 individuals (known as X, Y and Z) to demand a bribe and a loan for France from the Americans. The incident made things worse, and Adams advised Congress to prepare for war with France.
Term
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of 1798 and 1799
Definition
The two resolutions claimed that the Alien and Sedition Acts enacted by the Federal Government could not be put into action because they were unconstitutional.

The Kentucky Resolutions further suggested that states could nullify (legally overturn) federal laws the state considered unconstitutional.

The two sets of resolutions, taken together, affirmed the principle of states' rights.
Term
Alien and Sedition Acts
Definition
The threat of war with France made American citizens fearful that aliens (non-citizens) living in the country might be disloyal to the United States if war broke out between the U.S. and France. Federalists in Congress responded by passing a series strict laws.

The Alien Acts allowed the President to imprison aliens, or deport those he considered dangerous.

The Sedition Act made it a crime to speak, write or publish "false, scandalous and malicious" criticisms of the government.

The Acts were controversial because they were seen by many as unconstitutional.
Term
Why did Hamilton want taxes?
Definition
Hamilton wanted the U.S. economy to emphasize manufacturing as the engine for growth, so he wanted protective tariffs or taxes in place, to encourage people to buy American-made goods, and to fund the national government.
Term
What actions by France led to the an undeclared war with the United States?
Definition
The French believed the Americans, by signing Jay's Treaty, were attempting to help the British in their fight against the French, so the French seized American ships, and then worsened the situation with the XYZ affair.
Term
Who was elected President in 1796? Who was elected Vice President?
Definition
John Adams, the Federalist candidate for President, was elected. Due to laws at the time, Thomas Jefferson, the Republican candidate for President, who had gotten the 2nd highest number of votes for President, became the Vice-President.
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