University:
Arizona State University
Course:
HST 200 | Historical Themes
Academic year:

2024
Views:

104

Pages:

2
Author:

Thuyoul US

Growing Pains: The New Republic, 1790-1820 POWERFUL FEDERALISTS Despite the fact that the American Revolution had ended British authority, Federalists -those who supported the 1787 federal constitution-maintained a distinctly British understanding of social order. Initially, the Federalists did not form a political party. Rather, Federalists shared a few presumptions. For them, property rights remained the determining factor in political involvement, preventing many individuals from casting ballots or running for office. The conventional social roles between men and women and between White people and other races were not altered, according to Federalists, by the Revolution. They did hold that intelligence and status could be distinguished clearly. It seemed absurd to these Constitutionalists that everyone was created equal. They contended that Black, Native American, and women citizens ought to understand their subordination to White male citizens. They believed that attempts to force equality would lead to the republic's demise. A democracy was not intended for the United States of America. The majority of the members of the new national government were the authors of the Constitution, who pledged to steer the new country. Indeed, mang took the new executive positions established by the first Congress, as was to be expected. Prominent Federalist Alexander Hamilton was named secretary of the Treasury by Washington. Thomas Jefferson was his choice for secretary of state. He nominated Henry Knox, who had fought beside him in the Revolutionary War, to be secretary of war. Attorney General Edmond Randolph was a delegate from Virginia to the Constitutional Convention. Congress also enacted the Judiciary Act in July 1789, establishing a six-justice Supreme Court presided over by individuals dedicated to the fledgling nation. With the 1789 Tariff Act, Congress enacted its first significant piece of legislation, imposing duties on imports. The legislation, which aimed to generate cash to tackle the nation's economic issues, was a triumph for nationalists who had unsuccessfully pushed for same measures during the 1780s Confederation Congress and supported a strong, central government. In order to give American ships and commodities a competitive edge in the market, Congress also imposed a fifty-cent-per- ton levy on foreign ships entering American ports, which was based on the items delivered rather than the ship's weight.