#AP US History: The Early Republic (1789-1800) 🚀

Hey there, future AP US History master! Let's get you prepped and feeling good for your exam. This guide is designed to be your go-to resource, packed with everything you need to know, minus the fluff. Let's dive in!

#The Dawn of a Nation: Washington's Presidency (1789-1797)

#Setting the Stage

• Unanimous Election: George Washington became the first President in 1789, and again in 1792. 🏆
• Cabinet Creation: Washington established a cabinet, including:
  • Thomas Jefferson (Secretary of State)
  • Alexander Hamilton (Secretary of the Treasury)
• Bill of Rights (1791): The first ten amendments to the Constitution, drafted by James Madison, guaranteeing individual liberties. 📜
  • Initially 12 proposed, 10 ratified.
• Judiciary Act of 1789: Established the Supreme Court's structure and lower federal courts. ⚖️

#Hamilton's Financial Plan

Alexander Hamilton, the Treasury Secretary, aimed to stabilize the US economy. The nation faced significant debt and inflation.

• Hamilton's Goals:
  • Strengthen the federal government.
  • Bind the nation together.
• Key Proposals:
  • Assumption of State Debts: The federal government would take on remaining state debts. 💰
  • Funding at Full Face Value: US would pay back foreign and domestic debts at their full value.
  • High Tariffs: Taxes on imported goods to protect US industries. 🛡️
  • National Bank: A bank for government funds and a stable currency. 🏦
• Congress's Response: Only the state debt assumption was accepted initially. 😕

#Understanding Tariffs

• Definition: Taxes on imported goods.
• Purpose:
  • Generate government revenue (before income taxes).
  • Protect domestic industries by making imports more expensive. 📈

#Whiskey Rebellion (1794)

• Cause: Farmers in western Pennsylvania protested the whiskey tax. 🥃
• Response: Washington sent a militia to crush the rebellion. 💪
• Significance: Showed the federal government's power and led to political divisions.
  • Federalists supported the action.
  • Anti-Federalists opposed it.

#Navigating the World: Washington's Foreign Policy

#The French Revolution and Neutrality

• French Revolution (1789):
  • Jefferson's Democratic-Republicans supported it. 🎉
  • Federalists opposed it. 😠
• War Between Britain and France:
  • Jeffersonians wanted to support France (alliance from Revolutionary War).
  • Washington issued the Proclamation of Neutrality (1793) to keep the US out of the war. 🕊️

#Jay's Treaty (1794)

• Problem: British presence along the northern border and impressment of American sailors. ⚓
• Negotiation: John Jay sent to London to negotiate.
• Outcome: Highly controversial treaty.
  • Britain rejected neutral rights and continued searching American vessels.
  • No compensation for confiscated ships until American debt to Britain was paid. 👎
• Impact: Further divided political parties in America.

#The Adams Administration (1797-1801)

#Transition of Power

• Washington's Farewell Address (1796):
  • Urged America to avoid foreign alliances. 🤝
  • Warned against political parties. ⚠️
  • Established the two-term tradition. 🗓️

#The Election of 1796

• Winner: Federalist John Adams narrowly defeated Thomas Jefferson.
• Vice President: Thomas Jefferson (due to the electoral system at the time).

#Conflict with France

• Cause: France was upset about Jay's Treaty.
• XYZ Affair (1797): French diplomats demanded bribes from American diplomats. 😡
• Quasi War (1798-1800): Unofficial naval conflict with France. 🚢
• Adams' Achievement: Kept America out of a full-scale war with France. 🙌

#Domestic Conflicts

• Alien and Sedition Acts (1798):
  • Federalist-backed laws to suppress political opposition.
  • Alien Act: Slowed naturalization process.
  • Sedition Act: Restricted free speech and press, targeting Democratic-Republicans. 🗣️
• Response:
  • Jefferson's Kentucky Resolutions and Madison's Virginia Resolutions argued for state nullification of federal laws. 📜
  • Argued that Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional.
• Repeal: Alien and Sedition Acts were repealed after the Federalist Party lost power in 1800.
  Common Mistake

Many students confuse the Alien and Sedition Acts with later legislation. Remember, these were passed in 1798 under Adams and were aimed at suppressing the Democratic-Republican party.

#Final Exam Focus

#High-Priority Topics

• Hamilton's Financial Plan: Understand the components and their impact.
• Washington's Neutrality: Know the reasons and consequences.
• Alien and Sedition Acts: Understand the context and opposition.
• Rise of Political Parties: Federalists vs. Democratic-Republicans.

#Common Question Types

• Multiple Choice: Expect questions on the specific policies and their effects.
• Short Answer: Be prepared to explain the significance of events like the Whiskey Rebellion or Jay's Treaty.
• Free Response: Analyze the development of political parties or the impact of foreign policy decisions.

#Last-Minute Tips

• Time Management: Quickly identify the main point of the question and start writing.
• Common Pitfalls: Don't confuse events or policies from different time periods.
• Strategies: Use your knowledge of cause and effect to make connections between events.

#Practice Questions

Practice Question

#Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following was NOT a component of Alexander Hamilton's financial plan? (A) Creation of a national bank (B) Assumption of state debts (C) Imposition of high tariffs (D) Elimination of all taxes

2. The Proclamation of Neutrality (1793) was issued in response to: (A) The XYZ Affair (B) The French Revolution (C) The War of 1812 (D) The Whiskey Rebellion

3. The Alien and Sedition Acts were primarily aimed at: (A) Strengthening the military (B) Limiting immigration (C) Suppressing political opposition (D) Promoting free trade

#Free Response Question

Analyze the ways in which the political and economic policies of the early Republic (1789-1800) contributed to the development of political parties in the United States.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Thesis (1 point): A clear, historically defensible thesis statement that addresses the prompt.
• Evidence (2-3 points): Provide specific evidence to support your argument.
  • Examples: Hamilton's financial plan, the Whiskey Rebellion, the Proclamation of Neutrality, Jay's Treaty, the Alien and Sedition Acts, the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions.
• Analysis (2-3 points): Explain how the evidence you provided demonstrates the development of political parties.
  • Examples: How Hamilton's plan divided Federalists and Democratic-Republicans, how foreign policy debates fueled party differences, how the Alien and Sedition Acts led to opposition and further solidified party lines.
• Synthesis (1 point): Connect the topic to broader historical themes or time periods.
  • Example: How the early party divisions set the stage for later political conflicts, or how the debates over states' rights continued to shape US history.

Alright, you've got this! Remember, you're not just memorizing facts; you're understanding a narrative. Go rock that exam! 🌟