5. Hamilton’s Federalist Views Rule for public good Only select few able to rule properly Masses only self-interested Strong govt. needed to protect rights of the many
6. Centralization: 1789-1785 Sec. Treasury: Strong govt. to protect property & promote business Paid off federal & state debts Why might this be controversial for the states? Speculators profit!! National Bank
8. More on the National Bank No direct Constitutional mandate Used “necessary and proper” clause AKA: “implied” or “elastic” Functions: taxation, borrowing, issuing currency (enumerated powers) Declared unconstitutional (1819) Yet “implied powers” survived
9. Downfall & Rivalry Hamilton’s policies controversial Energizes rival Anti-Federalist faction Movement to discredit him Hamilton resigns under pressure (1795) Hamilton exits the political stage (1804)
10. Jeffersonian Elites Respond Economic Policies: little benefit to planters & landowners Local & State elites oppose strong federal govt. Become Anti-Federalists (later Republicans, Democratic Republicans)
11. Jefferson as Champion of Elites Preference for landowners & farmers Disregarded the urban masses Educated, wealthy landowners should rule Influenced Louisiana Purchase (more land)
12. Alien & Sedition Acts of 1798 Federalists respond to Republican public criticism Limited speech against federal govt. Jefferson leads call for state “nullification” powers The irony: nullification nullified
13. Jeffersonians in Power 1800-32 Once in office, expanded powers largely remain While landowners benefit from change, previous financial elites continue to gain By 1820, only one party
15. Emergence of Western Elites Opportunities for wealth! Thus, rapid upward social mobility Jackson represents new elites Wanted more open elite system Pushed for universal white (male) suffrage Why open up the electorate?
16. Elites Clash: the Civil War Diverging Elite Economic Interests Southern Elites: heavily dependent on slavery Only ~7,000 large slave-owning families Northern Elites: dependent on free labor Differing visions on the West Small farmers vs. slave economy Match economic self-interest & become political allies
17. The Civil War & Slavery While there were clearly incompatibilities in economic interests between the North and the South, does this mean there were not other causes to the Civil War?
18. New Industrial Elite Industry won over agriculture Rapid economic expansion Into the West Govt. support: Protectionism; infrastructure
19. Social & Economic Consequences Social Darwinism (favored elites) Concentration of wealth (monopolies) Industrialists wield most political influence
20. Elite Response Increase in govt. regulation Anti-trust, child labor, food quality FDR’s response to Great Depression Work towards greater public good elite responsibility over the masses Why would these changes be in the interest of elites?
21. Leadership Failures: Vietnam Vietnam: won the battle, lost the war No clear objectives Shift over time Did not rally popular support Consequences: public distrust & weakened govt. legitimacy America becomes “gun shy” about war
22. Gulf War I: Leadership restored Quick war + international support + public support = improved public confidence America becomes less “gun shy” What are consequences of the Second Gulf War regarding confidence in elite leadership?
23. Analyzing Concepts The idea of upward mobility and the American dream of “making it” are entrenched in US history and culture. How does this legitimate the elite system?
