The New Nation Report Card
Please post your response by Monday November 13, 2006 9:00pm
Using a grading scale of A-F (pluses allowed) provide an evlauation for one of the following categories. Provide reasoned arguments and evidence for your conclusions and be ready to defend your position.
George Washington's Administration, 1789-1796
John Adam's Administration, 1796-1800
Thomas Jefferson's Administration, 1800-1808
The Marshall Court, 1801-1835
posted by Mr. H @ 10:17 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
Nicely done Tani ^_^ I agree with your assessment (leaning closer to a C+) TJ flip flopped on his constitutional construction with the Purchase (good move) and totally misplayed the economic saction card with the Embargo Act. Even though it was replaced with the non-intercourse Act of 1809 it could not undo the damage to merchants and traders who made their living off international trade. The lingering effects of this mis-step led to the War of 1812. More on that later....
Once again, nice work!!
I give John Adam's administration a D+. Becasue of the split in the white house between Adams and Jefferson, Foreign policies would be intensely debated. Adams and the federalists favored the british and Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans favored the french.The XYZ affair did not help Adams either.He also passed the Alien and Sedition Acts.This can be perceived as good and bad. It was mostly pointed towards the Democratic-Republican reporters.If they made any comment about the government they might get deported or sent to jail.Also during his presidency he created a split in the federalist party. On a good note he did try to make the navy better by building warships like the USS Constitution.Overall Adams presidency was filled with controversey.It almost led to a revolution in 1800 but the key to the white house was eventually handed to Thomas Jefferson.
I give John Adam's administration a D-. In my opinion he was kind of a "lame duck" president. Adams' four years as president were marked by intense disputes over foreign policy. Britain and France were at war; Adams and the Federalists favored Britain, while Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans favored France. An undeclared naval war between the U.S. and France, called the Quasi-War broke out. The humiliation of the XYZ Affair led to serious threat of full-scale war with France. This forced Adams to pass the Alien and Sedition Acts. These acts were highly controversial, Adams rarely enforced the law and when he did all it did was cause problems. The acts resulted in many aliens leaving the country voluntarily, and created an atmosphere where opposing the Federalists, even on the floor of Congress, could and did result in prosecution. The deep split in the Federalist Party came on the army issue. Adams was forced to name Washington as commander of the new army, and Washington demanded that Hamilton be given the #2 position. Adams reluctantly gave in. In February 1799, Adams stunned the country by sending diplomat William Vans Murray on a peace mission to France. Adams avoided war, but deeply split his own party in the process. He brought in John Marshall as Secretary of State and demobilized the emergency army.
The Marshall Court, 1801-1835
Grade:B+
I gave the Marshall Court this grade because a lot of their decisions had a huge impact on government today. These impacts can be seen in the ruling of Marbury vs. Madison in 1803 where the Supreme Court decided that they could overturn a law passed by congress if it violated the Constitution. This made Judicial Review permanent making it possible for laws to change and adapt over the years. Also in the ruling of McCulloch vs. Maryland in 1819 where the court ruled that different clauses gave Congress the right to create a national bank. Where would we be today if a national bank had been deemed unconstitutional? One decision I greatly disagreed with and the reason i gave the Marshall Court a B instead of an A is the ruling in Barron vs. Baltimore in 1833 where it ruled that the Bill of Rights restricted the Federal Government alone and not the states. Later they would state that the 14th amendment applied the Bill of Rights to the States, but none the less i believe it was a major misstep of the Marshall Court.
I believe that John Adams's Administration should recieve a "D"
My reasoning behind this is because at the begining of his term he did some pretty amazing things, however, he did not finish strong. During the end of his term, to put it very nicely, it was "shakey".
Its not how you start the race with the XYZ Affair dude, its how ya finish it with the Alien and Sedition Acts.
Near the begining of his term, he handeled the XYZ Affair almost perfectly. Not many presidents would have had the same calm and composed sense about them as he did. I agree with Colton, the Affair would have thrown the country into an immediate war that it could not handle at the time. The US was still weak and could not take another war so soon. He also waited until all of the delegates were safe unitl he disclosed any information. This shows leadership on his part, leadership and loyalty to the delegates.
HOWEVER, he finished poorly. He started the race in front of everybody, however, he ended up finishing in last. He deffinitely blew it with the Alien and Sedition Acts, and although many people say that his wife was really the one that made him sign it, COMMON DUDE, YOUR THE PRESIDENT FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! STAND UP TO YOUR WIFE AND ALL THE OTHER FEDERALISTS THAT WANTED IT, AND SAY NO, ITS NOT RIGHT AND VERY UNCONSTITUTIONAL! If there is one mistake that a president should never make in my mind, its this, NEVER APPROVE ANYTHING THAT IS BLATENTLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL, it will come back to bite you, like it did for Adams.
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