The Assumption Bill

The United States of America is the first nation in history to successfully declare and obtain independence from colonial rule. Obtaining independence from the British Monarchy resulted in being only half the battle for the new republic. It would take decades before the new nation could proudly say they are “One nation under God.” But, with the help of the noble leaders of the American Revolution, the thirteen colonies are able to unite as one republic. Through challenging and creating new domestic and foreign policies, the seven great leaders of the American Revolution are able to create a stable and self-sufficient country.
The change in domestic policies began in 1790 with the introductions of the Residence Bill and the Assumption Bill.

The Residence Bill is passed to end the dispute between northern and southern delegates about where the capital of the new nation should finally settle. Southern delegates from Virginia argue that the new capital should be located on the Potomac River, because of its central location in the union. These Virginian delegates happen to be Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, who further argue for the Potomac River location because of its close proximity to Virginia.

According to Ellis, “The case Madison had tried to make for the Potomac was simultaneously crafty and driven by romantic illusions about its prowess that were shared by Jefferson, Washington, and most members of the Virginia Dynasty” (Ellis, 70). When it came time to vote on this bill the results are 32-29, which moves the location of the nation’s capital from its temporary spot in New York City to the Potomac River. The Assumption Bill is also being considered at the same time as the Residence Bill. The Assumption Bill deals with the issue of passing over state debts to the federal government and creating a national debt that the federal government can oversee. With the end of the American Revolution not long ago war debt was on the mind of all of the delegates. This war debt was divided up by the thirteen colonies and is never conceived as being one nation’s grievance until now. The Assumption Bill passed with a vote of 34-28 and these two bills are known as the Compromise of 1790. After the Compromise of 1790 slavery became the main topic of the debate. Right after the Compromise of 1790 is passed a group of Quaker delegations from Pennsylvania petition that the institution

of slavery is unlawful and does not coincide with the idea that all men are born equal. Southern Representatives are quick to respond by arguing that the institution of slavery should not be questioned. According to Ellis, southern delegates would claim that the “Bible and the Constitution endorsed slavery” (Ellis, 86). It was not until Benjamin Franklin signed his name onto the Quaker’s petitions as well as petitions from the Pennsylvania Abolition Society that southern delegates began to see their support shrink. Benjamin Franklin is second only to George Washington in the amount of power he has over influencing the American people. Because of Benjamin Franklin’s support for abolitionism, the idea of slavery began to lose American interests.
With the United States of America being a new nation, foreign policies have to be developed to ensure allies and gain respect from other countries.

On September 19th, 1796 George Washington’s Farewell Address is published in the American Daily Advertise, a newspaper based in Philadelphia. Washington’s Farewell Address alerts the American people of his retirement while at the same time advising the public on what they should do about foreign affairs, or lack thereof. As Ellis Argues “His angle of vision for the new American nation was decidedly western. The chief task facing the next several generations was to consolidate control for the North American continent. Anything that impaired or deflected that central mission was to be avoided at all costs” (Ellis, 133). George Washington advised the public that the new nation was too weak from the revolution to risk delving into other countries’ affairs and instead recommended that the American people explore west beyond the Proclamation Line of 1763 and find new prospects out west. This idea of isolationism is not popular with the first generation of Americans is hypocritical to George Washington and John Jay’s meeting with English representatives in 1795. In 1795 Washington and Jay met English officials and organized Jay’s Treaty which organizes an agreement to pay off English war debt from the revolution in exchange for the evacuation of English troops on the western frontiers; this meeting is also organized as a peace treaty

between England and the United States. According to Ellis “Jay’s Treaty was a landmark in the shaping of the American foreign policy” (Ellis, 136). After this meeting is made public Washington and Jay are seen as traitors by a minority of the public, but Washington’s overpowering popularity proves enough to sustain prominence in the community.
Disputes are a common and vital part of the process when it came to organizing new policies, both domestic and foreign. Both the Residence Bill and the Assumption Bill first start off as a three way debate between Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison. Alexander Hamilton is proposing a financial plan to combine state debts into one national debt, but southern delegates are opposed to his plan. The leader of the opposition is James Madison who is a longtime friend of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson invites both men to dinner and convinces Madison to persuade his men not to vote against Hamilton’s financial plan. In exchange, Hamilton will use his connections to persuade Congress to move the capital from New York City to the Potomac River. Ellis refers to this meeting as the “dinner-table bargain” (Ellis, 65).
The relationship between George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had grown sour over the last decade of the eighteenth century. According to Ellis “Jefferson’s posture toward Washington shifted perceptibly in 1794” (Ellis, 140). Jefferson’s resentment towards Washington increased during the Whiskey Rebellion when George Washington sent troops toward a group of protesting farmers in Pennsylvania; Jefferson believes that Washington’s authority is growing into a totalitarian dictatorship. This is fueled from Jefferson’s belief in counteracting any form of centralized government authority. After Jay’s Treaty with England, Jefferson (opposed to Jay’s Treaty) knew that running for president is the only way of restoring balance to the new nation. When it came time for presidential elections Thomas Jefferson’s main opponent was Vice President John Adams. This was the first election to institute the role of political party, a system still used in today’s presidential elections. John Adams represented the Federalist Party while Thomas Jefferson represented the Democratic-Republican Party. Both men had different styles of campaigning and debating. According to Ellis “The Adams style was to confront, shout, ran, and then to embrace. The Jefferson style was to evade, maintain pretenses, then to convince himself that all was well” (Ellis, 170). By the end of the election John Adams became president, Thomas Jefferson became vice president, and the institution of political parties would never cease to exist.
Through challenging and creating new domestic and foreign policies, the seven great leaders of the American Revolution are able to create a stable and self-sufficient country. This is due to the Residence Bill and the Assumption Bill shaping America into the nation it is today. Also, the idea of slavery being abolished became a reality and a stepping stone for equality. When leaders take a firm position on foreign affairs it makes foreign policies take less of an interest and necessity in the eyes of first generation Americans. This concludes that the future of the United States of America depends on the leaders of the new republic.