U.S. politics & policy were shaped by mostly domestic affairs in the 1790's.
             During George Washington's Presidency, Alexander Hamilton & Thomas Jefferson, his two closest advisors, faced off on opposing views of what the role of government should be. Alexander Hamilton, the Federalist from N.Y. called for shaping policies that would help to improve the U.S. economy & lifestyle. In his 3 reports to congress, Hamilton called for protective tariffs, a bank of the U.S., encouragement of industry, and improved infrastructure to better facilitate transport: all domestic issues.
             But, Jefferson, the Republican from Virginia, advocated a strict constructional view of the constitution, adhering only to what the constitution says exactly, as opposed to Hamilton's loose construction view using the elastic clause or the necessary & proper clause to its fullest which would allow the government to do anything. Jefferson advocated an agrarion society with a small government & was completely introverted (focus only on the U.S.)
             The Federalists won most of the battles instituting their views, policies, & politics on the country which were mostly domestic. But foreign affairs was destined to play a part in influencing American politics. With the Napoleonic Wars in Europe, All of America called for neutrality as Britain & France, fighting against each other, were two of the U.S.'s closest trading partners.
             With the new government just in place, the politics & policy were to be inacted by the new leaders & were shaped mostly by domestic affairs though foreign affairs did call for some attention.
             2) The 1790's were a critical period in American history because they determined how the new Constitution would be interpreted and they set a precedent for future American governmental policies. The 1790s were also a turbulent period both at home and abroad, and the conflicts that emerged layed the foundation of the 2-party system in the U.S.
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