George Washington ’ s Presidency

The First President January 1789: First electoral college meets to elect president.

2008

The First President President: George Washington Vice President: John Adams Washington considered it his duty “ to render service to his country in obedience to its call ” John Adams: First Vice President of the United States

The First President Washington traveled to New York City to be sworn into office

Life in the New Republic Ununited country Much work to be done New York City: first capital of the United States Federal Hall: first seat of U.S. government

Setting Precedents George Washington: “ The first of everything in our situation will serve to establish a precedent. ” Precedent — an action or a decision that serves as an example for later generations

Setting Precedents Choosing a Cabinet –Washington chose a group of men to keep him informed and help him make decisions. –4 members. Washington and his Cabinet

Setting Precedents Secretary of Treasury: Alexander Hamilton Secretary of State: Thomas Jefferson

Setting Precedents Attorney General: Edmund Randolph Secretary of War: Henry Knox

Executive Branch President: Barack H. Obama Vice President: Joe Biden Cabinet : Department of State : Hillary Clinton Department of Treasury : Timothy Geithner Department of Defense: Robert Gates Department of Justice: Eric Holder Department of Interior: Kenneth Salazar Department of Agriculture: Thomas Vilsack Department of Commerce: Gary Locke Department of Labor: Hilda Solis Department of Health & Human Services: Kathleen Sebelius Department of Housing and Urban Development: Shaun Donovan Department of Transportation : Raymond LaHood Department of Energy: Steven Chu Department of Education: Arne Duncan Department of Veterans Affairs: Eric Shinseki Department of Homeland Security: Janet Napolitano

Judiciary Act of 1789 Established federal court system

District Courts Court of Appeals Supreme Court

Judiciary Act of 1789 Supreme Court –John Jay: first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court –6 members John Jay

Settling the Debt Paying the national debt was Washington ’ s largest challenge Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton

Settling the Debt The debt: –$11.7 million owed to foreign countries –$40.4 million owed to citizens in the form of bonds

Settling the Debt Hamilton made a 3 step plan to get out of debt. –Replace Bonds –Pass Tariffs –Create Bank Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton

Hamilton vs. Jefferson Alexander Hamilton: Believed in a strong central government Thomas Jefferson: Believed in preserving states ’ rights

Hamilton vs. Jefferson Hamilton desired to promote manufacturing & business

Hamilton vs. Jefferson Jefferson desired to promote agriculture

Hamilton vs. Jefferson Protective tariff — tax on imported goods to raise the prices of foreign goods in order to protect domestic products

Chevrolet Silverado Toyota Tundra $20,000$18,000

Chevrolet Silverado Toyota Tundra $20,000 $18,000 + $4,000 tariff = $22,000

Hamilton vs. Jefferson Alexander Hamilton: Wanted high tariffs so that US manufacturers would make more money because their products would be bought. Thomas Jefferson: Wanted low tariffs so that farmers would pay less for necessary products.

Hamilton vs. Jefferson Hamilton believed in a loose construction of the Constitution- the federal government can take any reasonable actions that the Constitution does not specifically prohibit

Hamilton vs. Jefferson Jefferson believed in strict construction of the Constitution- federal government can only do what the Constitution specifically says it can do

Foreign Affairs French Revolution led to more fighting between Britain and France. –Hamilton wanted to help Britain. –Jefferson wanted to help France. –Washington wanted to help neither.

Foreign Affairs Washington issues Neutrality Proclamation- U.S. will not take sides in European conflicts.

The Whiskey Rebellion March 1791: Congress passed a tax on American-made whiskey to help pay the federal debt.

The Whiskey Rebellion Americans living in the west believed that this was an unfair tax

The Whiskey Rebellion The farmers in western Pennsylvania rebelled against the tax. Washington led an army of 13,000 soldiers to put down the rebellion.

Washington Says Goodbye Washington served 2 terms and then resigned. In his farewell address, Washington warned the nation not to form political parties, not to form allies, and not to borrow money.