George Washington

George Washington First President from 1789-1797 Helped America gain independence by leading the Continental Army Unified the states under the new government No formal education Did not seek the office of president

Issues Faced by Washington Need to establish precedents for a new system of government Need to place the nation’s finances on sound footing-we still have major debt from the Revolution and have soldiers to pay! Need to create a federal court system

Precedents “Mr. President” Setting up a cabinet Posing for a portrait Serving only 2 terms Farewell address

Washington’s Cabinet Secretary of State: Thomas Jefferson Secretary of War: Henry Knox Secretary of Treasury: Alexander Hamilton

Judiciary Act of 1789 Set up the Supreme Court Set up federal and 13 district courts Established the office of Attorney General John Jay names first Supreme Court Justice

“And be it further enacted that the United States shall be and they are hereby divided, into thirteen districts…And be it further enacted, that there be a court called a District Court in each of the afore mentioned districts, to consist of one judge…And be it further enacted, that the before mentioned districts, except those of Maine and Kentucky, shall be divided into three circuits…and that there shall be held annually in each district of said circuits, two courts, which shall be called Circuit Court, and shall consist of any two justices of the Supreme Court, and the district court of such districts…”

Domestic Issues Domestic: Home Foreign: Other countries Most pressing issue: money States owed debts to soldiers Continental Congress owed money to bondholders American manufacturers wanted tariffs Need for stable currency Alexander Hamilton’s Financial Plan: Raise money through taxes Create a national bank Promote protective tariffs

The Whiskey Rebellion Congress passed a excise tax, or a tax on luxury goods Farmers west of the Appalachian Mountains protested this tax In order to sell their wheat and corn they distilled it into whiskey Many farmers refused to pay the tax and the “Whiskey Boys” tarred an feathered tax collectors

Washington’s Dilemma Washington and Hamilton saw this rebellion as a threat to the authority of the national government Washington sent 13,000 state militia to stop the rebellion Farmers were pardoned by Washington once they pledged loyalty to the federal government By doing this Washington strengthened the national government! How does this compare to Shays’ Rebellion???

Formation of Political Parties Federalists Democratic- Republicans Strong national government rule by the wealthy and educated Fear of mob rule Loose construction (interpretation) of the Constitution Favored national bank Economy based on manufacturing and they supported tariffs Supporters: lawyers, merchants, manufacturers, clergy Founded by: Alexander Hamilton-co-author of the Federalist Papers Limited national government; states rights Fear of rule by one person or a powerful few Strict construction (interpretation) of the Constitution Opposed national bank Economy based on farming and strongly disagreed with tariffs Supporters: farmers, tradespeople Founded by: Thomas Jefferson and James Madison

Formation of Political Parties Biggest issue that led to the formation was the arguments over a national bank and tariffs

How a Tariff Works

Foreign Policy War between France and Britain broke out in 1793…which puts the United States in a pickle! Britain: trade France: ally Washington declared the U.S. neutral

Jay’s Treaty Britain made it hard for the U.S. to remain neutral-the British had began seizing the cargoes of American ships carrying goods from the West Indies Chief Justice John Jay was sent to make peace with Britain In Jay’s Treaty the British agreed to pay for damages to U.S. vessels they had seized They also agreed to leave the Ohio Valley that the U.S. wanted to occupy

Pinckney’s Treaty Another foreign Thomas Pinckney also helped reduced tensions along the frontier Pinckney's 1795 treaty with Spain gave Americans the right to store goods at the Port of New Orleans without paying customs duties Spain also accepted the 31st parallel as the northern boundary of Florida and the southern boundary of the U.S.

“Our policy in regard to Europe is not to interfere in the internal concerns of any of its powers; to cultivate friendly relations with it, and to preserve the just claims of every power; submitting to injuries from none. But this continent’s circumstances are different. It is impossible that the European powers should extend their political system to any portion of this continent without endangering our peace and happiness; …it is impossible that we should behold such involvement with indifference.”

Farewell Address Warned against political parties-it will create jealousy and divide Americans Remain neutral-Do not get involved with European nations Keep taxes reasonable