Quote of the Day “Do you want to know who you are? Don't ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.” Thomas Jefferson

The Presidency of George Washington

Issues Facing the New Government

What do we do!!!??? We have no executive branch! We have no courts! We are deeply in debt!

George Washington 1789 - 1797 No political party affiliation Won 100% of electoral vote in both elections Established precedent of only serving 2 terms as president

First we create the executive branch!

Alexander Hamilton Washington’s Treasury Secretary Wanted to build a financially strong and independent US, especially for American industry and businesses

Thomas Jefferson Washington’s Secretary of State Former governor, congressman, and ambassador to France Wanted to protect states’ rights, US-French relations Resigned from the cabinet in 1793 due to his disagreements with Hamilton

Henry Knox Washington’s Secretary of War Tasked with building America’s ability to defend itself Memorization device: Ft. Knox (in Kentucky) is named after him; forts are used in WAR) Supposedly died from swallowing a chicken bone

Next, we create the courts! (Judicial Branch)

The Judiciary Act of 1789 Passed by the First Congress Established the Federal Court system Made clear that the Supreme Court was the highest court in the U.S. President Washington appointed John Jay to be the first Chief Justice

John Jay First Chief Justice (1789-95) Federalist Sent to England in 1794-5 to negotiate Jay’s Treaty (more on that in a later) Resigned from the court in 1795 to become governor of New York

And we have to get out of debt!!!!

Hamilton’s Economic Plan Most states had many debts left over from the Revolution Hamilton wanted the US to assume the states’ individual debts US would pay these debts by taxing whiskey and imported goods Hamilton also wanted to establish a national bank

This plan will launch America’s first political parties. Why????

Constitutional opposition to Hamilton’s Plan Thomas Jefferson argued government did not have the constitutional power to create a bank (a strict interpretation of the Constitution) Hamilton argued that the “necessary and proper” clause (Elastic Clause) allowed the government to do what was necessary to perform its functions (loose interpretation)

Southern opposition to Hamilton’s Plan Taxes on imported goods would hurt southern farmers Many southern states had already paid their war debts South agreed to support Hamilton’s plan only after North agreed to move the capital from New York City to a site on the Potomac River (Washington DC)

Frontier opposition to Hamilton’s Plan Didn’t like tax on whiskey because that was how many frontiersmen made their living This opposition led to the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794

Whiskey Rebellion Pennsylvania farmers refused to pay whiskey tax and took up arms Pres. Washington responded by leading the US Army in putting down the rebellion Federal government demonstrated it could enforce its laws

Lets get back to the birth of the two party system!!!!

Federalists vs. Democratic-Republicans Led by Alexander Hamilton Favored strong national government Favored large landowners and merchants Favored tariffs and government regulations that supported business Loose interpretationists More popular in the North Pro-business Favored neutrality in the war between Britain and France Democratic-Republicans Led by Thomas Jefferson Favored strong state governments Favored small farmers Favored a “laissez-faire” approach where government did not regulate the economy Strict interpretationists More popular in the South Pro-farmers Favored France in their war against Britain

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