GEORGE WASHINGTON 1789-1797

George Washington’s Presidency April 30, 1789 Washington (Virginia) is inaugurated (sworn in) as President. John Adams (Mass.) becomes the Vice-President.

George Washington’s Presidency Washington establishes many governmental precedents. PRECEDENT: an example that would become a standard practice.

I. Establishment of the Presidential Cabinet The Constitution allows Congress to create departments to help the President – the Cabinet. The first Presidential Cabinet had four departments:

Washington’s Cabinet Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of Treasury Henry Knox, Secretary of War George Washington, President Edmund Randolph, Attorney General Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State

II. Establishment of the tradition of a 2 term presidency Established the precedent of only a two-term presidency, which becomes the 22nd Amendment in 1951.

III. Washington establishes Neutrality 1. Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation 2. Jay’s Treaty: Britain agreed to remove its troops from NW territory, but Americans had to pay all pre-Revolutionary debts to British Merchant class Britain did not stop seizing American ships. Really unpopular, but avoided war 3. Washington’s Farewell Address: Warned against political parties Warned against “entangling alliances” with foreign nations (led to the precedent of non-intervention in foreign affairs) 18 18

The French Revolution led to war between England & France

Hamilton & Jefferson were the most influential of the cabinet members but they had different views on the role of gov’t for the new nation

Major Events During Washington’s Presidency D. Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794) the American army defeats a confederation of Indians over tension in the Northwest Territory. E. Treaty of Greenville (1795) 12 tribes cede much of present-day Ohio and Indiana to the U.S. government.

Major Events During Washington’s Presidency Pinckney’s Treaty (1795) Spain gave the Americans the right to freely travel on the Mississippi River and use the port of New Orleans.

Major Events During Washington’s Presidency Alexander Hamilton believed that the federal government should be stronger than the state governments.

Hamilton’s Financial Plan Establishing Credit B. Encouraging Industry C. National Bank

Hamilton’s Financial Plan Establishing Credit: Transfer state debts to national debts in order to establish national credit. B. Pay back debt using money established from taxes. C. Particularly a tax on whiskey.

Whiskey Rebellion The tax hit the small whiskey-makers in western settlements particularly hard because they made liquor using excess crops of grain in order to make it easier to transport. They even used whiskey as a medium of exchange

Whiskey Rebellion Washington faced a big challenge in 1794 with the Whiskey Rebellion: 7,000 farmers marched on Pittsburgh to protest a whiskey tax (part of Hamilton’s plan) Washington viewed the protest as a threat to safety & led the U.S. army to put down the rebellion With the Constitution, the national gov’t was strong enough to end the threat (the gov’t of the Articles couldn’t end Shays’ Rebellion) Political polarization was further intensified by the outbreak of popular protests in western Pennsylvania against Hamilton's financial program. To help pay off the nation's debt, Congress passed a tax on whiskey. On the frontier, the only practical way to transport and sell surplus corn was to distill it into whiskey. Frontier farmers regarded a tax on whiskey in the same way as American colonists had regarded Britain's stamp tax. By 1794, western Pennsylvanians had had enough. Some 7000 frontiersmen marched on Pittsburgh to stop collection of the tax. Determined to set a precedent for the federal government's authority, Washington gathered an army of 15,000 militamen to disperse the rebels. In the face of this overwhelming force, the uprising collapsed. The new government had proved that it would enforce laws enacted by Congress. Thomas Jefferson took a very different view of the "Whiskey Rebellion." He believed that the government had used the army to stifle legitimate opposition to unfair government policies. 17 17

The presence of Washington & 13,000 soldiers was enough to end the Whiskey Rebellion

Hamilton vs. Jefferson What segment of the population is upset by Hamilton’s plan why?

Hamilton’s Financial Plan B. Encouraging Manufacturers, industry and commerce Develop industry and diversify economy TARIFFS – a tax on imported goods. Economic plan did NOT include plans for slavery.

Hamilton’s Financial Plan Tariffs would… encourage the growth of American industry (buy American-made). raise money for the federal government.

Hamilton vs. Jefferson What segment of the country benefits from Hamilton’s plan? Why?

Hamilton’s Financial Plan Create a NATIONAL BANK: safe place to keep the government’s money. can make loans to businesses. would issue paper currency. strengthen the federal government.

“Foregoing powers” in the Constitution: How would you interpret this clause in the Constitution?: “The Congress shall have Power ... To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.” “Foregoing powers” in the Constitution: The power to declare war The power to collect and levy taxes The power to establish rules to allow foreign-born immigrants to become citizens of the United States The power to make rules for bankruptcies The power to punish counterfeiters The power to set up a national post office The power to provide for copyrights and patents to protect the work of inventors and artists The power to organize all federal courts below the Supreme Court The power to punish pirates The power to hire pirates to attack foreign enemies The power to make rules to regulate the conduct of the armed forces The power to call out the militia to defend the country from invasions or insurrections The power to organize and discipline the militia The power to govern the federal capital (Washington, DC) The power to acquire lands from the states for use by the federal government

Debate on Interpretation of the Constitution STRICT CONSTRUCTION: only what the Constitution clearly states – favored by Jefferson and Madison. LOOSE CONSTRUCTION: the Constitution should be flexible to meet the needs of the country (Elastic Clause) – favored by Hamilton and Adams. Jefferson and Hamilton argue these points on the creation of the National Bank.

Read the chapter on Jefferson How did Jefferson undo Federalist policies? Define each of the following: Revolution of 1800 Marbury vs. Madison/John Marshall Barbary Wars Louisiana Purchase Lewis and Clark Expedition Embargo

Warm Up Discuss the following with a partner: What were the main elements of Hamilton’s financial plan? Why were some aspects of Hamilton’s plan upsetting to farmers and Southerners? Who were some famous opponents of Hamilton’s interpretation of the Constitution?

Hamilton thought that a bank would help in solving the problems in 1791. Based on your knowledge of the Constitution, does Congress have the right to create this bank? Why or why not?

Timeline Assignment Things to do once you get into groups: Decide who will be responsible for each document Discuss answers together BEFORE you write it down (especially connetions) Work on timeline TOGETHER. Make sure it looks neat and visually pleasing. Write your names down on chart paper

Homework Read p. 285-293 (stop at the Republican Alternative) Take notes on Hamilton’s vision on: Tariffs Public Credit National Bank Manufactures