Ch.9, Sec.1 – Washington’s Presidency Washington Takes Office Washington Takes Office - on April 30, 1789, at Federal Hall in New York City, George Washington was inaugurated as the first president of the United States - John Adams was sworn in as vice-president the same day - after a lengthy debate in Congress, it was finally agreed upon that the person occupying the executive office would be called “Mr. President”

Ch.9, Sec.1 – Washington’s Presidency

Setting Up the Courts Setting Up the Courts - in 1789, Congress passed the Federal Judiciary Act, which created the federal Supreme Court - Washington appointed John Jay as the first Supreme Court Justice

Ch.9, Sec.1 – Washington’s Presidency Washington’s Cabinet Washington’s Cabinet - the Constitution also gave Congress the task of creating departments to help the president lead the nation - Washington had the task of appointing department heads which would make up his cabinet Secretary of War: Henry Knox Secretary of State: Thomas Jefferson Secretary of the Treasury: Alexander Hamilton Attorney General: Edmund Randolph

Ch.9, Sec.1 – Washington’s Presidency Economic Problems Economic Problems - by 1789, the United States had accrued a national debt of 52 million dollars - Hamilton hoped the federal government would be stronger than the state governments and he sought support through the nation’s wealthy merchants and manufacturers - by paying back the debt to them and the countries (France, Spain, The Netherlands) we had borrowed money from to fund the War of Independence, Hamilton was confident the world would support the U.S.

Ch.9, Sec.1 – Washington’s Presidency Hamilton’s Financial Plan Hamilton’s Financial Plan -by 1790, Hamilton presented his plan to Congress: 1. all war debts would be paid off 2. raise government revenues 3. create a national bank - Southern states didn’t have any debt, so they didn’t support the plan, but a compromise was made if the new national capital was placed in the South (Washington, D.C.)

Ch.9, Sec.1 – Washington’s Presidency - Hamilton felt tariffs would raise plenty of revenue for the national government by taxing foreign goods - Hamilton also wanted to create a strong national bank so money could be issued and money could be stored - Madison & Jefferson were worried the bank would give the federal government too much power, but Hamilton’s plan was chosen by Washington in 1791 Alexander Hamilton Interpreting the Constitution Interpreting the Constitution

Ch.9, Sec.1 – Washington’s Presidency