"I walk on untrodden ground "I walk on untrodden ground. There is scarcely any part of my conduct which may not hereafter be drawn into precedent." - George Washington

Launching a New Nation

Washington's Presidency ·Elected unanimously in 1789 ·Congress creates Cabinet Positions ·Alexander Hamilton - Sec of Treasury ·Thomas Jefferson - Sec of State ·Henry Knox - Sec of War

Washington's Early Precedents ·Organize the Judicial Branch ·Judiciary Act of 1789 ·Creates 3 levels of federal courts, defines duties and relationship to existing state courts ·Pick 1st SC justices ·John Jay - 1st Chief Justice

Alexander Hamilton and his 3 Step Plan ·Revolutionary War veteran and trusted friend of GW ·Expert in banking and big government ·Named Sec of Treasury ·Problem: No national economy, no currency and Rev. war debts ·40 mil to citizens, States owe 25 mil and 12 mil to foreign countries

Step 1 Take care of National Debt ·Quickly pay off other countries ·Assume most of states debt - Let them use $$ to build up ·Southern states disagree ·Compromises by moving capitol to South (DC)

Step 2 Gain Revenue (Make Money) ·Pass tariffs (tax of foreign goods) ·Make foreign goods very expensive ·Get Americans to buy American products

Step 3 Create a National Bank ·Create mint and US currency ·Create state banks to force competition

Challenges Facing the New Nation French Revolution ·French fight their own revolution - should we help? ·Enter war with England ·Who should we help? ·Federalists - Pro England ·D-R - Pro France ·Neutrality Proclamation - US will not take sides with ANY European nations at war

British Attacking US Ships ·US has small navy and being attacked in West Indies (Caribbean) ·Chief Justice John Jay sent to England ·Jays Treaty ·British pay back damages ·Leave forts on frontier ·US pay back debts ·Very unpopular - seen as weak

Spanish Border Issues ·No clear border between US and Spanish Florida ·Spain closes port of New Orleans to US ·Pinckney's Treaty - Settles border and trade disputes with Spain ·US southern border is 31* N latitude and trade is reopened

Domestic Issues Northwest Territory ·Americans settling in the popular NA area ·Miami chief Little Turtle defeats US in early battles ·General Anthony Wayne takes control and quickly turns tide Battle of Fallen Timbers ·NA are defeated ·Treaty of Greenville - Control of NA lands to America

Whiskey Rebellion ·Hamilton passes tax on whiskey to try to increase revenue ·Hurts small farmers ·Revolt against tax collectors - Tar and feathering ·Spreads to other states ·Washington leads army into Western PA ·Rebels flee

John Adams Presidency ·Election of 1796 ·First with Political Parties - Groups to get people elected and set public policy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqAt8A0W204&feature=related

Federalist Party ·John Adams, Alexander Hamilton ·Strong federal government ·North and East Coast ·Cities

Democratic Republicans ·Thomas Jefferson ·Limit power of central government ·Strong state governments ·South/countryside

XYZ Affair ·Adams wants to reconnect with France ·French refuse to see them ·3 secret agents ask for 250k and 12 mil loan ·Adams refuses and reports back to Congress calling agents XYZ ·What will US think of France? Results: ·Quasi-War - Undeclared Naval War ·And................................

Alien and Sedition Acts ·Federalists want war with France ·D-R want peace ·D-R attack Adams and Feds in newspapers ·A and S Acts make it a crime to criticize the Federal government ·What is this a direct contradiction of?

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions ·Declare Alien and Sedition Acts unconstitutional in their state ·Reference the 1st Amendment ·Can states declare federal law unconstitutional? ·Expires last day of his Presidency