The Federalist Era Chapter 9

The First President: Washington Takes Office  Before Washington took office, there were other “Presidents” within the Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation.  Their job was to lead Congress  When the Constitution was put into place, it called for a president for the United States as well as a Vice President.  On April 30, 1789, George Washington became President and John Adams became Vice President

Washington Takes Office (Cont.)  Washington was voted in by 69 Congress members  Adams was runner-up for the position of President; therefore, he became Vice President.  The Senate wanted Washington’s title to be “His Highness the President of the United States and Protector of Their Liberties”  Washington declined a title that resembled a title of nobility and opted to be called Mr. President.

Washington Takes Office (cont.)  Washington worked with Congress to create an effective government.  They created departments in the executive branch and set up the court system  During these first few years, Congress would add the Bill of Rights  Washington would set the standard for how long to serve and how to serve.  *Remember, an actual term limit was not added until the ratification of the 22 nd amendment.

The Cabinet  Congress set up three departments and two offices in the executive branch.  Washington chose who would lead each department  Thomas Jefferson would lead the State Department-relations with other nations  Alexander Hamilton would lead the Department of the Treasury-the nation’s money  Henry Knox secretary of the Department of War  Edmund Randolph attorney general-to look after government legal affairs  Together these departments would be known as the Cabinet who would advise the President. Washington, Knox, Hamilton, Jefferson, Randolph

Presidential Power over Executive Branch  How much power should the President have over the Cabinet and its members?  A vote was taken in Congress; there was a tie.  John Adams broke the tie that would allow the president to dismiss Cabinet members without discussion with the Senate.  This would give the President sole power in the executive Branch.

Court System  Judiciary Act of 1789, the decision for what kind of court system the United States would use (interprets and applies law in the name of the state)  Established a federal court system rather than just individual state courts  States would keep their courts, Federal court had the power to reverse state court decisions  Supreme Court established  John Jay was chosen to lead as Chief Justice by Washington, Senate would approve.

The Bill of Rights  Establishing a Bill of Rights would protect the people from a strong national government  James Madison would introduce a set of amendments  Congress passed 12 of them  The states agreed and ratified 10 of them  The Bill of Rights would be added to the constitution in December of 1791  Limits the power of the government and protects individual liberties

The New Economy  Alexander Hamilton, secretary of the treasury  Federal and state governments borrowed money to pay for the American Revolution  Millions are owed to other countries and the citizens of America  Hamilton was asked by the House to come up with a plan for future needs to borrow money.

Hamilton’s Plan  If money was going to be borrowed in the future, the U.S. needed to prove it could pay off debts  Hamilton proposed that the federal government pay off the state’s debts.  Paying off debts as a nation would build national credit making it easier to borrow money  This would also make the states happy and the states would gain more of an interest in the government

Problems and Compromise  Paying off debts of the American citizens was a problem due to bonds-notes that promise repayment  The people sold their bonds for lesser values  If paid back, those who bought the bonds would be rich and the original bond holder would get nothing. This would upset many people  Compromise: If states agreed to his plan, Hamilton would make the Nations Capitol in the South.  Land between Virginia and Maryland was chosen, George Washington chose the actual site, which would be named Washington D.C.

A National Bank  Hamilton wanted Congress to approve a nation bank that would hold government funds and pay debts  Would establish ONE type of currency throughout the Nation  With agreement from Washington, Congress created the national bank  This would make trade/purchases among the states much easier with one currency.

Tariffs and Taxes  Hamilton also proposed high tariffs- taxes on imports.  This would raise money for the government  Congress would only pass low tariffs  Hamilton would then ask for national taxes to help pay for national debt.  Congress would approve

Lesson: 2 Trouble in the New Nation  Britain and France were pushing for America to get involved in their wars/conflicts  Washington wanted to remain neutral  Native Americans helped the British to prevent American Westward expansion  These issues would led to frustrations among Americans and eventually the war of (will be discussed later)

The Whiskey Rebellion  To have a self-supporting government, Alexander Hamilton (Treasury Secretary) would propose a tax on whiskey.  Citizens did not like taxation in general; however, farmers who distilled the whiskey and made profits were very hostile to the idea.  In July of 1794, whiskey rebels attacked the home of a tax inspector  The number of rebels would grow, but their actions wouldn’t, big numbers would put fear in the government  Washington would send roughly 13,000 troops to Pennsylvania  By the time they got there, the rebels had fled

Challenges in the West  British and Spanish would try and make Native Americans angry with American settlers  Washington would sign treaties with the Natives but settlers would ignore treaties and move onto their land anyways  Fights would break out between Americans and Natives due mainly to land disputes  The worst defeat suffered against the Native Americans would be the battle between Little Turtle and General Arthur St. Clair in the Battle of the Wabash. 600 U.S. troops would die

Challenges in the West (cont.)  America would then have hopes for an alliance with France to help continue expansion in the West  The British would learn of this and push for the Natives to attack any American settler in the West  Washington would send troops to the west which would lead to the battle of Fallen Timbers (Ohio)  Americans would win, resulting in the Treaty of Greenville (1795). The Natives would give up most of their land in Ohio.

Staying Neutral  France and Britain would go to war in 1793, many Americans were divided on who they sided with  The French wanted American help to help attack British ships  Washington would issue the Proclamation of Neutrality which would state that Americans could not fight in the war and would not allow British or French warships in ports  The British would capture American ships and force the Americans into their own Navy (impressment)  John Jay would be sent to discuss issues with the British which would lead to Jay’s Treaty  British would withdraw from American soil

Pinckney’s Treaty with Spain  October of 1795  Spanish feared that the U.S. and the British would work together and target them after Jay’s Treaty  Spanish were in the area of the Mississippi River and had control over the port of New Orleans.  Signing Pinckney’s treaty would essentially state peace between the Spanish and the Americans  American ships would gain the right to travel the Mississippi River and use the Port

Washington leaves office  Eight years in office  Would set the example of how many terms a president would serve (legally made two terms with the addition of the 22 nd Amendment)  Would give a Farewell Address he would state “observe good faith and justice toward all nations…it is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances.”