1. New Republic and Washington’s Presidency 1789-1797

2. Setting up the New Republic
Setting up the National Government, Court Systems, Economy, and National Security

3. Washington takes the oath of office
April 30, 1789
Federal Hall Washington

4. Washington’s Presidency
All electoral votes
Electors wrote 2 names
1st Place -President, 2nd Place-VP
Inaugurated-April 30, 1789
Inaugurated: sworn in
Adams (Federalist)-VP
Washington-neutral in political parties
Everything Washington did was a precedent since he was the first president
Precedent: an example
No contest

5. Setting Up the Courts & Cabinet
Constitution created Supreme Court BUT many decisions left for Congress
Federal Judiciary Act (1789)
6 member Supreme Court
Created lower federal courts-
settle cases dealing with national laws, states, or national gov’t
Congress-created departments to help the President run the U.S.
Dept. leaders chosen by Washington and became his cabinet

6. Forming the First Cabinet
Sec. of Treasury-Hamilton
Managed the country’s money
Sec. of War-Knox
Oversaw the country’s defenses
Sec. of State-Jefferson
Oversaw foreign relations

7. Economic Problems War debt
Owed money to foreign countries, merchants, AND private citizens
More than 52 million dollars in debt
About $1,291,836,000 today! (1.3 billion)
Government leaders-determined that the U.S. pay this money back, because they wanted…
to maintain business relationship with those foreign countries
to be able to borrow money in the future

8. Hamilton’s Economic Plan
4 Point Plan
1. National govt should pay public and state debt
2. Revenue (govt income) should be raised
Favored tariffs: taxes on imported goods
3. Create a National Bank
Safe place to keep govt money
Would make loans
Issue paper money
4. Whiskey Tax (future slide)
Washington supported his plan
This plan would strengthen the national government
Worried Anti-Feds who favored free enterprise
free enterprise : business conducted without govt control

9. Opposition to Hamilton’s Program
Virginia (VA) and many other Southern states protested taking on other states debts
already paid their debts
Didn’t like helping the North
Future capital is moved to D.C. as
compromise
National Bank
Created a debate over interpretation of Constitution
Loose (broad or flexible) vs. Strict (narrow or limited)
Washington ignored protests of Jefferson and Madison
Bank established-1791

10. Beginnings of Political Parties
Early disagreements over the creation of the new republic
led to the creation of allies and enemies
Writers of the Constitution had to make it flexible for the many different situations that would emerge
This also led to disagreements over its meaning
Two camps emerge:
Federalists
Anti-Federalists (Republicans)

11. Whiskey Rebellion Conflict over the new taxes Farmers refused to pay
Farmers in Pennsylvania beat up a tax collector
Others threatened to attack Pittsburg (the capitol)
Washington sent troops to control the rebels
Proved that the govt could AND would enforce the law
Whiskey Rebellion Flag

12. Foreign Policy: French Revolution
To Help France…
Or Not...
They aided us during the Revolution
Treaty still bound U.S. and France together as allies
Jefferson favored helping
Britain-biggest trading partner
Britain against France
Too risky to fight them again
Hamilton favored NOT helping
Washington decided that we would be neutral
Congress passed a law forbidding aid to either side

13. Washington’s Farewell
Although some opposed his policy of neutrality, he was a symbol of national unity for 8 years
His farewell address provided advice and warnings for the country:
Benefits of federal government
Warns against political parties
Importance of morality
Stable credit
Policy of neutrality
Against over-powerful militaries