1. United States of America
A New Republic
United States of America

2. George Washington Became America’s first president.
Was elected by unanimous vote.
Took oath of office on April 30, 1789
Known as the nations “Founding Father”

3. Presidents Cabinet John Adams – first vice president
Alexander Hamilton – first Secretary of Treasury
Thomas Jefferson – first Secretary of State
Henry Knox - first Secretary of War

4. Congress set up three departments:
State Department – to handle relations with other countries.
Treasury Department – to deal with financial matters
War Department – to provide for the nations defense

5. The president has authority over the entire executive branch.
Presidents Authority
The president has authority over the entire executive branch.

6. Federal Judiciary Act
Federal Judiciary Act – created our court system. John Jay was first chief justice of Supreme Court

7. Bill of Rights (first 10 amendments) was written by James Madison and was added to the constitution in which it protects personal liberties. It was ratified on December 15, 1791
Bill of Rights

8. Hamilton’s Plan
Alexander Hamilton came up with a plan to pay off the country’s debt from war; must have support from the South for his plan to succeed. He promised that the capital of the new nation would be placed in the south.
A special district was created between Virginia and Maryland called Washington, D.C.
created a national bank, the Bank of the United States.
proposed a tariff
created national taxes – such as a tax on whiskey.

9. Early Challenges
The Whiskey Rebellion – in western Pennsylvania, farmers outraged over the tax placed on whiskey. Started an armed revolt.
Washington sent army to stop the rebellion, setting a precedent that government would use force when necessary to maintain social order.

10. Native Americans
Washington sent an army to contain problems with the Native Americans
They lost the battle and gave up most of their land in present day Ohio in the Treaty of Greenville.

11. Britain goes to war with France
Britain declared war on France.
Washington wanted America to remain neutral.
Washington issued a Proclamation of Neutrality – prohibited American citizens from fighting in the war and barred French and British warships from American ports

12. British Impressments
America nearly went to war with Britain because of the practice of impressments. The British stopped American merchant ships and forced the sailors into the British navy. America was outraged.
Jay’s Treaty – British had to withdraw from American soil and pay for damaged ships.

13. Washington’s Farewell
Washington chose not to run for a 3rd term – he set a precedent with 2 terms that later presidents would follow.
Washington considered political parties to be very dangerous and he urged America to remain neutral in foreign affairs.

14. The First Political Parties
By 1796 Americans were beginning to
divide into opposing groups and to form
political parties.
Federalists – people who supported a strong federal government
Democratic-Republicans – wanted to limit the governments power

15. The Election Of 1796 John Adams- 2nd President
Thomas Jefferson- Vice President

16. Alien and Sedition Acts
Alien Act- Allowed the president to
imprison aliens or send those he
considered dangerous out of the country.
Sedition Act- made it a crime to speak, write, or publish “false, scandalous, and malicious” criticisms of government
The Virginia and Kentucky Resolution of
1798 and claimed that the two acts
could not be enacted because they violated
the constitution.

17. States Rights
States might nullify or legally overturn federal laws considered unconstitutional
States’ Rights- rights and powers independent of the federal government that are reserved for the states by the constitution.