1. George Washington

2. George Washington First President from 1789-1797
Helped America gain independence by leading the Continental Army
Unified the states under the new government
No formal education
Did not seek the office of president

3. Issues Faced by Washington
Need to establish precedents for a new system of government
Need to place the nation’s finances on sound footing-we still have major debt from the Revolution and have soldiers to pay!
Need to create a federal court system

4. Precedents “Mr. President” Setting up a cabinet Posing for a portrait
Serving only 2 terms
Farewell address

5. Washington’s Cabinet Secretary of State: Thomas Jefferson
Secretary of War: Henry Knox
Secretary of Treasury: Alexander Hamilton

6. Judiciary Act of 1789 Set up the Supreme Court
Set up federal and 13 district courts
Established the office of Attorney General
John Jay names first Supreme Court Justice

7. “And be it further enacted that the United States shall be and they are hereby divided, into thirteen districts…And be it further enacted, that there be a court called a District Court in each of the afore mentioned districts, to consist of one judge…And be it further enacted, that the before mentioned districts, except those of Maine and Kentucky, shall be divided into three circuits…and that there shall be held annually in each district of said circuits, two courts, which shall be called Circuit Court, and shall consist of any two justices of the Supreme Court, and the district court of such districts…”

8. Domestic Issues Domestic: Home Foreign: Other countries
Most pressing issue: money
States owed debts to soldiers
Continental Congress owed money to bondholders
American manufacturers wanted tariffs
Need for stable currency
Alexander Hamilton’s Financial Plan:
Raise money through taxes
Create a national bank
Promote protective tariffs

9. The Whiskey Rebellion
Congress passed a excise tax, or a tax on luxury goods
Farmers west of the Appalachian Mountains protested this tax
In order to sell their wheat and corn they distilled it into whiskey
Many farmers refused to pay the tax and the “Whiskey Boys” tarred an feathered tax collectors

10. Washington’s Dilemma
Washington and Hamilton saw this rebellion as a threat to the authority of the national government
Washington sent 13,000 state militia to stop the rebellion
Farmers were pardoned by Washington once they pledged loyalty to the federal government
By doing this Washington strengthened the national government!
How does this compare to Shays’ Rebellion???

12. Formation of Political Parties
Federalists
Democratic- Republicans
Strong national government rule by the wealthy and educated
Fear of mob rule
Loose construction (interpretation) of the Constitution
Favored national bank
Economy based on manufacturing and they supported tariffs
Supporters: lawyers, merchants, manufacturers, clergy
Founded by: Alexander Hamilton-co-author of the Federalist Papers
Limited national government; states rights
Fear of rule by one person or a powerful few
Strict construction (interpretation) of the Constitution
Opposed national bank
Economy based on farming and strongly disagreed with tariffs
Supporters: farmers, tradespeople
Founded by: Thomas Jefferson and James Madison

13. Formation of Political Parties
Biggest issue that led to the formation was the arguments over a national bank and tariffs

14. How a Tariff Works

15. Foreign Policy
War between France and Britain broke out in 1793…which puts the United States in a pickle!
Britain: trade
France: ally
Washington declared the U.S. neutral

16. Jay’s Treaty
Britain made it hard for the U.S. to remain neutral-the British had began seizing the cargoes of American ships carrying goods from the West Indies
Chief Justice John Jay was sent to make peace with Britain
In Jay’s Treaty the British agreed to pay for damages to U.S. vessels they had seized
They also agreed to leave the Ohio Valley that the U.S. wanted to occupy

18. Pinckney’s Treaty
Another foreign Thomas Pinckney also helped reduced tensions along the frontier
Pinckney's 1795 treaty with Spain gave Americans the right to store goods at the Port of New Orleans without paying customs duties
Spain also accepted the 31st parallel as the northern boundary of Florida and the southern boundary of the U.S.

19. “Our policy in regard to Europe is not to interfere in the internal concerns of any of its powers; to cultivate friendly relations with it, and to preserve the just claims of every power; submitting to injuries from none. But this continent’s circumstances are different. It is impossible that the European powers should extend their political system to any portion of this continent without endangering our peace and happiness; …it is impossible that we should behold such involvement with indifference.”

20. Farewell Address
Warned against political parties-it will create jealousy and divide Americans
Remain neutral-Do not get involved with European nations
Keep taxes reasonable