1. Bell Ringer
What is a precedent? Give one example of a precedent George Washington set.
“The first of everything in our situation will serve to establish a precedent.”
George Washington in a letter to James Madison

2. Precedents
George Washington created the Presidential cabinet, or group of advisors.
John Adams – Vice President
Thomas Jefferson – Secretary of State
Alexander Hamilton – Secretary of the Treasury
Henry Knox – Secretary of War
Edmund Randolph – Attorney General

3. Hamilton vs. Jefferson
Everyone in the cabinet did not get along, especially Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson
What is the biggest difference between Jefferson and Hamilton?

4. Hamilton vs. Jefferson
The Elastic Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18):
“To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.”

5. Bell Ringer
What positions did Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson have in Washington’s cabinet?

6. Hamilton vs. Jefferson
Use the letters written by Hamilton and Jefferson to Washington to answer the questions.
What was happening in Washington’s cabinet?

7. George Washington’s Precedents
He realized that he didn’t want to serve for more than 2 terms
He wasn’t a KING, only a PRESIDENT
However, he saw changes in the political system that worried him.
He wrote his Farewell Address to warn people of the evils he saw in those changes.

8. Bell Ringer
What were two issues George Washington warned the nation about in his Farewell Address?

9. Rise of Political Parties
Groups that help elect government officials and shape government policies
Federalist Party
Alexander Hamilton
Democratic-Republican (Republicans) Party
Thomas Jefferson and James Madison

10. Election of 1796 Federalists Republicans Abigail Adams
John Adams (Washington’s VP) and Thomas Pinckney
Republicans
Thomas Jefferson (Washington’s Secretary of State) and Aaron Burr
Abigail Adams
“I fear America will never go through another Election without Blood Shed. We have had a paper War for six weeks past.”

11. Election of 1796 Results – Adams 1st; Jefferson 2nd
President and Vice President were not elected together
President John Adams
Vice President Thomas Jefferson

12. Election of 1800 Federalists – Adams and Charles Pinckney
Republicans – Jefferson and Burr
Jefferson and Burr tied with 73 electoral votes
House of Representatives had to decide
After 35 ballots Jefferson and Burr still tied
One Federalist refused to vote for Burr to break the tie
Led to the 12th Amendment

13. Election of 1800
Jefferson believed that his rise to power was a new revolution
Revolution of 1800
“[The election was] as real a revolution in the principles of our government as that of 1776 was in its form; not effected [caused] indeed by the sword, as that [was], but by the rational and peaceable instrument of reform, the suffrage [vote] of the people.”
Thomas Jefferson

14. Jefferson’s Presidency
Video can be found on website