Warm-Up
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Imagine you are the first president of the United
States. Write 3-4 sentences on the problems you
might face in a new government. What needs to be
done? (Security, financial, political, etc)
The Early Republic (1789 – 1823)
The U.S. Constitution
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Approved by committee on Sept 17th, 1787
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Ratified by the states in Sept 13th, 1788 (needed 9 of 13 states)
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Goes into effect on March 4th, 1789
The Presidency – What is it??
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Chief of State – chief public
representative of the nation
Commander-in-Chief – leads
the Armed Forces
Chief Legislator – recommends
new laws to Congress
Chief Diplomat – both a
national spokesman and world
leader
Chief Executive – sees that
laws are faithfully executed
The Presidential Seal
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What does the
Seal mean?
What do you
think the
different parts
of the symbols
represent?
E. Pluribus Unum = Out of
many, one
Talons hold olive
branches for peace
and arrows for war.
Head looks towards
olive branches
showing President
always looking for
peace but ready
for war.
50 Stars = 50 States
The President’s Coat of Arms
represents the military strength of the
United States
Shield has
alternating red and
white stripes
representing the
original 13 states
with a blue band on
top signifying unity,
one nation.
1. George Washington (1789-1797)
• Elected unanimously in 1788 by the
Electoral College
• Serves only 2 terms (sets precedent
(tradition)
• Elected to second term in 1792
• Congress paid president $25,000/year
but he declined it due to “selfless image”
and wealth
• Preferred to be formally called “Mr.
President” (another precedent he sets)
• Great administrator and judge of talent
and character
• Sets precedent of creating a “cabinet”
(group of advisors) to help him reach
gov’t decisions
George Washington (1789-1797)
Interesting Facts:
1.
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3.
4.
5.
6.
Was 6’ 2” tall and about 200 lbs
After years of toothaches, had all but
one of his teeth pulled at age 57
Did not have wooden teeth, fake
dentures made from carved animal
bones and actual teeth from slaves
(which he paid for)
Married Martha Custis at age 26 and
never had any children of his own
(Martha had two children from
previous marriage)
Great dancer and horseman
Only Founding Father who ran a
distillery
Presidential Challenges
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Maintain national security
Create a stable economic system (paying
debts)
Build a military
Set up a court system
Define the central gov’ts authority
Washington’s Cabinet
Secretary of the
Treasury
Alexander Hamilton
1789
Treasury Department
Jacob Lew
2013
(Deals with national financial matters)
Washington’s Cabinet
Secretary of the
State
John Kerry
2013
Thomas Jefferson
1789
State Department
(Handles relations with other nations/foreign affairs)
Washington’s Cabinet
Secretary of the
War/Defense
Henry Knox
1789
Chuck Hagel
2013
War/Defense Department
(Provides for the nation’s defense)
Washington’s Cabinet
Attorney General
Edmund Randolph
1789
Justice Department
Eric Holder Jr.
2013
(President’s legal advisor and enforces national laws)
Question:
Does the Constitution include
and explain how a President’s
“Cabinet” should be formed?
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Interpretations of the Constitution
“Necessary and Proper Clause”: expands the
powers of the Constitution to fit a working
government
 Strict Constructionist: believe that government
ONLY has powers specified by Constitution
 Loose Constructionist: want to use the elastic
clause for what they think is “necessary and
proper”
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Economic Policies
Secretary of Treasury
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Alexander Hamilton
For a central, national
bank, national
currency
For tax whiskey and
luxury items
Secretary of State
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Thomas Jefferson
Against a national
bank, thought it was
unconstitutional
Against taxes thought
unfair to farmers
Economic Policies
Secretary of Treasury
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For protective tariffs
(taxes) to protect U.S.
manufacturers. Taxes
imports (goods from
other countries)
Secretary of State
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Against protective
tariffs…thought it
would hurt farmers
and increase cost of
goods
Alexander
Hamilton’s
Financial
Plan
Jefferson’s
argument and
opposition to
Hamilton’s plan
Leads to the creation of
Political Parties in the nation
Political Parties
• Federalist Party
• Leader: Alexander Hamilton
• Priorities: Manufacturering,
strong federal gov’t (loose
interpretation of the
Constitution), favored Britain
as trading partner
• Democratic-Republicans
• Leader: Thomas Jefferson
• Priorities: Agriculture,
strong state gov’ts (strict
interpretation of the
Constitution), favored France
(revolutionary ally) as
trading partner
Washington’s Foreign Policies & Actions
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Neutrality Proclamation – U.S. would
stay neutral in other nation’s wars
Signed Jay’s Treaty – dodged war and
promoted trade with Britain
Farewell Address – warned against
political parties and getting involved
other countries problems (foreign
affairs).
Reflection
How were political parties formed?
From what argument? How do political
parties affect us today? Be specific and
write a 4-5 sentence paragraph.
2. John Adams (1787-1801)
• Considered a “Founding Father” of our
nation
• Strong supporter of the Independence
movement before and after the
American Revolution
• Helped write the Declaration of
Independence
• Was the first Vice-President under
Washington and second President of the
U.S.
• Was a lawyer and farmer from
Massachusetts
• Only serves one term as President after
losing to Thomas Jefferson in the election
of 1800
2. John Adams (1787-1801)
Interesting Facts:
• One of only two father-son Presidents in
U.S. History (George H. W. and George
W. Bush)
• Signer of the Declaration of
Independence
• Had a fiery temper and loved to argue
• Defended the British soldiers accused of
murder in the “Boston Massacre”
• Had an extremely close relationship with
wife Abigail
• Dies on July 4th, 1826, on the 50th
anniversary of the signing of the
Declaration of Independence
John Adams’ Presidency
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Adams continues Washington’s policy of
“neutrality” which angers the French
The French begin to “seize” U.S. ships on
the high seas
The U.S. has many French supporters
who want the U.S. to help them in the
war against Britain
Thomas Jefferson, Vice-President, is one
of them
XYZ Affair
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Adams sends diplomats to France to
try and negotiate peace
French agents say France would only
talk if U.S. Pays them $10 million and
a bribe to the French minister of
$250,000
Americans very angrily refuse
Congress allows U.S. Ships to seize
French ships and begins building an
army
Alien and Sedition Acts
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Adams becomes a target
of bad political press from
Democratic-Republicans.
Many new immigrants are
Democratic-Republicans
Adams passes the Alien
and the Sedition Acts to
try and silence
Democratic-Republican
and immigrant
newspapers
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Targeted aliens
(immigrants)
Extended wait time to
become a citizen from
5 to 14 years
Allowed President to
order aliens out of country
Made saying or writing
anything false or harmful
about the government
illegal (sedition)
The issue of State’s Rights
will continue until Civil
War
Election of 1800
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VS
Adams (Federalist) loses to Jefferson
(Democratic-Republican)
Adams was able to keep U.S. out of
war and strengthened the Navy
Adams was the first president to live
in the Executive (White House)
Mansion in Washington, D.C., and
first to leave it
3. Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809)
•Wrote the Declaration of
Independence
•Secretary of State under Washington
and Vice-President under Adams
•Leader of the Democratic-Republican
Party
•Was a “Strict Constructionist”
•From Virginia, lived at Monticello
•Wife Martha, dies in 1782 and never
remarries
•Wins two terms as President
3. Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809)
Interesting Facts:
• Owned thousands of books
• Helped create the Bill of Rights for the
U.S. Constitution
• Designed and began the University of
Virginia
• Was governor of Virginia twice
• Designed his own house Monticello and
continuously made improvements
• Had 12 children and was a greatgrandfather at the time of his death
• Died on July 4th, 1826, on the 50th
anniversary of the Declaration of
Independence. Died about 4 hours
before John Adams.
Views on Government
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“When the people fear the government,
there is tyranny. When the government
fears the people, there is liberty.”
“My reading of history convinces me
that most bad government results from
too much government.”
“The policy of the American government
is to leave their citizens free, neither
restraining nor aiding them in their
pursuits.”