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• George Washington, commanding general of Continental Army during
Revolution, unanimous choice to be the first president
• Constitution provided strong foundation, but lacked details
• Washington and his admin. would have to figure out a lot on their own
• Needed to figure how to…
1. Raise $ and manage economy
2. Provide for defense
3. Set up a court system
• Set many important precedents
2

• In 1789 Congress created the first four executive departments
• The heads of each of these departments made up the first
cabinet – a group of advisors to the president
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•
•
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Secretary of State
Thomas Jefferson
Secretary of Treasury
Alexander Hamilton
Secretary of War
Henry Knox
Attorney General
Edmund Randolph

4

• Constitution said little about the structure of the judicial branch
• Congress passed the
Judiciary Act of 1789 to establish structure of the courts
• Established three levels of the
Federal Judiciary
- Supreme Court
- Federal Courts of Appeals
- Federal District Court
• Supreme Court included 6 justices including a Chief
Justice (today it is 9 justices)
• West v. Barnes - 1791
President Chart
John Jay
1 st Chief Justice of
Supreme Court
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• U.S. incurred millions of $ of debt from Revolution – some to other countries, some to U.S. citizens (bonds)
• Hamilton’s Plan Calls For...
1. Fed. government to assume individual state debts
2. Bonds to be repaid in full by
National government
3. National Bank
• Many in South opposed plan – felt it favored the North
• Northern and southern states strike a deal – Hamilton’s plan passes and capital moves to
Washington D.C.

• Debate over Hamilton’s plan led to rift in Washington’s cabinet, formation of first political parties
• Hamilton and supporters of plan become Federalists,
Jefferson and opponents of plan become Democratic-
Republicans
• Biggest divide over National
Bank proposal
• Federalists believe Elastic
Clause (Art. I Sec. 8) gives
Congress power to create bank
– “loose” interpretation of
Constitution
• Dem-Rep oppose bank, believe in “strict” interpretation
7

• In 1791 Hamilton’s proposed tax on the manufacture of American whiskey passed in Congress
• Western farmers were outraged by the tax, and in 1794 the Whiskey
Rebellion took place in western
Pennsylvania
• Washington sent in 13,000 troops to stop the rebellion
• Demonstrates the ability of the new government to enforce federal law
8

• Believed in strong central government
• Economy based on business/industry
• Loose interpretation of
Constitution
• Led by Hamilton, John Adams
• Most from Northeast
• Bankers, artisans, merchants
• Supported English
• Believed in states’ rights
• Economy based on farming – agrarianism
• Strict interpretation of
Constitution
• Led by Jefferson, Madison
• Most from South and West
• Farmers
• Support French
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Manufacturing Nation
Trinity Church
New York, NY
Citizen Farmer
Monticello
Charlottesville, VA

• French Revolution begins in
1789
• Radicals gain control, Britain and France go to war again in
1792
• Washington issues proclamation of neutrality
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Presidents Chart

• Britain began seizing
American ships, inciting
Native Americans
• Washington sends John Jay to
Britain in attempt to avoid war
• GB removed troops in NW
Terr., settled border disputes – no discussion of impressment or innocent bystanders during war
• Republicans unhappy with treaty, but Washington ratifies
– prevents war with GB
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• Indian Confederacy forms in
Northwest Territory led by Chief
Little Turtle
• Washington sends Gen. “Mad
Anthony” Wayne to put down resistance
• Wayne defeats Native Americans at the Battle of Fallen
Timbers in southern Ohio
• Ended resistance in Northwest
Territory
Presidents Chart
13

• After 2 terms, Washington decides step down and retire
• In his famous Farewell
Address to the American people, he warns against sectionalism, political parties, and foreign alliances
Presidents Chart
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