An Infant Nation
April 30, 1789
George Washington becomes
President.
First Acts
Judiciary Act of 1789
 Created the District and Circuit courts.
Specified that the Supreme Court will
consist of six judges. John Jay became
first Chief Justice
Bill of Rights
 Ratified by the states in 1791.
Washington’s first cabinet
 Jefferson - Secretary of State.
 Hamilton - Secretary of the Treasury.
 Henry Knox - Secretary of War.
 Edmund Randolph - Attorney General
Hamilton’s Financial Program
Payment of debt.
 Excise tax.
 Protective tariff.
 Money management.
Overall objective: Favored men of wealth
and enterprise. Give them a stake in
the new government.

Key Events
Political parties.
 (pls note the chart on page 189.)
French Revolution.
 Support v. trepidation (reign of terror)
 Neutrality Proclamation of 1793.
Became a stepping stone for the
isolationist position.
Problems with Britain
Brits tested neutrality.
 Northern frontier forts.
 1794 Battle of Fallen Timbers. General
“Mad Anthony” Wayne defeats the
northwest Indians.
 1795 Treaty of Grenville.
 Attacks of US merchant shipping.

Con’t
Jay’s Treaty.
 Made little gains.
 Debts.
 Impact: Helped vitalize the newborn
Democratic-Republican party of
Jefferson.
 Spain. Pinckney’s Treaty of 1795.
Washington’s Farewell Address
1796. Discussed four major points:
1. Warned against the dangers of
sectionalism.
2. Warned against the strife of political
factions.
3. Preserve religion, morality, and
promote education.

More George
4. Maintain neutrality in relations with
other nations.

Set the precedent for term limitations.
(Not a legal issue until the 22nd
Amendment in 1951.)