PRESIDENCIES OF
GEORGE WASHINGTON
AND JOHN ADAMS
SSUSH5 The student will explain specific events and
key ideas that brought about the adoption and
implementation of the United States Constitution.
e. Explain the importance of the Presidencies of George Washington
and John Adams; include the Whiskey Rebellion, non-intervention in
Europe, and the development of political parties (Alexander
Hamilton).
Party Affiliation: Federalist
JUDICIARY ACT OF 1789
• Passed by Washington establishing the Federal
Court System
• Created a Supreme Court
• Set up federal circuit courts and district courts
• Most Important: It allowed state court decisions
to be appealed to a Federal Court when
constitutional issues were raised. This guaranteed
that the Federal law was the supreme law of the
land.
WHISKEY
REBELLION
• A new tax placed on whiskey
• Hurt farmers because this was their main
source of income (corn growers)
• Protestors in Pennsylvania refused to pay the
tax and threatened to secede from the union
• Washington and Hamilton sent an army to
end the rebellion
• **Showed the US was committed to enforcing
its laws
FOREIGN POLICY DURING
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
• The Neutrality Proclamation: a statement made
that took a position of neutrality toward the war
between France and Great Britain
• US remained neutral and Britain and France seized
US ships and sailors
• US sent John Jay to work out a treaty
• Jay’s Treaty was negotiated between the US and
Britain… British evacuated their posts in the
Northwest Territory
HAMILTON & JEFFERSON:
THE BIRTH OF POLITICAL PARTIES
• Alexander Hamilton:
• Federalists... Strong central government led by
upper class citizens
• Secretary of the Treasury
• Supported a friendly relationship with the British
• Assumption Bill: Federal government would
assume the war debts of the states… to be
equally shared
THOMAS JEFFERSON
• Anti Federalist… strong state and local
governments, national government with
limited power, all citizens to participate
• Secretary of State
• Supported a friendly relationship with the
French
• Believed that each state should be
responsible for their own war debt
THE BIRTH OF
POLITICAL PARTIES
• The beliefs of Hamilton and Jefferson
grew into the first political parties of the
U.S.
• Those who supported the views of
Hamilton were called Federalists
• Those who supported the views of
Jefferson were called the DemocraticRepublicans
WASHINGTON’S
FAREWELL ADDRESS
• Due to continued fighting between
Hamilton and Jefferson, Washington
decided not to run for a third term.
• In his farewell address he urged the nation
to:
• Not become involved in affairs of other
countries where we have no business
• Stay away from political parties
JOHN ADAMS
2nd President
1797- 1801
Party Affiliation:
Federalist
JOHN ADAMS
• Election of 1796: Adams v. Jefferson
• Adams won the electoral vote and became
President
• Based on the Constitution, Jefferson became Vice
President because he came in second place
• The nation had a Federalist President and a
Democratic-Republican Vice President
ADAMS: XYZ AFFAIR
• France did not like Jay’s Treaty and wouldn’t talk to
the US ambassador and seized US cargo ships
• Americans went to talk to the French and were forced
to speak with 3 low level officials: XYZ
• France wanted a bribe to speak with Napoleon
• Provoked anti-French feelings US Navy seized French
ships
• Adams wouldn’t declare war and it hurt him in the
next election
ADAMS:
ALIEN & SEDITION ACTS
• Adams did not like the Democratic-Republicans
(gaining strength) and felt they were a danger to
the country since many were immigrants
• Naturalization Act: raised the residency
requirement for citizenship from 5 to 14 years
• Aliens Act: allowed the president to deport or jail
any alien considered “undesirable”
• Sedition Act: set fines and jail terms for anyone
expressing opinions considered damaging to the
government