George Washington as the
Precedent President
George Washington
 The Right
Leader?
 Electoral
College
 The people saw him as a
national hero
 He had concerns about himself
 11 States sent delegates in
January 1789
 These delegates formed the
electoral college
 Delegates were to represent the
popular vote of the state
The “Precedent President”
 Precedent
 Action or decision that serves
as an example in the future
 Washington knew everything he
did was being watched by all both in the U.S. and outside the
U.S.
 Every act Washington/ the
government did was a
precedent
A Few Precedents Set By
George Washington
1. Creation of the first Cabinet
2. Set up the Federal Court System (Judiciary Act
of 1789)
3. Decided what to call the President - both
current and past (Mr. President)
4. Decided on the “dress code” of the President
5. Two term presidency
6. Kresge’s Favorite - No president sets foot in
Senate
This didn’t catch on (too bad)- Proximity at dinner
Executive Branch
 Executive  First Cabinet was created
(Washington’s idea)
Branch
 Washington appointed cabinet, but




Senate had to approve
Secretary of War – Henry Knox
Secretary of Treasury – Alexander
Hamilton
Secretary of State – Thomas
Jefferson
Attorney General – Edmund
Randolph
What are these meetings?!
 The
Cabinet
 Washington met with the
department heads regularly
 They advised him on all important
matters
 Think back to Washington’s
education level
 Now common practice (precedent)
Judicial Branch
 Judiciary Act
of 1789
 Created a 3 level Federal Court
System
 Outlined the powers of the
courts
 District, Appeals, Supreme
 Supreme Court has 6 Justices
 President nominates, House of
Representatives must approve
 John Jay – First Chief Justice
Hamilton versus Jefferson Debate
Hamilton
New York, former slave
orphan in West Indies,
self-taught, self-made
Bankers, wealthy, welleducated, business
owners
Jefferson
Background Virginia planter, studies
science and govt., wrote the
Dec. of Ind.
Who they
support
“Average” people - farmers,
shopkeepers
Educated and elite
citizens to be involved.
Commoners stay home!
How
Faith in commoners, more
government democratic. This is NOT
should be England!
run
Support for
 England
 Businesses/Banks
 North
Goals for Support for
government  France
 Farming/Small
businesses
 South
Washington Myths
 Washington was very intelligent, and a great
intellect
 George Washington was too proper to own
slaves, and did not believe in the practice
(he had 200 slaves at Mt. Vernon)
 Chopping down the Cherry tree
 Wooden Teeth (You won’t believe the slave
teeth story)
 Washington threw a silver dollar across the
Potomac River