Warm Up: Journal
Imagine that when you awoke today
you discovered that all of the adults
(18+) in Houston have vanished. You
are responsible for running the city
until help arrives.
Explain how you will keep the city in
order. Identify your first 3 decisions.
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Be specific as to which actions you will
take and explain WHY.
Ex. First I will
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________because
__________________________________
__________________________________
____________________. This will be
easy/difficult to accomplish because
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
___________________.
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Discussion
Which were the most difficult tasks
to take on? Why?
What leadership skills are necessary
to accomplish this task?
The main problems faced by you in
this task are the same problems GW
faced as President of the New
American Republic
Establishing authority
 Creating a stable Economy
 Judicial equity-how should this branch of
government work?
*What Washington does sets a precedent
for all other Presidents!
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The New Republic: problems of the
young nation
1789-1800’s
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Problem #1: Establishing authority
Establishing the Authority of the
Federal Government….
Many states didn’t want to give up
power to the federal gov’t under the
new Constitution
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How to interpret the constitution…
There are 2 ways to interpret the
Constitution
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Strict Interpretation
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Loose interpretation
Strict Interpretation vs Loose
Interpretation
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Limits the power of the federal gov’t
to those specifically listed in the
Constitution
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Expanding power of the federal
government using the elastic clause
to increase federal power
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The Plan to fix problem #1
The PLAN….
Follow the Constitution, limiting the
power of the federal government
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Make laws, declare war, coin $, make
treaties
State governments would have power in
most other areas
What actually happened…Establish
Authority of the Feds….
Reality…
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Cabinet departments were created
by GW
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Treasury, State, War, and Justice
departments that reported directly to
the President INCREASES EXECUTIVE
POWER
GW begins the National Bank
INCREASES LEGISLATIVE POWER
Supreme Court is established and the
idea of judicial review INCREASES
JUDICIAL POWER
Practiced the principle of federalism
Problem #2 The Court System
Implementing a uniform court/justice
system
Article III of the Constitution has very
little detail; no info n how the
Supreme Court works nor the courts
underneath it!
The Plan to Fix Problem #2
Set up a uniform court system
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Congress wants to establish a court
system that would work as a whole
for the entire country but not infringe
on the authority of the state courts
What actually happened…Judiciary
Reality
Judiciary Act of 1789
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Congress organized the federal courts
Size of the Supreme Court set at 6 judges
(now 9)
 US was divided into districts so there was a
federal judge in each region of the country to
preside over cases in that region.
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Problem #3: Creating a stable
economy
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Problem: Economy
Creating a stable economy and
paying off debt
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States and Congress had borrowed
money during the Am Rev from
individuals and foreign countries
New government needed $ for daily
operations
The estimated amount owed in 1789
was between $75-80 million dollars.
Income for US was $4million
NOTE**
Factors that create a Stable Economy
Money keeps it’s value
Money borrowed is repaid
Credit is available for future loans
Economic Plan….
Alexander Hamilton-{Secretary of the
Treasury} creates an economic
recovery plan
What Happened…Economic reality
check
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Southern states do not agree with
Hamilton’s plan to repay debts…
Compromise reached between
Jefferson (Southern Representative)
and Hamilton..Southerners would
approve the plan if the US Capitol
was moved to the south.
Solutions…..
National Bank Established:
The government deposited money from taxes in the Bank.
The Bank issued paper money to pay the government’s bills and
make loans to farmers and businesses.
Tariff Created
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to make imported goods more
expensive than American-made goods
What Happened…Economic reality
check
To raise money for the Treasury,
Congress approved a tax on all liquor
made and sold in the United States.
EXCISE TAX
 Backcountry farmers grew corn. It
was easier to get their product to
market if they turned their corn into
whiskey first.
 They hated the tax on whiskey. They
rebelled, marching in protest and
tarring and feathering tax collectors.
The WHISKEY REBELLION
 What Happened…Economic reality
check
 Washington reacts to the Whiskey
Rebellion..
 Washington called up the militia and
sent them to put down the rebellion.
The rebels fled back to their farms.
 The national government had shown
that it would act firmly in times of
crisis. It also showed that
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violence/rebellion would not be
tolerated.
Proved the Federal Government has
much more authority under the
Constitution.