U.S. IN 1789

Population doubling every 20 years

90% rural, only 5% west of Appalachians

Starting in 1791, Vermont, Kentucky,
Tennessee, Ohio would become states

Legacy of 12 years of weak government

Country heavily in debt with a worthless paper currency

Analysis of Washington
1.Exceptional leader
--Deferred to his assistants
--Visionary who helped form the new republic
2. Precedent of the President
--Dominance of the
Executive Branch in Foreign Affairs
(Jay’s Treaty)
--What are some other precedents?

Hamilton’s Financial Plan (1791)

Enact excise taxes and customs duties


Fed Gov’t assume nation’s debt to establish credit
Established a National Bank

Used the elastic clause of the Constitution to support his decision

Why would this be very unpopular among the Anti-Fed’s?

Whiskey Rebellion (1794)

Angry farmers in
Western PA rebelled against Hamilton’s excise tax.

Why were the farmers upset?


What was
Washington’s response?
Washington sets precedent that minority factions can protest peacefully, but cannot take up arms

Foreign Policy
Survival (1783-1814)
•Existence of America was in Jeopardy
•9 elements of National Power in 1792, the United States had 0
 Military Capacity
--600 man army, Navy of 3 ships
 National Morale
--country divided on the constitution and political party

RELATIONS WITH GB



British continued to man forts in NW terr. & supply Indians with weapons
British Navy seized approx. 300 American merchant ships & impressed seamen
Washington sends John Jay to conduct diplomatic negotiations

Jay’s Treaty (1794)
Terms:
 British would compensate merchant losses
 Americans would pay off pre-Revolution debts
 Treaty unpopular—Jay was burned in effigy!

Relations with France
 Neutrality Proclamation (1793)
 Washington says we are going to stay out of
Europe’s Wars
 Very controversial. Why?
 Withdrew from the Franco-American Alliance
 Alliance signed in 1778 to provide for help with
Revolutionary War
 Was to last 20 years, lasted 15
 Upset the French and led to the Citizen Genet Affair

Relations with
Spain
 Pinckney
Treaty (1795) — port of N.O.
 Ended the
Florida border dispute
 Opened the port of N.O. to
American
Ships

Washington’s Farewell Address
•Spirit of the address was directed at creating an independent nation with a distinctively
American and republican character
•Take the middle ground in American politics and foreign policy (no factions and neutrality)
•By the way, another precedent!

•“Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.”
 Misinterpreted that he was preaching Isolation
 Young nation needed time to mature
 It was in our national interest to allow this to happen

•Isolationist view reflected in the U.S. being a reactive nation:
 Mexican-American War?
 Spanish-American War?
 World War I?
 World War II?
 Korean War?
 Vietnam War?
 Afghanistan?
 Iraq?
 Iraq and Syria--ISIS?