Launching A New Nation
In 1789 George Washington became the
first president of the United States.
• Americans saw George
Washington as an honest
man and a hero of the
Revolution.
–Many Americans wanted
him to be president.
• Electors from the 11 states that had passed the
Constitution met in January 1789 to vote.
–They formed a group called the electoral
college: a body of electors who represent the
people’s vote in choosing the president.
–They selected Washington unanimously and
picked John Adams to be vice president.
The Reluctant President
His Response….
• “While I realize the arduous (difficult)
nature of the task which is confer (given)
on me and feel my inability to perform it, I
wish there may not be reason for
regretting the choice. All I can promise is
only that which can be accomplished by
an honest zeal (enthusiasm).”
• First Lady Martha
Washington
entertained at social
events.
Martha was a young widow, who had been married to
Daniel Parke Custis, son of the King's Council for Virginia.
She had two children, and a considerable estate from her
former husband. Upon marriage, the family moved to, and
remained at Mount Vernon.
Congress and the president organized the
executive and judicial branches of
government.
Executive Branch
#1.The new government would
set precedents, or examples, for
future action.
• Congress created executive
departments.
• The president’s cabinet served
as his advisers.
• Alexander Hamilton was chosen
Secretary of the Treasury, and
Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of
Organizing the Federal Court
System
#2 Judicial Branch
• Congress passed the
Judiciary Act of 1789 to
set up the federal court
system.
• The act created 3 levels
of federal courts and
defined powers.
• It set up federal district
courts and circuit courts
of appeal.
• The president nominated
federal judges.
Main Idea #3:
Americans had high expectations of their new
government.
• In 1790 the US had 4 million people
• Farmers wanted fair tax laws and the
right to settle western lands.
• Merchants, laborers, and craftspeople
wanted help with their businesses.
• The 1st capital was New York City—a
trade center and economic hub of the
nation, that had 33,000 people and
was growing rapidly.
Alexander Hamilton
• The powers contained in a
constitution…ought to be construed
liberally in advancement of the public
good.”
—Alexander Hamilton
Financial Problems of the
Nation
1. Biggest problem: Huge national debt.
(money owed by the United States)2. $11.7 million to foreign countries, $40 million
to U.S. citizens from purchased bonds.
Bonds=certificates of debt that carry a promise
to buy back the bonds at a higher price.
3. Bondholders who needed money sold their
bonds at a lesser price to speculators, who
wait for bond value to rise and then sell at a
profit.
Hamilton’s Plan
1. Deal with the Debt: Pay
back foreign debt and then
repay value of bonds.
Federal Government would
pay state’s debt.
2. Gain Revenue: Increase
business and put a tariff
(tax)on trade items to bring
money in.
3. Stabilize the Banking
System: Create a national
bank. Create a national
mint.
Opposition
• Thomas Jefferson opposed
Hamilton’s ideas. He thought
the idea cheated bondholders
who had sold their bonds at
low prices.
• Southern states did not want to
help with national debt-Virginia
and N. Carolina did not have
war debt. Hamilton needed the
South’s support to pay debt
off.
What to do?
• Hamilton knew South
wanted nation’s capitol
moved from NY.
• The compromise worked.
In 1791 the nation’s
capital moved to
Philadelphia for 10 years.
• Washington then chose a
place on the Potomac that
included part of Maryland
and Virginia.
Section 3 Challenges
1. French Revolution: On
July 14, 1789 citizens
rebelled against the
French King by
storming a French
3. Some Americans were
Bastille. (prison)
appalled by the violent
French were inspired
attacks on the authority.
by U.S. Revolution.
(Beheadings)
2. Some Americans
supported the French 4. War between France
and Britain started
Citizens actions
again-U.S. citizens were
split in their support.
The Beheading of King Louis and
Queen Marie Antoinette
The Neutrality Proclamation
“ The duty and interest
• Washington believed
of the United States
neutrality was the best
require that they
action for the U.S. to
should with sincerity
take.
and good faith adopt
• The Neutrality
and pursue a conduct
Proclamation (not
friendly and impartial
taking sides) stated the
towards the
U.S. would not take
belligerent powers. “
sides with any European
countries that were at
-George Washington
war.
Help the French?
France asked for help
Jefferson believed the U.S.
with their war against
should help the French.
Britain. They wanted to
use American sailors as Hamilton was pro-British
privateers (private
because of needed trade
ships hired to attack
ties.
its enemies)
Washington said NO! It
Jefferson
thought
Hamilton
would violate the
was too involved in state
Neutrality act.
business and resigned!
Hamilton,
You want the government to rule like
the King once ruled us! I will not help
you achieve your goal….
I Quit!
Jay’s Treaty
Other threats to U. S. Neutrality
1.U.S. ships carrying food to the
French West Indies was seized
by British ships.
2.To avoid another war with Britain
Washington sent John Jay to
work out a compromise.
3.Jay’s Treaty settled disputes
since the 1790’s: the U.S. agreed
to pay debts, British promised to
pay damages to ships and
abandon forts on northwestern
frontier.
Response to Jay’s Treaty
• The treaty sparked riots.
• Some believed the treaty hurt
trade and did not punish British
enough for their actions.
• South angry because Britain
did not pay for slaves they had
freed in the Revolutionary War.
Problems in the Northwest
• Americans settled in the
Northwest Territory despite
Native Americans’ protests.
• Native Americans went to
war ready with weapons
provided by British traders.
• Early Native American
victories came under Miami
Chief Little Turtle.
Little Turtle
• Frustrated by Native Americans
actions, Washington gave General
Anthony Wayne the task of fighting
the Indians. In 1793 Wayne arrived in
Ohio to find soldiers with smallpox
and influenza.
• Wayne built Fort Grenville and
remained there during the winter.
• In the summer of 1794 Little Turtle’s
men attacked supply trains. Wayne
responded by attacking Native
American towns and burning their
crops.
The End of Conflict
• The British lost faith in Little Turtle and stopped aide.
• Turtle realized without help he was outmatched and
urged for peace. (It was not to be)
• On August 20, 1794 Native Americans fought Wayne’s
troops at the Battle of Fallen Timbers and were
defeated. Wayne’s armies then burned Indian villages
and fields.
• Defeated, Native American leaders signed the Treaty
of Greenville-which gave the US claim to most Indian
lands in the Northwest territory.
What did Little Turtle get?
Native Americans had to promise US
citizens would be safe in the territory.
They received $20,000 worth of goods and
an acknowledgement of land they still
owned.
Whiskey Rebellion
 In 1791, Congress
taxed all liquor made
and sold in the U.S.
 Thousands of farmers rebelled against the tax.
"Famous whiskey insurrection in Pennsylvania", an
illustration from Our first century: being a popular
descriptive portraiture of the one hundred great and
memorable events of perpetual interest in the history of our
country by R. M. Devens (Springfield, Mass, 1882).
 Pres. Washington sent about 13,000 members of state
militias to restore order.
The painting depicts George Washington and his troops near
Fort Cumberland, Maryland, before their march to suppress
the Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania.
"...if the laws are to be so trampled upon with impunity, and
a minority...is to dictate to the majority, there is an end put
at one stroke to republican government...for some other man
or society may dislike another law and oppose it with equal
propriety until all laws are prostrate, and everyone will
carve for himself."
- George Washington's observation about the Whiskey
Rebellion
* The Whiskey Rebellion proved to Americans that the new
government would act firmly in times of crisis.
support the Democratic
Republicans and oppose
Federalists.
Washington's Farewell address
• Washington decided not to run for a third
term. He wanted retirement more than
anything!