George Washington was unanimously elected as President
by the Electoral College in 1789. He took the oath of
office on April 30, 1789 in New York city.
• Refused military dictatorship.
• Did not want to be President.
• Radiates leadership and
command.
• Innate understanding of the
complexities of political right
and wrong.
• Only President to not claim a
political party (factionalism).
• Only President to be elected
unanimously by the electoral
college.
“First in war, first
in peace, first in
the hearts of his
countrymen.”
Precedents
are
VP
has no official
models,
examples
duties
or influences other
President would
acts
Presidents
independent
follow from
Congress
What to call the
Congress
relies on
President?
theMr.
advice
of the
President
President
Presidents
set their
own personal
style
Served
2 terms
and stepped
aside
Cabinet
appointed
by
allowing
President
and for
advises
him else
someone
•President Washington appoints 6
justices to the Supreme Court
•3 from North and 3 from South
Judiciary Act of 1789
Congress creates lower courts and
the office of Attorney General to
assist the Supreme Court.
John Jay
First Chief
Justice of the
Supreme Court
Cabinet advises the President and heads up
an agency of the government
Secretary of State
Thomas Jefferson
Secretary of the
Treasury
Alexander Hamilton
Secretary of War
Henry Knox
Cabinet advises the President and heads up
an agency of the government
Attorney General
Legal Affairs
Edmund Randolph
Department of Justice
Postmaster General
Postal System
Samuel Osgood
• Quiet, introverted,
introspective, yet very
self assured and
confident.
• Aristocratic, born into
a wealthy slave owning
family.
• Extremely suspicious of
large bureaucracies.
• Tremendous belief in the
“common man”, particularly
farmers.
• Strong belief in democracy.
• A brilliant renaissance man:
writer, politician, scientist,
architect.
“The tree of Liberty
needs to be refreshed
from time to time with
the blood of patriots
and tyrants.”
• Born illegitimate, infused
with a tremendous vigor
into becoming a person of
importance and wealth.
• Brash, flamboyant, and
extroverted.
• Aristocratic, arrogant, yet
charming and personable.
In order to create a strong
federal government, Hamilton set
• Extremely
andthe
out
to create aintelligent
plan to shape
exceptionally
visionary. in
policies
of the administration
such a way as to favor the
These
•wealthy.
A master
of wealthier
financial groups
would
thenand
willingly
lend their
planning
central
money
and political support to the
organization.
government. The wealth in the
would then trickle
• government
Very mistrustful
of the
down through
common
man. society.
“Your people, sir,
are nothing but a
great beast!””
Foreign Debt
$11,710,000
•Pay off $80 million
debt
Federal Domestic Debt
$42,414,000
•Excise tax: Taxes
placed on manufactured
products
State Debt
$21,500,000
•Tariff: a tax on
imports
•Establish good credit
with foreign nations
Misc.
Revenue
Excise
Tax
on Whiskey
Custom
Duties
(Tariffs)
debt
•Create a national bank
with a national
currency
•Raise money for
government backed by
gold and silver
Congress and
Hamilton solve
opposition
impasse.
Compromise with Thomas Jefferson and James Madison led
to the location of Washington City (D.C.) in Virginia.
BUS
HAMILTON
JEFFERSON
•Safe place to deposit and
transfer money
•Against the Constitution
•Provide loans to government
and state banks
•A national currency---$$$$$
•An investment by people to
buy stock into US bank
•National debt good for country
•Constitution did not forbid a
national bank….Loose
Construction of
Constitution
•State banks would collapse
•Only wealthy could invest in
bank and would control bank
than control the government
•Hurt the common man
•Against a national debt
•Strict Construction…If it
is not mentioned in the
Constitution than there can’t
be a national bank.
politicalparties
FEDERALISTS
1) Alexander Hamilton/John Adams
2) Led by merchants, bankers, wealthy, and
lawyers; living primarily in New England.
3) Favored a strong central government.
4) Interpreted the Constitution loosely--- ”implied
powers”
5) Believed in a government by the elite, educated
and wealthy.
6) Pro-England.
7) Favored Hamilton's financial policies----support
BUS
8) Vision for US: Trade center, industry and selfsufficient.
politicalparties
DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICANS
1) Thomas Jefferson/James Madison.
2) Led by planters, farmers and wage earners living
primarily in the South and West.
3) Favored strong state governments over national
government.
4) Interpreted the Constitution strictly--- “enumerated
powers”
5) Rule by the educated masses.
6) Pro-France.
7) Opposed Hamilton's financial policies---against BUS
8) Vision for US: Agricultural society, little trade and
industry
Whiskey Rebellion
Whiskey Rebels refused to pay the excise tax that was
passed by Congress and signed into law by President
Washington….Believed this tax was unfair because it was
taxing their income……
whiskeymap
Issue at hand was
testing the power of
the new Constitution
Outcome:
•Demonstrated to the
people that this new
constitution was
powerful enough to
put down domestic
rebellions,
“mobocracy”
•Showed the power of
the national
government
President Washington reviews 13,000 troops of
the Western Army assembled at Fort
Cumberland, Maryland, to crush the Whiskey
Rebellion.
French Rev
•Began in 1790’s, unfair taxation and inequality--worldwide crisis
•Overthrow King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette
•Americans believed we should help the French----their
revolution was believed to be similar to the U.S.
Impressment: an act of kidnapping a ship, its
contents, men and forcing them into your navy---the British and French were doing this to us.
French Rev
•France goes to war
against European
•Executions
of King
kings
Louis the
XVI and
Marie
Antoinette
•France
requestedin
1793.
US ships
to block
West
Indies
from
•Begins
“Reign
the British of
Terror” during
•President
French
Revolution
Washington
where
40,000
declared
Neutrality
opponents
of the
andgovt.
ordered
new
Americans towere
avoid
beheaded.
this war
Whereas it appears that a
state of war exists between
Austria, Prussia, Sardinia,
Great Britain and the United
Netherlands, of the one part
and France on the other; and
the duty and
interest of the U.S. require, that
they should with sincerity and good
faith adopt and pursue a conduct
friendly and impartial toward the
belligerent powers.
I have therefore thought fit by these
presents to declare the disposition of
the U.S. to observe the conduct
aforesaid towards those Powers
respectfully; and to exhort and warn the
citizens of the U.S. carefully to avoid
all acts and proceedings whatsoever,
which may in any manner tend to
contravene such disposition….April 1793
•President Washington’s response to the French
was to warn Americans to stay out these
European conflicts and remain neutral or avoid
any traveling overseas.
•Most Americans were upset with the
President’s Neutrality Proclamation.
•Washington’s decision was based on the long
term U.S. self interest.
•Preserve and protect the infant nation
Thomas Paine On
Washington’s Neutrality
“And as to you, sir, treacherous in private friendship
and a hypocrite in public life, the world will be
puzzled to decide, whether you are an apostate or an
importer; whether you have abandoned good
principles, or whether you ever had any.”
To avoid war, Washington sent
Chief Justice John Jay to
London (1794).
Jeffersonian’s concerned about
Jay’s loyalty.
Hamilton feared war with
England, secretly supplied British
with US bargaining strategy.
British agree to pay some
damages, but required US
to pay old debts on preRevolution accounts.
Jeffersonian’s felt the
treaty was a surrender to
Britain, and a betrayal of
the South (which owed
English debts).
Did not stop impressment.
British would remove forts
from American soil
Allowed US to negotiate
separate treaties with
Indian tribes
Opened westward expansion
for US settlers.
John Jay is burnt in
effigy because
Americans believed
he sold out to the
British.
Jay’s Treaty gave life to the
new Democratic-Republican
party, tarnished Washington’s
popularity.
Negotiated by ambassador Thomas
Pinckney. Spain, fearing a US-British
alliance, gives US free use of Mississippi,
disputed territory north of Florida, and the
port city of New Orleans.
farewell
•Washington warned of the dangers of
political parties and permanent
alliances with other nations.
•Washington’s warning against
“entangling alliances” became a
principle of U.S. foreign policy.
“Europe has a set of primary interests which to us have
none or a very remote relation….Our detached and distant
situation invites and enables us to pursue a different
course…..It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent
alliances with any portion of the foreign world……Taking
care always to keep ourselves by suitable establishments on
a respectable defensive posture, we may safely trust to
temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies”…..1796
 Washington is convinced that Americans must
stay neutral and avoid foreign affairs associated
with all the British and foreign continents--Washington displayed this in 1793 by the
Proclamation of Neutrality and his Farewell
Address in 1796.
No entangling alliances…….US should avoid military
alliances with Europe…….continue to trade with
Europe
Neutrality = Isolation
1.Washington’s Presidency
•
•
Served 2 terms---1789 to 1797
VP: John Adams
2. Problems facing US
Debt
• Government on paper but not in
practice
• British, Spain and Indians
• Confidence in new government
3. Accomplishments
Political achievements
• Precedents
• Develops first Cabinet---Hamilton vs Jefferson
• Supreme Court--Judiciary Act of 1789
• Treaties
Domestic Achievements:
Secures westward expansion
Jay’s Treaty—1793---Great Britain
Picnkney’s Treaty—1795---Spain
Debt solutions
Excise taxes and tariffs
Bank of United States (BUS)
Enforced Constitution
Whiskey Rebellion (“Mobocracy”)
Demonstrated strength of new government
Foreign Achievements
No war with Great Britain or Spain
French Revolution---1789 to 1800---US response
Neutrality Act---Washington warns = stay out
Cornerstone of US foreign policy = isolationism
Washington’s Farewell Speech
Two ways the US can stay unified and strong
Avoid political parties
military alliances with European countries
1796 Campaign
• Adams was supported by New
England and Federalists
– Defeated Jefferson 71-68 in
Electoral College
– Jefferson becomes VP
• France and US close to war.
– Jay’s Treaty
– US not honoring the FrancoAmerican Treaty of 1778
politicalparties
FEDERALISTS
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
Alexander Hamilton/John
Adams
Led by merchants, bankers and
lawyers living primarily in New
England.
Favored a strong central
government.
Interpreted the Constitution
loosely--- ”implied powers”
Believed in a government by the
elite, educated and wealthy.
Pro-England.
Favored Hamilton's financial
policies----support BUS
Vision for US: Trade center,
industry and self-sufficient.
DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICANS
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
Thomas Jefferson/James
Madison.
Led by planters, farmers and
wage earners living primarily
in the South and West.
Favored strong state
governments over national
government.
Interpreted the Constitution
strictly--- “enumerated
powers”
Rule by the educated masses.
Pro-France.
Opposed Hamilton's financial
policies---against BUS
Vision for US: Agricultural
society, little trade and
industry
Impressment
An act of kidnapping a
ship, its contents,
men and forcing them
into your navy
France began impressing our
ships and sailors because of
our Neutrality Proclamation.
France upset because we
violated the Franco American
Treaty of 1778.
• French upset by US violation of
France-US treaty of 1778
• Upset with Jay’s Treaty toward
alliance with England
• French warships impressed over
300 US merchant ships by 1797
Charles
Pinckney
John
Marshall
Elbridge
Gerry
•To avoid war with
France, President
Adams sent 3 US
representatives to
negotiate a peace
agreement…..
•US representatives
were snubbed by the
French government……
•3 French
representatives were
known as X, Y and Z
because they refused
to give their names.
President Adams on
the XYX Affair:
“I will never send
another minister to
France without
assurances that he
will be received,
respected, and
honored as the
representative of a
great, free, powerful
and independent
nation.”
•XYZ demanded a
bribe of $250,000
to merely talk with
French Minister
Charles Talleyrand
•Insulted, the U.S.
refused the
demands and left
France…
•US & French begin
to fight an
undeclared naval
war.
President Adams
“The French
government would
permit us to remain
at Paris and if we
should be received by
Talleyrand one of us
could go to America
and consult our
government on the
subject of the loan.
We had no reason to
believe that a
possible benefit
could result from it.
And we desired him
to tell his
government that we
would not give a
shilling unless
American property
unjustly captured
was previously
restored and
further hostilities
suspended…
Unless this was
done, we did not
think that we
could even consult
our government
concerning a
loan…..”
Americans wanted
war and were heard
to say
“millions for defense,
but not one cent for
tribute”
US prepares for war,
expands navy,
creates the US
Marine Corps.
1798-1800: US & France begin to
fight an undeclared naval war,
mostly around West Indies
US captured over 80 French ships
but lost several hundred to
France.
Needed only slight push for war.
ISSUE: Does the United States
Government have the right to suspend
your rights (Bill of Rights) in time of
crisis (such as war) to protect the
national security of the country?
Alien/sedition
ALIEN ACT: Congress gave President Adams
the power to deport any immigrant who was
considered a risk to national security….Also,
changed naturalization (immigrants who want to
become citizens) from 5 years to 14 yrs…
SEDITION ACT: Congress gave President
Adams special powers to arrest anyone who
spoke out against the war effort….Primarily
against Jefferson’s Democratic/Republicans
and newspaper editors who opposed the war…..
Alien/sedition
• “That if any person shall write, print, utter,
or publish, or shall cause or procure to be
written, printed, uttered or published, or
shall knowingly and willingly assist in any
false,
• Scandalous and malicious writing or writings
against the government of the United
States, or either house of Congress or the
President of the United States,
• Then such person, being thereof convicted
before any court of the United States, shall
be punished by a fine not exceeding two
thousand dollars and by imprisonment not
exceeding two years……”
•Jefferson’s and Madison’s response
to the Sedition Act…..
•Believed Sedition Act violated
freedom of speech and press.
•They tried to convince the other
states not to support the Sedition
Act….
•It failed and the Sedition Act
remained the law until 1801.
DOCTRINE OF NULLIFICATION: Since the
States created the National Government, they
have the right to nullify, cancel or decide not to
obey a law they believed was unconstitutional ….
That the General Assembly
protests against the alarming
infractions of the Constitution, in
the "Alien and Sedition Acts"
passed at the last session of
Congress.
That this state having by its
Convention, expressly declared,
that among other essential
rights, "the Liberty of
Conscience and of the Press
cannot be cancelled, abridged,
restrained, or modified by any
authority of the United States,"
The General Assembly appeals to the
other states, in confidence that they
will concur that the acts are
unconstitutional and that the
necessary and proper measures will
be taken by each in maintaining the
Authorities, Rights, and Liberties,
referred to the States respectively,
or to the people.
New French leader,
Napoleon and Talleyrand do
not want war, or to push
the US to into allying on the
British side.
There was also a need for
U.S. grain which America
was now withholding from
France.
•President Adams still
wanted to prevent a war
with France, so in 1800,
sent 3 different
representatives to France
to meet with Napoleon and
Tallyrand to negotiate a
peace agreement…..
•Tallyrand now guarantees
that France would accept
U.S. representatives and
treat them with respect.
1799: Adams submits to the Senate for
approval the new ministers to France.
An agreement is
negotiated
The French would no longer
impress U.S. citizens or
seize American ships.
The Franco-American
Alliance is officially ended.
Adams deserves credit:
–Avoided war
–Unknowingly laid
foundation for
Louisiana Purchase
Adams sacrificed his
re-election in 1800 to
keep the US out of war
–Patriotism above
self-interest
Hamilton and the
war-hawk
Federalists
enraged, but most
Americans
agreeable to try
for peace