THE
WASHINGTON
ADMINISTRATION
WHY GEORGE WASHINGTON?
• Leadership during the
Revolution
• Dignity and character
• Support for republican
government
ADMINISTRATION
Vice President – John Adams
Washington’s group of advisors, or cabinet:
• Secretary of State – Thomas Jefferson
• Secretary of Treasury – Alexander Hamilton
• Secretary of War – Henry Knox
• U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice – John Jay
• Attorney General – Edmund Randolph
PRECEDENTS
• “Mr. President”
• Consults with members of
Congress in informal
meetings.
• Treaties negotiated
before Senate approval
• Appoints and dismisses
cabinet officers
• 2 term presidency
• While Washington
was President,
construction began on
the nation’s capital in
Washington, D.C.
• The Washington
administration faced
many challenges as
the nation moved
West. Keeping the
loyalty of western
settlers as well as
dealing with the
Native Americans,
British, and Spanish
posed problems.
PROBLEMS WITH NATIVE
AMERICANS
• Kentucky and
Tennessee--broken
treaties cause
conflict.
• Ohio country—British
encourage conflict
between American
colonists and Native
population.
• The Treaty of
Greenville is
important because in
it the Ohio Natives
ceded most of
present-day Ohio to
the U.S.
THE WHISKEY REBELLION
• Farmers in
Pennsylvania refused
to pay the excise tax
on whiskey, placed on
them by Alexander
Hamilton in an
attempt to lower the
national debt.
• Farmers refused to
cooperate with tax
collectors, tarred and
feathered
collaborators, burned
barns, destroyed the
stills of taxpayers,
and eventually killed
several people.
The farmers were angry
about the taxes, the failure
of the government to open
the Ohio country to safe
settlement, and the inability
of the administration to
secure free access of the
Mississippi River from
Spain. The uprising
eventually spread to
Virginia, Maryland, and
Ohio.
• 13,000 troops,
commanded by
Washington himself, went
to Pennsylvania to put
down the uprising.
• SIGNIFICANCE?
SHOWED ARMED
RESISTANCE TO
FEDERAL POLICIES
WOULD NOT BE
TOLERATED!
PROCLAMATION OF
NEUTRALITY (1793)
• Britain vs. France
• To protect American
commerce
• Warned citizens to
avoid hostile acts
against either side
• Sought right to trade
nonmilitary goods
from both sides
THE GENET AFFAIR
• French Ambassador
Genet came to the
U.S. and began using
ships (flying French
flags with American
crews) to seize British
ships, tow them to
American ports, and
sell the ships and
cargo.
• Washington closed all
ports to Genet and
demanded his recall.
Washington was very
concerned about
retaliation by the
British.
• He had reason to be
concerned. Not only
were the British
impressing American
sailors, they also
blockaded the
French West Indies.
• Making the situation
between the U.S. and
Britain worse, Britain
refused to vacate
forts in the Ohio
country and
encouraged hostility
with the natives.
JAY’S TREATY
• John Jay was sent by
Washington as a
special envoy to
Britain.
• Secured British
withdrawal from
western forts by
1796,payment for
confiscated ships,
opening of trade in
British West Indies.
• Jay failed to receive
compensation for
slaves, end
impressment, or gain
recognition of
America’s neutral
rights.
TREATY OF SAN LORENZO
• Opened the
Mississippi River to
free navigation.
• Allowed Americans to
use the port of New
Orleans without
charge.
• Set boundary
between U.S. and
West Florida.
WASHINGTON’S
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Eased threat of war
Flourishing economy
Defeat of Ohio Indians
Diplomatic success—Jay and Pinckney
Removal of British from forts in Ohio
Free access to the Mississippi
Right of deposit at New Orleans
Hamilton’s economic plan a success—nation’s
credit firm
FAREWELL ADDRESS
• ADVICE TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE:
• NO FOREIGN
ENTANGLEMENTS
• AVOID POLITICAL
PARTIES