Objectives
• Be able to discuss what a precedent is
and what precedents George
Washington set
• To explain the importance of
Alexander Hamilton and his
importance is building our economy
• Be able to recount the story of the
Whiskey Rebellion and tell its
significance.
Washington Takes Office
New Vocabulary
• Inauguration – The ceremony in which the
president officially takes the oath of office.
• Precedent – an act or decision that sets an
example for others to follow.
• Cabinet – group of officials who are the heads of
different departments and act as advisors to the
president. (Secretary of State, Treasury, War,
Attorney General, and Postmaster General)
• Tariff – a tax on foreign goods brought in to the
US.
Washington’s Precedent
•
•
George Washington was the first
president of the United States.
Washington did not really want to be
president, but he knew that it was his
duty.
George Washington set many precedents
while he was president. Many people
wanted to call him, “his highness the
President of the United States and
protector of the rights of the same.”
That’s a pretty long name, and George
hated it. He did not want to be thought of
as being above anyone else. Instead,
Washington chose to be called Mr.
President. That wasn’t the only
Precedent he set, though. Washington
also did not seek a third term, even
though there was no law against it at that
time. Washington also set a precedent by
choosing well-known leaders to serve in
his Cabinet. George Washington was a
fantastic leader!!!
Were You Paying Attention?
• What is a precedent?
• Give an example of a precedent established
by President Washington.
• Name one of the individuals chosen by
Washington to serve in a cabinet position.
America’s in Debt Already?
•
Right after the American Revolution
(our war with England over
Independence), the newly formed
United States was in some serious debt
(around 80 million dollars). A man
named Alexander Hamilton figured
out a plan for getting out of this debt.
The government would buy up the
bonds that it had issued during the
American revolution, and pay off all
the debt. Then, it would reissue new
bonds to replace the old bonds. In this
way, the United States would buy
itself some more time to pay off its
debt.
Alexander Hamilton: Popular
and Unpopular
•
Some people liked Hamilton’s plan, and some hated it. Many of those who hated
it were southerners.
•
Hamilton made a compromise in order to get his plan into action. If the south
would agree to his plan, Hamilton would support the Capital of the US to be in
the South. The south agreed to this compromise. The capital would be between
Virginia and Maryland in a place called the District of Columbia.
•
The new capital was named Washington DC. While the new Capital city was
being built, the nation’s capital was temporarily moved to Philadelphia.
Review
• Why was the south not happy with
Hamilton’s plan to pay off the bonds from
the American Revolution?
• Where was the US capital and where did
they agree to move it in the compromise?
Outrage over Protective Tariffs
This looked
bigger in the•
magazine!!
Hamilton now had to come up with a
way to build the economy. His plan
was simple. The government would
set up a national bank, and put all tax
money there. Then, it would lend that
money to the people in order for them
to build businesses. Hamilton also
wanted to put a high tax called a
protective tariff on imported goods.
This would encourage Americans to
buy American-Made goods. The north
loved this idea, and the south hated it.
The south had to buy certain farming
supplies from overseas, and they did
not want to pay the tax. In the end, a
tax was put on imported goods, but it
was not as high as Hamilton would
have liked.
Whiskey Rebellion
•
Hamilton also wanted to put a tax on
alcohol to raise money for the treasury.
Whiskey producers in the south saw this
tax as unfair and refused to pay it. They
even became violent, attacking the tax
collectors in the streets. This became
known as the Whiskey Rebellion. When
Washington heard about this, he
immediately sent the US army. Many in
Washington’s cabinet wanted him to
execute the leaders of the rebellion, but
Washington pardoned them instead. He
believed that the government had shown
its strength to all. Now, it was time to
show mercy. The Whiskey Rebellion
tested the will of the new government.
Washington’s quick response proved to
Americans that their new government
would act firmly in times of crisis. The
president also showed those who disagreed
with the government that violence would
not be tolerated.
• What is the purpose of a protective tariff?
• Why do southerners feel like the protective
tariff is punishing them?
• How do southerners react to the protective
tariff?
• How did Washington deal with the Whiskey
Rebellion?
Quick Write
1. I think Washington (Should/Should not)
have punished the people involved in the
Whiskey rebellion because…
2. The most important precedent established
by George Washington was (a two
limit/choosing a presidential cabinet/or
being called Mr. President) because…