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Mr. President

Critical Decisions made by President George Washington

The Cabinet

Congress has established government departments of State, War and Treasury. Washington must choose members for this cabinet. The following men have been highly recommended, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and Henry Knox. How should these men be assigned to the cabinet positions?

Multiple Choice

Who should be the Secretary of Treasury?

• Thomas Jefferson

• Henry Knox

• Alexander Hamilton

Multiple Choice

Who should be the Secretary of War?

• Alexander Hamilton

• Henry Knox

• Thomas Jefferson

Financial Issues

The Finances of the new government is on shaky ground. The federal and state governments owe between $75 and $80 million dollars. Alexander Hamilton has devised a set of proposals to solve the financial problems. Some of his proposed solutions are controversial and seem to favor the wealthy upper class. The president must decide which proposed laws to accept and which ones to reject. Hamilton will need Washington's full support to have his financial program to become law.

Financial Problems: Foreign Debt

The foreign debt of the nation totals over $12 million dollars. The bulk of the money is owed to France, the Netherlands, and Spain. What should the United States do?

Multiple Choice

Foreign Debt: What should Washington do about the foreign debt?

• A) Repay the entire sum within 1 year. This will avoid paying heavy interest payments.

• B) Arrange to pay off the debt over several years with added interest.

• C) Not repay the foreign loan. These countries loaned us money for their own interests-to defeat Great Britain.

Financial Problems: Money Owed to U.S. Citizens

There is wide disagreement over what to do about the debt owed to American citizens. During the Revolution the government sold bonds to citizens and promised to repay them with interest. Many, who originally bought the bonds, sold them to speculators for a fraction of what they paid. In many cases speculators paid as little as 10 cents on the dollar. If the government pays these debts, it will be these rich speculators and not the people who originally bought the bonds who will benefit. Which plan should the president support?

Multiple Choice

Which plan should Should President Washington choose to pay back the citizens?

• A) Pay off the bonds no matter who owns them.

• B) Pay off the bonds only to the original person who bought them.

• C) Limit the amount to be paid back to only 50% of the original value.

Assumption of State Debts

Hamilton's plan for the federal government to assume the states' Revolutionary War debts has run into opposition. Some states especially in the south who either have small debts or have repaid them do not want to help the federal government pay the debts of other states.

Most of the debt is owed to speculators and not the people who originally loaned money to the states to fight the Revolution. What should the president and Hamilton do to win southern support for the assumption of the states' debt?

Multiple Choice

What should Washington do to win the souths' support for the assumption plan?

• Offer to build the nation's capital on southern land.

• Offer cash grants to states who have repaid their debts.

• Offer to build the proposed military academy on southern land.

• Only make the northern states that still owe money repay the debts.

Multiple Choice

Should Washington support Hamilton's plan to create a national bank of the United States? This bank would be the main depository for the nation's money.

• Support Hamilton's plan but insist on some modifications.

• Do not support a national bank. It would hurt private and state banks.

• Support Hamilton's plan for a National Bank.

Sale of Bank Stock

Hamilton wants the federal government to keep only 20% of the proposed bank stock. The other 80% would be sold to wealthy individuals. Thomas Jefferson and others warn that this will give the rich control over the nation's money. Who should the president support, Hamilton or Jefferson?

Multiple Choice

Sale of Bank Stock: What should President Washington do?

• Support Hamilton's position.

• Support Jefferson's position.

• Support neither and accept the position Congress approves.

Protective Tariff

Congress passed a revenue tariff in 1789 that was designed to raise money to run the federal government. Now Hamilton wants Congress to pass a protective tariff, designed to protect American manufactures from foreign competition. Hamilton believes that the nation cannot be truly independent until we produce most of the goods we need here in the United States. Presently, we purchase most of our manufactured goods from foreign nations.

Opponents of a protective tariff point out that this type of tariff would mainly benefit northern states. It would hurt the agricultural south who would have to pay for higher prices for American manufactured goods. What position should the president take?

Multiple Choice

What position should Washington take on the Protective Tariff?

• Keep the current Tariff Law.

• Support Hamilton's new tariff law.

• support a modified plan that would increase tariffs but also tax manufacturing companies.

Multiple Choice

A new tax 1791: Hamilton is proposing an excise tax to raise money to run the federal government. What type of goods should the new tax be placed on?

• On goods mainly produced by manufacturing.

• On goods mainly produced by farmers.

• On a wide range of goods.

Multiple Choice

Revolution in France: A Revolution has broken out in France. The king and his government have been replaced. Should the United States recognize the new government of France whose slogan is "liberty, equality, fraternity?"

• Yes

• No

• Send an official observer to asses the situation before granting diplomatic recognition.

Multiple Choice

Indian Attacks, 1791: Indian attacks on frontier settlers are growing more serious. Many families are being butchered by Indians. What can be done to stop these atrocities?

• Send a delegation to the Indian nation and try to make a peace treaty to stop the killing.

• Send an army under General Anthony St.Clair to crush the Indians.

• Forbid Americans from settling in the danger areas.

Multiple Choice

Violence in France: The French Revolution has turned violent. The King, Queen and thousands of other aristocrats have been executed on the guillotine. The aristocratic leaders of other European nations have declared war on France. Should the United States break off all relations with France because of this violence?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

Treaty of 1778: During the American Revolution we signed the Treaty of 1778 with France. In this treaty we promised to defend the French West Indies. The provisions of this treaty are still in force. France is now at war with the British and other nations. Should President Washington follow the treaty and send our Navy to protect the French islands in the West Indies?

• Yes

• No

• renegotiate the treaty with France to relieve ourselves of the obligation.

Multiple Choice

Choosing Sides, 1793: The war between France and Britain is intensifying. Both nations are capturing our ships. Britain has begun impressing American sailors into the British Navy. Jefferson supporters want the U.S. to side with France, while Hamilton's supporters want to side with Britain. What should President Washington do?

• Join Britain and fight France.

• Issue a proclamation of neutrality

• Side with France and fight Britain.

• Fight anyone who stops our ships.

Multiple Choice

Whiskey Rebellion: Trouble has broken out in Pennsylvania over a new tax on Whiskey. Frontier farmers, who make whiskey, are not only refusing to pay the tax but are in a state of armed rebellion. The Governor of Pennsylvania has refused to call out his state militia to put down the rebellion. What action, if any, should the president take?

• Do nothing. It is Pennsylvania's problem, and they eventually will have to take action.

• Modify the excise tax on Whiskey. The frontier farmers have a legitimate grievance. The new tax falls heavily on them and not the wealthy

• The armed rebellion must be put down. Washington should call on other state militia and lead them against the Pennsylvania rebels.

Multiple Choice

Citizen Genet, 1794: In April, Edmond Genet a representative of the revolutionary french government arrived. He stated that his government will not ask us to abide by the Treaty of 1778 and defend their West Indies colonies. They would like the U.S. to open up our ports to French warships so that they can buy supplies. Should Washington agree to citizen Genet's request?

• Yes. If we do this France might not insist that we honor the Treaty of 1778.

• We cannot totally agree to his request. We should only open our ports to French merchant ships not warships.

• No. If we allow France to use our ports then we risk war with Britain.

Multiple Choice

British Forts and Trading Posts: In defiance of the Treaty of 1783, Britain continues to occupy a series of forts and trading posts on our northern frontier. They are selling firearms and firewater (alcohol) to Indians who are attacking American settlers. The British state that they will leave when we have paid our pre-revolutionary war debts to British merchants. What should President Washington do to hasten the removal of the British soldiers from these forts in the western territory of the U.S.?

• Send soldiers to surround the British forts and trading posts to prevent Indians from entering and purchasing weapons.

• Warn Britain that if the posts are not abandoned we might side with France in the war.

• Attempt to negotiate a solution.

Multiple Choice

Choice of Negotiator, 1794: The President has decided to send a negotiator to Great Britain seeking a peaceful solution to the problem between the two nations. Who should the President send on this important mission?

• Alexander Hamilton Secretary of Treasury

• Thomas Jefferson Secretary of State.

• John Jay, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

• John Adams, Washington's Vice President.

Multiple Choice

Treaty with Great Britain, 1795: A treaty has been negotiated with Great Britain. It is not all that Washington hoped for. In the proposed treaty Britain has promised to evacuate the forts on our northwestern frontier (the same as they had promised at the end of the Amer. Rev in the Treaty of 1783), and pay damages for ship seizures. No agreement was reached about impressment or stopping future ship seizures. Word of the treaty's' provisions has leaked out and is causing violent protests. John Jay, the negotiator, is being hung in effigy across the nation. Should the President work to have this unpopular treaty approved in Congress?

• Yes.

• No. The treaty is not everything the Americans wanted, and Americans are protesting in the streets.

• Take no position and let Congress decide.

• Send someone else (like Hamilton) to try for a better agreement.

Multiple Choice

Spain 1794-1795: For years we have been having problems with Spain along our southern and western borders. Spain has refused to negotiate with us. Now Spain has allied herself with France and risks war with Britain. How can we take advantage of this situation?

• Consult with Britain. Try and secure help from Britain for our disputed lands and port of New Orleans from Spain.

• Send armies to the disputed territory and New Orleans. If the Spanish will not recognize our rights we will use force.

• Send a delegation to Spain and attempt to negotiate a treaty giving us favorable terms.

Multiple Choice

Demand for War with Britain: In 1793 the British government ordered the Royal Navy to seize American merchant ships operating in the West Indies. In a short time over 300 of our ships were seized. Many American seamen have been impressed into the British Navy which has been described as a "floating Hell." These British outrages against us have led to a cry for war. What should Washington do about the cries for war and British actions against us?

• If nothing is done, war is inevitable. Send a mission to Britain to seek negotiated settlement to the crisis.

• Begin preparing for war. Demand that Britain stop their seizures of our men and ships, or we will declare war.

• Do nothing. Although there are serious problems the nation is generally prosperous and we are in no condition to fight a war.

Multiple Choice

Defeats in the Northwest 1794: Two armies have been disastrously defeated by Indians in the Northwest. Washington must decide on the next course of action. What should it be?

• Send another army under General Anthony Wayne to fight the Indians.

• Begin negotiations immediately to end hostilities with the Indians.

• Begin paying off the debts to British merchants. This may halt British selling weapons to the Indians on the western frontier.