George Washington

George Washington

1789-1797

Domestic Issues: Native Americans

• Settlers ignored treaties giving land to Native Americans 

• Fighting broke out between settlers and Native Americans over land between the Appalachian Mountains & Mississippi River 

• Treaty of Greenville (1795) - Native Americans give up most land in the Northwest Territory

Listen for the following:

• What is a strict interpretation of the Constitution?

• What is a loose interpretation of the Constitution?

• Which one do you agree with?

Strict vs Loose Interpretation

• Strict interpretation – government has only the power given to it by the Constitution. This gives the government less power

• Loose interpretation – Government has any power not forbidden by the Constitution. This gives the government more power.​

Multiple Choice

When did George Washington become president?

• 1776

• 1783

• 1789

• 1797

Multiple Choice

What treaty ended the war between the United States & Native Americans for control of the Northwest Territory?

• Treaty of Paris of 1763

• Jay's Treaty

• Treaty of Paris of 1783

• Treaty of Greenville

• Pickney's Treaty

Poll

Do you believe the federal government should operate under a strict or loose interpretation of the Constitution?

• strict interpretation

• loose interpretation

Economic Problems

• Debt from the Revolutionary War

• National Government owes 52 million; states owe an additional 25 million

• No source of income

Judiciary Act of 1789

• Created our federal court system

• Set up district courts, courts of appeal

• Established a Supreme Court consisting of a Chief Justice and 5 Associate judges

• https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZpsHKbv9Xqk?feature=share

​Hamilton's Economic Plan

• ​Combine state & national debts

• Issue bonds to help pay off debt

• Pay off new bonds with taxes collected by the government

• Create a national bank to help manage the nation’s economy

• Embraced Adam Smith's free enterprise system

​Free Enterprise

• Proposed by Adam Smith

  Private Enterprise - Businesses should be privately owned & operated.

• Profit Motive - Businesses operate to make money

• Competition - Multiple businesses are free to sell the same thing

​Free Enterprise Cont.

• Private property - People are free to own property

  Customer Sovereignty - Customers hold the power

  Supply & Demand - Consumers determine what is made & the cost

  Laissez-faire government gets involved only when necessary

​Southern Opposition

• ​Believed the North would get rich at the expense of the South.

  Some Southern states had paid off debts & didn‘t want to go into debt again 

  Believed a national bank would give the federal government too much power

Multiple Choice

True or False. One major economic problem facing the new nation was state and national debt.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is not one of the pillars of the free enterprise system?

• Private enterprise

• competition

• government regulation

• profit motive

Poll

Do you agree with Alexander Hamilton that a national debt can be a good thing?

• Yes

• No

• Undecided

• What's a national debt?

Whiskey Rebellion

• 1794 PA. farmers revolt against taxation of whiskey. 

• Washington sends army to end rebellion 

• Proves gov. has the power to maintain peace & enforce laws

Multiple Choice

True or False. The Whiskey Rebellion took place in Massachusetts.

• True

• False

Foreign Policy: War between Britain and France

• 1789 – French Revolution. Americans split on whether to support it.

• 1793 – Britain & France go to war

  Southerners support the French

  Others, such as merchants & manufacturers, support the British

• Both sides try to drag America into the war

Poll

Which side would you join in the war

• Britain

• France

• Remain neutral

Proclamation of Neutrality (1793)

• Washington says we won’t take sides

• Barred French & British warships from American Ports

• Britain responds by impressing American Sailors & attacking our ships

Poll

Do you think Washington was wise in choosing not to take sides in the war between Britain and France?

• Yes

• No

Jay's Treaty (1794)

• Britain stopped seizing American ships & helping Native Americans on the frontier

• Britain agrees to pay for damage to ships & get out of America

Pinckney's Treaty (1795)

• Signed by America & Spain

• Gave Americans the right to navigate the Mississippi River & to trade in New Orleans

Washington's Farewell Address

Gave the nation 3 pieces of advice

1. Avoid political parties

2. Avoid permanent foreign alliances

3. Avoid sectionalism

Multiple Choice

How many pieces of advice did Washington give in his farewell address?

• three

• four

• five

• six