Washington Leads a New Nation

Washington Leads a New Nation

Vocabulary

• Electoral College- a body of electors who represent the people's vote in choosing the president.

• Precedent- is an action or decision that later serves as an example.

• Judiciary Act of 1798- This act created three levels of federal courts and defined their powers

The First President

Americans believed in George Washington. They saw him as an honest leader and a hero of the Revolution. Many believed he should be the first U.S. president.

January 1789 each of the 11 states that had passed the Constitution sent electors to choose the first president. These delegates formed a group called the electoral college-a body of electors who represent the people's vote in choosing the president. The electoral college selected Washington unanimously, and John Adams became his vice president.

Multiple Choice

Who was Washington's vice president?

• Sam Adams

• Alexander Hamilton

• John Adams

• Thomas Jefferson

Organizing the Government

Hard work also lay ahead for the members of the new government. The new federal government had to create policies and procedures that would determine the future of the country. As president Washington noted in a letter to James Madison, "The first of everything is in our situation will serve to establish a precedent." A precedent is an action or decision that latter serves as an example.

The First Cabinet

•  While the current presidential cabinet includes sixteen members, George Washington’s cabinet included just four original members:

Following his election, Washington created and picked the first presidential cabinet. Washington had only four cabinet members. Washington selected men he trusted. Thomas Jefferson became his secretary of state. The secretary of state deals with foreign countries.

Alexander Hamilton became the secretary of the treasury. The secretary of treasury works on economic issues about jobs and money.

Washington's two other cabinet members were his attorney general and his secretary of war. The attorney general is in charge of all the attorneys who represent the federal government in legal cases.

On September 11, 1789, George Washington sent his first cabinet nomination to the Senate. Just minutes later, the Senate approved the appointment of Alexander Hamilton unanimously as the Secretary of the Treasury.

The group came to be known as the cabinet based on a reference made by James Madison, who described the meetings as “the president’s cabinet.”

https://vimeo.com/78847211

Multiple Choice

Who was the secretary of the treasury?

• Edmund Randolph

• Thomas Jefferson

• Alexander Hamilton

• Henry Knox

Multiple Choice

Which cabinet position deals with deals with foreign countries

• Attorney General

• Secretary of State

• Secretary of the Treasury

• Secretary of War

Hamilton's Economic Plan

War debt was still a serious problem. Hamilton came up with a plan to handle it. Debt repayment was important policy that showed the United States was a responsible country.

Hamilton's Economic Plan

     Under Hamilton's economic plan, the federal government would pay off what states owed for the Revolutionary War. To do this, Hamilton wanted a tax on whiskey. He believed the tax would show the power of the federal government to now be able to tax.

In addition , Hamilton supported tariffs (tax on Imports) to raise much needed money and help American industries. Because tariffs increase the cost of imported goods, he thought they would encourage Americans to buy goods from US manufacturers. This would give the manufacturers a better chance to succeed.

South's Views on Tariffs

Many Southerners also opposed Hamilton's plan because they were against tariffs. Southerners sold raw goods like tobacco to other countries. They feared those countries would make tariffs of their own to punish the US. This would raise the price of Southern products overseas and hurt the South's economy.

Fill in the Blank

What did Hamilton believe the tax on whiskey would prove about the federal government ?

Fill in the Blank

Why did Hamilton support tariffs?

The National Bank

Before the Revolutionary War, Americans usually borrowed money from each other or from banks in Britain. After the war, states chartered banks/ A bank charter allows a bank to open and do business.

Hamilton wanted to establish a national bank. He believed the federal government had the right to create a national bank if it was necessary to perform its constitutional duties (in this case, print money). The national bank would control the supply of money and make loans to businesses.

Vocabulary

• Strict construction of the Constitution - are people who think that the federal government should do only what the Constitution specifically says it can do.

• Loose Construction of the Constitution- are people who feel that the federal government can take reasonable actions that the Constitution does not specifically forbid.

• Losses constructionist will use the elastic clause if it is necessary and proper for carrying out Delegated powers

War Debt, the South and Moving the Capital

Part of Hamilton's Economic plan was to take over most of the states' $25 million Revolutionary War debts. He believed this would build investors confidence in the stability of the new nation.

Some of the Southern states had already paid off most of their debts, and they resented being made to help pay the debts of other states. In the end, the decision to build the new capital in the South (Washington DC) was part of a compromise to win passage of Hamilton's economic plan.

Jefferson Opposes the Bank

Washington supported Hamilton's plan. But many people did not like it, including Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson had a strict interpretation of the Constitution. Since the Constitution did not specifically state that the federal government could open a national bank, Jefferson argued that it could not. Hamilton was a loose constructionist of the Constitution and believed that the national bank was necessary and proper for stabilizing the economy.

Multiple Choice

What are Jefferson's views about the Constitution and the National Bank?

• He is a loose constructionist and agreed that the bank was necessary

• He was a strict constructionist and believed a national bank could not be created because the Constitution does not specifically give the federal government permission to create a National Bank.

Multiple Choice

How did Hamilton get his economic plan passed?

• He put a tax on Whiskey

• To get the South to agree to his debt plan Hamilton promised to move the capital from New York City, south to Washington DC.

Summary of Hamilton's Economic Plan

• Hamilton's tariffs were made law in 1789.

• His plan to put all the states' debts into a national debt passed in 1790,

• 1781, a National Bank was chartered (created) for 20 years.

• The Whiskey Tax passed 1781.

• Although Hamilton's economic plan helped the economy, many Americans did not like the push to create an industrial country.

The Whiskey Rebellion

Hamilton's whiskey tax was very unpopular among farmers in the frontier in western Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. Many of these farmers made their living using the grain they grew to make whiskey. Pennsylvania farmers launched the Whiskey Rebellion. They refused to pay the tax and set fire to a tax collector's house.

Government reaction to the Whiskey Rebellion

Incidents of violence spread to other states. President Washington feared that the rebels threatened the federal government's authority. He believed he needed to make people understand that the Constitution gave Congress the right to pass and enforce the tax.

Washington declared that he could "no longer remain a passive spectator" in the event. He personally led the army in military action against the rebellion-the first and only time an American president has done so. The army of about 13,000 men approached western Pennsylvania in November 1794. By this time most of the rebels had fled. The Whiskey Rebellion ended without a battle.

Multiple Choice

What precedent did Washington's handling of the Whiskey Rebellion establish?

• States need to put down rebellions.

• Washington supported debt repayment.

• The federal government would defeat Native Americans.

• The federal government would enforce its laws.

Washington Wanted the US to Stay Out of European Wars

As the US tried to start a new government, Great Britain and France started another war with each other. President Washington knew the young country could not afford a fight with either side. In 1793, He made a proclamation of neutrality stating the US would not take sides in conflicts in Europe. However, the war between Great Britain and France still had Consequences for the U.S.

Consequences for remaining Neutral

• Britain began stopping US ships they believed bound for France and Impressing Sailors. Impressment meant taking sailors on US ships captive and forcing them to serve in the British navy.

• These actions were intended to hurt France, but they also hurt the United States' ability to trade and operate on the high seas.

The French Question

Jefferson was upset by the Neutrality Proclamation. He believed that the US should back France because France had supported the US during the Revolution. Hamilton, on the other hand was pro-British. He hoped to strengthen trading ties with Britain-the most powerful trading nation in the world at the time. Jefferson thought that Hamilton had too much influence on the president's foreign policy and that Hamilton consequently interfered with Jefferson's role as secretary of state. Jefferson decided to resign from Washington's cabinet in 1793.

Multiple Choice

France asked American sailors to help France fight England by commanding privateers. Privateers were private ships hired by a country to attack its enemies. Does the US agree to send Privateers to France?

• Yes, because France helped the U.S. during the Revolution.

• No, because American privateers violated U.S. neutrality.

Multiple Choice

Why did George Washington want the United States to stay neutral about European wars?

• He no longer believed in fighting.

• He knew the US could not afford a war.

• He knew wars would create political parties.

• He wanted to build up the army and navy before expanding America's boundaries.

Jay's Treaty

There were other threats to US neutrality. In late 1793 the British seized ships carrying food to the French West Indies. Hundreds of the ships were neutral American merchant ships. Also, British officers were helping Native Americans fight settlers.

Jay's Treaty

Washington wanted to prevent another war with the British. He sent Chief Justice John Jay to London to work out a compromise. The British Knew the US lacked a strong navy and the US businesses relied heavily on British trade. However, the British did not want to fight another war in America.

Jay's Treaty

In November 1794 the two sides signed Jay's Treaty. Jay's Treaty settled the disputes that had arisen between the United States and Britain.

Terms of Jay's Treaty

• The British would pay damages on seized American ships

• Abandon their forts on the northwestern frontier

• The US agreed to pay debts it owed the British.

• The treaty was unpopular and sparked protests. Washington did not like the treaty but believed it was the most that could be done.

Multiple Select

What did the US gain in Jay's Treaty?

• the Louisiana Territory

• Ohio

• British forts in the Northwest Territory

• Tennessee

• British agreed to pay damages on seized American ships

Pinckney's Treaty (Cause)

The US signed Pickney's Treaty with spain in 1795 to settle issues about trade on the Mississippi River. When the Mississippi River reached the Louisiana Territory, it flowed through Spanish land. When Spain became an ally of Britain, it refused to let American Farmers ship their products down the Mississippi. The farmers of Kentucky and Tennessee needed to use the river. Spain also had forts up the Mississippi River in the United States.

Terms of Pinckney's Treaty (effect)

• Spain gave up its forts on US land

• Spain agreed to let the US use the Mississippi River and store goods in the Port of New Orleans.

• This free use of the Mississippi River encouraged more travel west and the westward expansion of the United States.

• The constant movement of Americans west is called westward expansion.

Multiple Select

Were Americans satisfied with Pinckney's Treaty?

• Yes, because it encouraged westward expansion and gave the US the right to deposit in the Port of New Orleans

• No, it did not settle deputes with Spain

Precedents set by George Washington

• Washington Established the Federal Court System- The Constitution did not spell out the structure of the federal courts. Washington signed into law the Judiciary Act of 1789 that established the federal court system.

Precedence set by George Washington

Washington Determined the Role of the Vice President

At the time Washington was elected, the Vice President did not run for election with the President as a team. Instead, the candidate who got the second-most votes became vice president. John Adams was elected vice president. Washington set the precedent of the president determining the role of the vice president. Washington as president did not rely on Adams for advice. Instead, the vice president's most important role was as president of the Senate.

Precedents set by George Washington

Washington Served only two terms in Office

Washington could have served a third term in office. He chose not to because he worried three terms could give a president too much power. He also wanted to show that the process of a new president taking office would be peaceful. The peaceful process of a new president taking office is often described as a transfer of power.

Precedents set by George Washington

Washington Uses few Presidential Vetoes.

Washington vetoed a bill for the first time in 1792, four years into his administration. When the president vetoes a bill, he refuses to sign it. The bill cannot become law unless 2/3rds of congress votes for the bill a second time. Washington vetoed bills only twice while he was president. This was an example of executive restraint. Executive restraint means a president does not use powers he has under the Constitution.

Washington's Farewell Address

In 1796 Washington decided not to run for a third presidential term. He wrote that he was "tired of public life" and "devoutly wished for retirement." He also wanted to remind Americans that the people were the country's true leaders.

With the help of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, Washington wrote his farewell address. In it he spoke about what he believed were the greatest dangers to the American republic. Among these were the dangers of foreign ties and political conflicts at home. Washington warned against forming permanent ties with other countries because choosing sides could draw the US into war.

Washington's Farewell Address

He also worried about growing political conflicts within the nation. Washington believed that disagreements between political groups weakened government. Political unity, he said, was a key to national success.

Washington left office warning the nation to work out its differences and protect its independence. Washington also warned against too much public debt. He thought the government should try not to borrow money. He wanted future generations to be protected from debt.

Multiple Select

According to Washington's Farewell Address, he warned the nation against 3 things. What were they.

• The national bank.

• Political parties

• US involvement in foreign conflicts.

• warned against too much public debt

• Using federal military to force to put down rebellions.

Multiple Choice

Why did Washington retire after two terms?

• He was sick and dying

• He believed a third term would give a president too much Power.

• He was limited to two terms under the Constitution.

• He lost re-election

Multiple Choice

What political party did Washington belong to?

• The Federalists

• The Anti-Federalists

• The Democrats

• Washington did not belong to a political party