The First President

The First President

Objective: I will be able to identify the precedents that George Washington established as the first president of the United States.

President Washington...

...and the new Congress had to make many decisions about the structure of the new government.

President Washington

On April 30, 1789, George Washington took the oath of office as the first president of the United States under the federal Constitution. John Adams became vice president.

Washington knew that the precedents, or traditions, he established would shape the future of the United States. "No slip will pass unnoticed," he said. With Congress, Washington would create departments within the executive branch, set up the court system, and add the Bill of Rights to the Constitution. 

Multiple Choice

The First President under the Constitution of the U.S.

• John Adams

• George Washington

• Thomas Jefferson

• John Jay

Multiple Select

Which three of the following did Congress and George Washington create?

• Departments in the Executive branch

• Set up a court system

• Create an Army

• Add a bill of Rights

Multiple Choice

A word that means traditions...

• president

• congress

• annual

• precedents

The First Congress

In 1789, Congress set up three departments and two offices in the executive branch of government. The State Department, led by Thomas Jefferson, handled relations with other nations. The Department of the Treasury, led by Alexander Hamilton, handled financial matters. Henry Knox provided for the nation's defense as the secretary of the Department of War.

Multiple Choice

Who was elected as George Washington's Vice President?

• Thomas Jefferson

• John Adams

• Henry Knox

• Alexander Hamilton

Multiple Choice

Who headed up the State Department and handled relations with other nations?

• Thomas Jefferson

• Alexander Hamilton

• Henry Knox

• John Adams

Multiple Choice

Who headed up the Department of Treasury and handled financial matters?

• Thomas Jefferson

• Henry Knox

• Alexander Hamilton

• John Adams

The First Congress

The three department heads and the attorney general became known as the cabinet. However, Congress debated how much power the president should have over the cabinet. Senators were evenly divided in voting on the issue.

The First Congress

Vice President John Adams broke the tie. He voted to allow the president the authority to dismiss cabinet officers without Senate approval. This decision strengthened the president's position and it established his authority over the executive branch.

Multiple Select

The President may dismiss any cabinet head without Senate approval.

• False

• True

Judiciary Act of 1789

The first Congress also had to decide how to set up the nation's judicial system. Disagreements arose between those favoring a uniform, or standard, national legal system and those favoring state courts.

Judiciary Act of 1789

The two groups reached a compromise in the Judiciary Act of 1789 with which Congress established a federal court system with 13 district courts and three circuit courts to serve the nation. State laws remained, but the federal courts had the power to reverse state decisions.

Judiciary Act of 1789

The Supreme Court would be the final authority on many issues. President Washington nominated John Jay to lead the Supreme Court as chief justice. The Senate approved Jay's nomination.

Multiple Choice

What established a Federal Court System

• The Sugar Act of 1784

• The Proclamation of 1763

• The Judiciary Act of 1789

• Alexander Hamilton

Multiple Choice

The Federal Government has the power to reverse a state court's decision.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

He was selected to head up the First Supreme Court as Chief Justice.

• John Adams

• John Jay

• Blue Jay

• James Madison

Bill of Rights

Americans had long feared strong central governments. Many people insisted that the Constitution needed to include guarantees of civil liberties. Some states supported the Constitution on the condition that a bill of rights be added in the near future to guarantee personal liberties.

Bill of Rights

To fulfill promises to these states, James Madison introduced a set of amendments during the first session of Congress. Congress passed 12 amendments, and the states ratified 10 of them. In December 1791, these 10 amendments, the Bill of Rights, were added to the Constitution. 

Open Ended

Exit Ticket: What does the Bill of Rights do?

Multiple Select

The first 10 amendments to the constitution is known as the Bill of Rights.

• False

• True