Washington’s Administration

• George Washington becomes the 1st President of the U.s. in 1789

  • Unanimously elected

• Sets many precedents that put the principles of the Constitution in practice

  • Two term presidency

  • Established the cabinet (group of advisors who would serve as the heads of different departments)

• Washington's Presidential Cabinet

  • Sec of State: Thomas Jefferson

  • Sec of Treasury: Alexander Hamilton

• Conflict will develop as Federalist ideas are implemented by Hamilton

• Judiciary Act of 1789 organized the Supreme Court with 1 chief justice and 5 associate justices

Bill of Rights

• The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution to alleviate concerns of the Anti-Federalists

• These 10 amendments were intended to provide protections against government power

  • 1st amendment: speech, religion, press, assembly

  • 4th: no unreasonable searches and seizures without probably cause

Hamilton’s Financial Plan

• Sec of Treasury Alexander Hamilton developed a financial program to pay off the debt and develop American manufacturing

• Part 1: Report on Public Credit called for the federal gov to pay off the national debt at face value & assume the war debts of the states (Assumption Plan)

  • Compromise with Jefferson: capital would be moved to the south (Washington D.C.)

• Part 2: Hamilton supported 1) high tariffs (tax on imports) and 2) excise taxes (tax on specific item such as whiskey)

  1. Would protect American "infant" industries from foreign competition

  2. Raise revenue to pay off the debt

• Part 3: Created a NATIONAL BANK that would help create a stable, healthy economy, and currency

• Huge debate over the Bank of the U.S. & the power of the fed gov. under the new Constitution

  • Jefferson (Jeffersonian Republicans): Constitution did not give Congress the authority to create a bank

    • Strict interpretation of the Constitution

• Hamilton (Federalist): the "necessary and proper" clause allowed Congress to create the BUS since it waas necessary to carry out its enumerated powers

  • Loose (Broad) interpretation of the Constitution

First Party System

• First party system would develop during the 1790's

  • No mention of political parties in the Constitution

• Federalist vs. Jeffersonian Republicans

Whiskey Rebellion

• Part of Hamilton's financial plan included an excise tax on whiskey

• Farmers in Western Pennsylvania refused to pay the tax

  • Seen as a challenge to the authority of the new federal government

    • Remember the failure of Articles in dealing with Shay's Rebellion

• Washington takes over the state militia and stops the rebellion by show of force

  • Demonstrated to many the power and effectiveness of the federal government

  • Critics such as Jefferson disturbed by use of force

Foreign Policy: France

• French Revolution deeply divided America

  • Should the U.S. help France?

  • Federalist: concerned about violence & wanted to avoid war with England

  • Democratic Republicans: extension of our own fight for liberty & England was seizing American ships

• Washington issued Proclamation of Neutrality (1793) declaring the U.S. neutral

• French minister to the U.S. Citizen Edmond Genet traveled in the U.S. trying to convince people to support France

Foreign Policy Issues: England & Spain

• England continued to cause the U.S. problems: 1) Impressment, 2) occupied forts in the west

• Chief Justice John Jay sent to England to negotiate

• Jay's Treaty (1794): British agreed to, leave the forts on the frontier

  • Said nothing about stopping Britain's harassment of American ships or Native issue

  • Does keep the U.S. neutral!

• Spain had previously blocked American access to the Mississippi river

• Pinckney treaty (1795) Spain agrees to allow the U.S. usage of the Miss. River and the port of New Orleans

  • Made the northern boundary of Florida the 31st parallel

Native Americans

• Native American land continued to be encroached upon by settlers moving west

• Native tribes formed the Northwest Confederacy under the Miami chief Little Turtle

• Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794) natives defeated by U.S. army led by General Anthony Wayne

• Treaty of Greenville (1795): defeated tribes gave up claim to Ohio Territory

Bye GW, Hello John Adams

• George Washington decided to leave office after 2 terms as President (set precedent)

• Washington's Farewell Address (1796) warned the nation:

  • Permanent alliances

  • Danger of political parties

• Election of 1796: Federalist VP John Adams VS. Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson

• John Adams becomes President

  • Thomas Jefferson VP

    • Fixed by 12th amendment in 1804

Foreign Policy Under John Adams

• France's war against European nations was a major problem for Adams

  • Seizing American ships

• Adams wanted to avoid a war with France and sent U.SS. diplomats to Paris

• XYZ Affair: French officials known as X, Y, Z attempted to get the Americans to bribe them in order to start negotiations with Foreign Minister Talleyrand

  • Outraged many Americans millions for defense, but no one cent for tribe."

  • Demands for war amongst American public

• Quasi War: undeclared naval war between France & the U.S.

State vs Federal Government