+

By Gabriella Conley

1789-1797PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON

+The Election

By the year 1789, the new Constitution had been ratified by most of the states. This Constitution called for a President of the United States of America. On February 4th 1789, by the unanimous vote of the Electoral College, George Washington was elected the first President of America.

John Adams, who had received the second most votes, would be his Vice President. Washington was somewhat reluctant to agree to take on this position. He was concerned about his age, and was not eager to be the leader of a young nation. However, he eventually agreed to assume the position of president.

The Inauguration

On April 30, 1789, in New York, George Washington was inaugurated. He took his oath standing on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street.

He gave his inaugural address to both houses of congress inside the Senate Chamber.

+ Washington’s Cabinet

Washington was very appreciative of the opinions of his advisors. Therefore, the people he chose to be the members of his cabinet were people whose views he respected.

John Adams: He had received the second most votes from the Electoral College, and was therefore his Vice President.

Henry Knox: Secretary of War

John Adams

Henry Knox

+ Thomas Jefferson: Secretary of State

Alexander Hamilton: Secretary of Treasury

Edmund Jennings Randolph: Attorney General

Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton had very different opinions on government. Washington, however, valued the difference in opinions. He felt it was important to listen to different viewpoints.

Thomas Jefferson Alexander HamiltonEdmund Jennings

Randolph

+Events During His First Term

On May 29, 1790, Rhode Island ratified the Constitution. They were the last of the original 13 colonies to do so. This entered them into the Union.

On May 31, 1790, the first United States of America copyright law was signed by George Washington.

On December 15, 1791, the states officially ratified the Bill of Rights.

+ On January 12, 1791, Thomas Pinckney was appointed by Washington to be the first ever American minister to England.

On October 13, 1792, the cornerstone for the future mansion for the President was laid in Washington D.C.

Thomas Pinckney

+His Second Term

In December of 1792, George Washington was unanimously re-elected President. John Adams was re-elected Vice President as well. On March 4th, 1793, Washington was officially inaugurated for his second term.

+ His Second Term CabinetDuring Washington’s second term, several of his cabinet members resigned from their positions. He then appointed others to take their place.

Vice President: Throughout both terms of Washington’s Presidency, John Adams remained Vice President.

Secretary of War: Henry Knox resigned as Secretary of War partway through Washington’s second term. He was replaced by Timothy Pickering, who was eventually replaced by James McHenry.

Timothy Pickering James McHenry

+ Secretary of State: For part of his second term, Thomas Jefferson remained Secretary of State. When he resigned, he was replaced by Edmund Jennings Randolph, who was eventually replaced by Timothy Pickering.

Secretary of Treasury: Alexander Hamilton remained the Secretary of Treasury for part of Washington’s second term, but eventually resigned. He was replaced by Oliver Wolcott.

Attorney General: For part of Washington’s second term, Edmund Jennings Randolph remained the Attorney General. However, he was replaced by William Bradford, who was eventually replaced by Charles Lee.

William Bradford Charles LeeOliver Wolcott

+Events During His Second Term The French Revolution had been going on for three years at this

point. As conflicts between France and England were rising, Americans were starting to take sides. Some of Washington’s cabinet members (Jefferson and Hamilton) were encouraging Washington to send help to one of the sides. Jefferson supported the French while Hamilton supported the British. Washington, however, felt it would be best to stay neutral. He felt that the new country was not strong enough yet to be taking sides. On April 22, 1793, he issued a proclamation encouraging Americans to stay neutral as well.

In the Fall of 1793, France sent Edmond Charles Genet to America. Washington was concerned that Genet was going to try to enlist American aid for France against England.

+ On December 31, 1793, Thomas Jefferson resigned from his position as Secretary of State.

In March of 1794, Congress authorized for six warships to be built in response to the aggression of the British on America.

On April 16, 1794, Washington elected John Jay to serve as an envoy to England to try to ease building tension.

Alexander Hamilton had proposed that Washington place a task on whiskey. Residents of Western Pennsylvania were extremely angered by this, as whiskey production was very important to the region. In 1794, the Whiskey Rebellion was becoming a serious threat. In response, Washington sent about 13,000 troops to put an end to the rebellion. This was considered one of the nation’s first challenges to the central government. Washington, however, helped the nation to survive this challenge.

+ On January 31, 1795, Alexander Hamilton resigned as Secretary of Treasury.

On October 27, 1795, America signed the Treaty of San Lorenzo with Spain. This gave Americans the right to ship goods through the New Orleans port without paying the Spanish Government.

On June 1, 1796, Tennessee became the 16th state in the Union.

+The End of His Presidency

On March 4th, 1797, Washington’s second term officially ended. Weary of politics, Washington had decided to retire. He gave his Farewell Address, in which he said to Americans, “Forswear excessive party spirit and geographical distinctions.” He encouraged Americans to not form long-term alliances with foreign nations. The Electoral College had voted John Adams the new President, with Thomas Jefferson as his Vice President. George Washington returned to his home, Mount Vernon.

+The Nation Mourns a Hero

Washington was only able to enjoy his retired life at Mount Vernon for three years. On December 14, 1799 George Washington died at the age of 67. Funeral bells tolled throughout the nation, and a public funeral was to be held. When news reached Britain, the flags of the British fleet were lowered to half mast. When the news reached France, Napolean Bonaparte, who had just been made Consul, ordered a funeral oration to take place. Americans all through the nation were mourning the death of the First President.

“Never was confidence in a man and a chief magistrate more widely diffused, or more solidly established.”

-Fisher Ames’ Eulogy of George Washington

“He will be the greatest man in

the world.” –King George III

"That your appearance among them I say would restore full confidence of salvation, and would render them equal to whatever is not impossible.”

–Thomas Jefferson