WASHINGTON’S

PRESIDENCY AND

PRECEDENTS

1789-1797

WASHINGTON’S PRESIDENCY

George Washington (VA) inaugurated as President

on April 30, 1798

Elected unanimously

John Adams (MA) becomes the Vice President

Washington establishes many governmental

precedents

Precedent: An example that will become a

standard practice

No rules or procedures for how to be President!

WASHINGTON’S PRECEDENTS

Establishment of the Court System

Federal Judiciary Act of 1789

Creates an independent federal court

system with the Supreme Court and lower

courts

The Supreme Court will have a Chief Justice

and five associates

We currently have 9

Washington appoints John Jay as Chief

Justice

WASHINGTON’S PRECEDENTS

Establishing the Presidential Cabinet

The Constitution allows Congress to create departments to help the President

Group of advisors to head executive departments

Appointed by President, approved by senate

WASHINGTON’S

PRECEDENTS

The First Presidential Cabinet had four departments

Secretary of War, to oversee the nation’s defenses

Henry Knox

Secretary of State, to oversee relations btw the US and other countries

Thomas Jefferson

Secretary of the Treasury, to manage the government’s money

Alexander Hamilton

Attorney General, to advise the government on

legal matters

Edmond Randolph

MAJOR EVENTS DURING

WASHINGTON’S PRESIDENCY

Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794)

US army defeats a confederation of Indians in the Northwest Territory

British forts had been giving weapons to Natives

Treaty of Greenville (1795)

12 tribes give US access to Great Lakes and most of Ohio

MAJOR EVENTS DURING

WASHINGTON’S PRESIDENCY

The Whiskey Rebellion (1794)

Farmers refuse to pay a tax on

Whiskey unless the American

army will enforce it

Results in upholding the

powers of the new federal

government

MAJOR EVENTS DURING

WASHINGTON’S PRESIDENCY

The French Revolution (1789-

1793)

The French overthrow the monarchy

and execute King Louis XVI

Inspired by the American Revolution

Based off a number of ideas Americans

presented in the Declaration of

Independence

MAJOR EVENTS DURING

WASHINGTON’S PRESIDENCY

Pinckney’s Treaty

(1795)

Spain gives Americans

the right to freely travel

the Mississippi and use

the port of New Orleans

ALEXANDER

HAMILTON

Economic Plan and

Conflicts with Jefferson

HAMILTON VS. JEFFERSON

Alexander Hamilton (Federalist)

Secretary of Treasury, responsible

for paying debt and creating

economic security

Believed in a strong central

government and President,

national bank and court system

Wanted the nation to be industrial

and commercial

HAMILTON VS. JEFFERSON

Thomas Jefferson (Anti-Federalist)

Feared a strong government would

threaten people’s freedoms

Land ownership, states’ rights, no big

government

Wanted the US to be an agrarian

nation

Farming/agriculture

HAMILTON’S ECONOMIC PLAN

Problem: Repaying a HUGE national debt.

Federal government owed $52 million and the

states $25 million

Solution: Pay off all debts (foreign and state)

by

Selling government bonds to fund debt

Using tariffs on imports to raise money and protect

American businesses

Starting Bank of the US to regulate other banks

HAMILTON’S ECONOMIC PLAN

Pros

Establish national credibility with other countries

Buy political support from the wealthy

Enrich investors, leads to economic growth

Cons: Hurt southerners, farmers and poor

Southern states had no debt but would be taxed to pay Northern

states’ debts

Favored industry and business more than agriculture

Congress approves plan in 1791

Compromise: nation’s capital in the South

BANK OF THE UNITED STATES

A National bank to

Establish U.S. credit with other

countries

Issue a common currency

Hold government funds

Make loans to the government

and borrowers, helping pay

government debt

INTERPRETING THE CONSTITUTION

Loose Construction

Constitution should be flexible to meet needs

of the country

Favored by Hamilton and Adams (justifying the bank)

Strict Construction

The government can ONLY do what the Constitution explicitly states

Favored by Jefferson and Madison (no bank)

THE NATION’S EARLY

CHALLENGESThe Whiskey Rebellion, Political Parties, and War

THE WHISKEY REBELLION

Congress passes a tax on whiskey to pay off war debt

Farmers who grew grain were angry that the tax targeted

them and not wealthy businessmen

Summer 1974, farmers in PA rebelled against the tax

Beat up tax collectors and tarred and feathered them

Burned down homes of a local tax collector

THE WHISKEY REBELLION

Government response

Hamilton wanted the government to

look strong

Encouraged Washington to stop the

revolt

Federal troops marched to PA to put

down the revolt

Washington proved the government

would make sure people obeyed

the law

POLITICAL PARTIES

Whiskey Rebellion created disagreements

Who was to blame?

Did the government have to get involved?

Two political parties began to emerge

Federalists

Democratic-Republicans

POLITICAL PARTIES

Federalists

Led by Hamilton and Adams

Mostly northerners and merchants

In favor of:

Strong central government

Industrial economy

Loose interpretation of Constitution

Pro-Britain

POLITICAL PARTIES

Democratic-Republicans

Led by Jefferson and Madison

Mostly Southerners, Westerners, and Farmers

In favor of:

States’ rights,

Farming-based economy,

Strict interpretation of the Constitution

Pro-France

FOREIGN POLICY: FRANCE & BRITAIN

1789 French Revolution

Democratic-Republicans supported the

Revolution

Federalist saw them as anarchists

1793, Britain and France went to war

US Remains NEUTRAL

Too weak

Had help from France during Revolution but

relied on trade from Britain

Proclamation of neutrality issued, becomes

precedent towards Europe

FOREIGN POLICY: BRITAIN

Great Britain still had forts on US soil and kept seizing

US ships on the sea

Jay’s Treaty (1794): John Jay sent to England to

negotiate peace

Britain gave up forts, but kept restrictions on ships

US still paid debts to Britain

Party controversy: Federalists ok with compromise, D-Rs not

WASHINGTON

STEPS DOWN

1797

WASHINGTON’S FAREWELL

Washington decides not to run again in 1796

Not in good health, wanted to retire

Wanted to set an example by walking away from

power

NOT A KING

Set precedent that presidents would only serve

for two terms

Only exception: FDR

Not required by the Constitution until the 22nd

Amendment in 1951

WASHINGTON’S FAREWELL

Major Achievements:

Set up courts, cabinet and National Bank

Indians defeated, rebellions suppressed

Kept U.S. out of war

Boosted foreign trade

Helped pay off debt

WASHINGTON’S FAREWELL ADDRESS

Washington’s farewell speech was full of warnings and advice to his successors

Stressed the importance of following the Constitution

Importance of checks and balances= no one taking complete power

Altering Constitution only through intense amendment process

Dangers of entering into alliances- STAY NEUTRAL

Dangers of political parties- DIVISION

WASHINGTON’S FAREWELL ADDRESS

Washington also warned

about the dangers of a

powerful military

He urged Americans to

maintain and value a

sense of national unity

ELECTION OF 1796

Very close election!

Thomas Jefferson vs. John Adams

Jefferson: Democratic Republican, won

the South

Adams: Federalist, won the North

Adams won, new President

Jefferson 2nd place= Vice President

JOHN ADAMS’

PRESIDENCY

1797-1801

ADAMS BECOMES

PRESIDENT

Elected 1796

Serves 1797-1801

THE XYZ AFFAIR

American merchant ships were being seized

by French warships

French upset about Jay’s treaty (US-British)

Created closer ties between US and Britain

Adams sends delegates to France to

negotiate

THE XYZ AFFAIR

American delegates arrived and the French refused to meet with them

The French government eventually sent 3 representatives (called X, Y, and Z)

Who requested bribes in order to negotiate with the Americans

Adams calls the diplomats back

Arouses anti-French sentiment

EFFECTS OF THE XYZ AFFAIR

Many Americans called for war with France

Willing to spend money on military but not bribes

John Adams does NOT go to war with France

Feels the US military is not strong enough to fight a major

power

Very unpopular move

Public anger with France strengthens Federalist support

Majorities in Congress 1798, enact laws that Democratic-

Republicans never would have

NATURALIZATION ACT (1798)

Increased number of years required to qualify

for US citizenship

5 years to 14

Helps Federalists because most immigrants

who became citizens voted for the

Democratic-Republicans

ALIEN ACT

Actually 2 acts

Authorized President

To deport any aliens considered to be dangerous

To detain any enemy aliens in a time of war without trial

Helps Federalists because it was harsh on the French

during the time of the French Revolution (and the D-Rs

liked the French)

SEDITION ACT

Outlawed conspiracy against the

government

Made it illegal for newspapers to

criticize the president or Congress

Imposed heavy penalties for

editors who violated the law

Fines and imprisonment

RESPONSES TO ALIEN AND

SEDITION ACTS

Democratic-Republicans say they violate the First

Amendment

Principle of Judicial Review not established, so no Supreme Court

case

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

Written by Jefferson and Madison

Argument:

Since states had entered into the compact (Constitution), they can nullify a

federal law that breaks the agreement.

THE CRISIS FADES

These laws are unpopular and the Federalists lose their majority in 1800

Alien and Sedition acts expire or are repealed

John Marshall’s Supreme Court will soon establish its role as the last resort in determining if laws are constitutional

JUDGING ADAMS

Alien and Sedition Acts lost Adams his reelection and gave

control to the Democratic-Republicans

Positives Negatives

Keeps US out of war,

preserving neutrality

Relationship with France

damaged

Strengthens the Navy New taxes imposed

Peaceful transfer of power in

1800

Party Politics become

problematic