Washington’s Presidency
Chapter 9
Washington’s Presidency
• George Washington inaugurated on April 30, 1789.
• John Adams was his vice-president
Federal Judiciary Act• Constitution left it up to
Congress on how many Supreme Court Justices to have.
• 1789 – Congress passed the Federal Judiciary Act– Gave Supreme Court 1
chief justice, 5 associate justices (8 associates as of today)
– Provided for other lower, less powerful federal courts.
– John Jay was appointed chief justice.
Why does a president have a cabinet?
President of the United States
• Then…– George Washington
• Now…– Barrack Obama
Presidential CabinetSecretary of the Treasury
• Then…– Alexander Hamilton
• Now…– Timothy Geithner
Presidential CabinetSecretary of War
• Then…– Henry Knox
• Now…• Secretary of Defense
– Leon Panetta
Presidential CabinetAttorney General
• Then…– Edmund Randolph
• Now…– Eric Holder
Presidential CabinetSecretary of State
• Then…– Thomas Jefferson
• Now…– Hillary Clinton
Alexander Hamilton – Secretary of the Treasury
• Faced the task of fixing the new nation’s economy (US was $52 million in debt).
• Wanted to prove to other countries that the US was economically responsible.
• Came up with a financial plan to reflect his belief in a strong central government.– Paying off war debts– Raising government
revenue– Creating a National Bank
Alexander Hamilton – Secretary of the Treasury
• Paying off war debts…– Southern States
agreed to help pay off Northern States debts, and in return the nation’s capital was placed in the South.
Alexander Hamilton – Secretary of the Treasury
• Raising government revenues…– Called for tariffs on
imported goods• Taxed foreign goods,
such as shoes and textiles
• Insured steady flow of $$ to the government
• Encouraged people to buy American goods…
Alexander Hamilton – Secretary of the Treasury
• Creating a National Bank…– Give government a
safe place to keep money
– Make loans to business and government
– Issue bank notes• paper $$ that could
be used as currency
Interpreting the Constitution
• Hamilton’s plan would strengthen the gov’t.– Started a debate over how
to interpret the Constitution
– Jefferson and Madison believed Constitution discouraged big government
– Believed in strict interpretation of Constitution
– Hamilton pointed to Elastic Clause in Constitution, stating bank was “necessary and proper”…
– Jefferson and Hamilton defended their positions to Washington….
But Washington had other challenges at home and
abroad….
To Be Continued….