The First Presidents

WASHINGTON

ADAMS

JEFFERSON

Northwest Ordinance The Northwest Ordinance was an act passed by Congress in 1787 that

provided rules for how parts of the territory could eventually become states,

and be added to the Union with the same rights and status as already-existing

states.

The ordinance banned slavery in the Northwest Territory effectively making

the Ohio River the boundary between free and slave regions.

The law provided a mechanism for the division of the land into rectangular sections. A method by which new

territories would be admitted to the United States.

George Washington

First president of the United States in 1789 and again in 1792. George

Washington had a tremendous amount of work ahead of him once he took

office.

The country was deep in debt from the American revolution.

England still occupied forts in the Ohio Valley & Spain controlled the

Mississippi River by occupying New Orleans.

New York City New York City served as the nation's capital for Washington's first year in

office. The government then moved to Philadelphia.

Cabinet

A body of department heads who serve as the president's key advisors and/or

representative in specific areas.

• John Adams- Vice President

• Thomas Jefferson- Secretary of State.

• Alexander Hamilton- Secretary of the Treasury.

• John Jay- Chief Justice

• Henry Knox- Secretary of War

Washington's Cabinet

1 - Henry Knox

2 - Thomas Jefferson

3 - Edmund Randolph

4 -Alexander Hamilton

5- George Washington

Washington, D.C.

Washington was granted by Congress to select the site for the federal capital.

Washington chose donated land along the Potomac River between Virginia and

Maryland as the nation’s new capital.

The South didn’t want the federal capital located in the North

and the North didn’t want the federal capital located in the

South.

The city would consist of beautiful

walkways, tree lined streets, and

masterfully constructed buildings to

impress foreign dignitaries.

Although construction on the White House

was not completed in time for Washington

to live there during his presidency.

Hamilton's Economic Plan

Proposed the federal government take on state debts that were largely due

to the war, place a tax on whiskey, supported tariffs, and established a

National bank.

The war left us in debt. Some states were bankrupt. We

needed one unified currency ... We need a central bank.

Alexander Hamilton

Not everybody was happy with the idea of a

national Bank.

Bank of the U.S.: Chartered by the newly

formed federal government, the bank was

established in Philadelphia in 1791, and was

permitted by the government to issue legal

tender bank notes that could be exchanged for

gold. The bank successfully established a

national currency, but the charter ended in

1811, for economic and political reasons.

Whiskey Rebellion (1794)

An organized resistance in 1794, to the *excise tax on whiskey in which federal

revenue officials were tarred and feathered, riots were conducted, and mobs

burned homes of excise inspectors. The federal militia captured many of the

protesters, but most were released.

The Whiskey Rebellion was the first test of the government's constitutional

power to tax.

The whiskey tax was intended to help shift

resources from individuals to national

programs, such as building roads and post

offices, and supporting a western defense.

Tariffs Taxes on imported goods (from other countries.)

*Southerners opposed tariffs.

U.S. Coast Guard enforcing the tariff.

Whewwww… I

hate dem cotton

pickin… No

good…

Yankee…tariffs

Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality

Issued by President George Washington on April 22, 1793, the Neutrality

Proclamation stated that the United States would remain a neutral faction in

the war with France against Britain and Spain despite heavy French pressures

to join their forces. Many Americans felt the war to be a violation of their

neutrality.

Jay Treaty (1794)

A 1795 treaty between the United States and Great Britain that was to

facilitate ten years of peaceful trade between the United States and Britain.

French officials believed the 1778 alliance with America should be more

important than trading with England. As a result, French ships began to

raid and intercept American ships trading with England.

To Democratic-Republicans, Jay became one of the most hated men

in the United States. He was quoted as saying that he could find his

way across the country by the light of his effigies burning. Jay’s

Treaty would eventually be approved by the Senate.

John Jay’s resignation letter to Washington.

The French were angered by Jay’s Treaty

and began to raid and intercept

American ships trading with England.

Federalist Party

The Federalist, led by Alexander Hamilton and John Adams supported a

strong national government. “There are two ways to conquer and enslave a country…

One is by the sword… the other is by debt.”

John Adams

Alexander Hamilton

Democratic-Republicans

Led by Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, the Democratic-Republicans

favored stronger state governments and a weaker national government.

Jeffersonian Republicans are

today’s Democratic Party.

Political Parties Divide a New Republic

Within the foundations of our new republic, a two-party system had come to

control United States politics. When Washington announced he would not

seek a third term as president, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson

and their supporters attacked one another and competed to replace him.

Things got so bad that in his farewell address, Washington warned about

the dangers of political parties (factions).

Washington’s Farewell Address

• President George Washington gave a farewell address in 1796.

• First- Washington expressed his view that the United States should stay

neutral and avoid permanent alliances with other nations.

• Second- Washington spoke about the dangers of forming political parties.

Death of George Washington

No one is quite sure what killed Washington. He was in fine health at age 67

when he contracted hoarseness and a sore throat a few days after riding his

horse around his home, Mt. Vernon during a icy rain.

Washington's Mount Vernon bedroom, the room where

George Washington died in 1799.

A doctor was summoned, but Washington did not wait, ordering an

employee to bleed him. The doctor arrived and, according to the

principles of the day, bled him again. Eventually, Washington

requested no further bleeding be performed, but he was bled again

anyway.

The bleedings inflicted by Washington's doctors hastened his end.

Some 80 ounces of blood were removed in 12 hours (this is .63

gallons or about 35% of all the blood in his body).

Most authorities today believe Washington's final

illness was acute bacterial epiglottises, an infection

of the small tissue flap that plugs the entrance to

the lungs during swallowing. When the epiglottis

swells (as it will do in response to an infection) it

can block airflow into the lungs, an obviously

fatal outcome.

Election of 1796

The election of 1796 was a bitter election between John Adams and Thomas

Jefferson, with Adams winning by a small margin.

Ironically his political opponent, Thomas Jefferson was selected as his

Vice-President.

John Adams Thomas Jefferson

The XYZ Affair

When Adams sent a commission to France in 1797 in order to negotiate

problems between the two countries, they were told by three French officials

[known as agents X, Y, Z] that France would only negotiate with the United

States in exchange for $10 million loan to the French government and a $250,000

bribe to each of the French diplomats.

After this, the people were outraged and demanded war with France but Adams

refused and wanted to keep the U.S. out of foreign affairs.

The XYZ Affair resulted

in the US breaking off

relations with France for

a time.

The Quasi-War

An undeclared conflict between the United States and France which lasted

from 1798 to 1800. In the conflict, the United States managed to capture

ninety-three French ships while France captured just one U.S. ship.

Convention of 1800

Meeting in which France and the United States were able to negotiate some of

their differences, reopen trade, and re-establish diplomatic relations.

The convention also formally ended the US-French alliance that had existed

since the revolution, making the US officially neutral.

I want nothing to do

with a war with the

United States and

agree to stop seizing

American ships. My

intention is to carve an

empire out of my

European enemies.

Naturalization Act

Required foreign immigrants to live in the United States for fourteen years

Instead of the previous five year requirement before they could be US citizens.

John Adams was the first President to live in the White House. Adams

was also one of two Presidents to sign the Declaration of Independence,

the other being Thomas Jefferson.

Alien Act

The President could expel any foreigner thought to be dangerous to the

country. It also made it harder for immigrants to become citizens.

Sedition Act Citizens could be fined or jailed if they criticized the government or its

officials.

Say

Nothing

See

Nothing

Hear

Nothing

They can’t write that about me…

so what if I’m a Harvard snob

who looks down on people? I’ll

make a law so they can’t print

this stuff anymore.

Doctrine of Nullification

Jefferson opposed the Alien and Sedition Acts because he believed that it

violated the First Amendment. He urged states to take action against the acts

by nullifying (canceling) the law passed by the federal government.

Nullify:

The idea that states can

ignore federal laws they

believe are unconstitutional.

Election of 1800 (Rematch)

John Adams (Fed) vs. Thomas Jefferson (Rep)

The Federalists nominated John Adams

Proclaimed Jefferson to be an anarchist, someone who is against any

structure of government.

The Republicans nominated Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr.

The Republicans accused Adams of wanting to be a king, a huge insult so

soon after the revolution.

•Federalists nominated John Adams

Presidency of Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson firmly believed in the Republic and separation of church and state

and placed more emphasis in the common man, brought more simplicity to

government, and repeatedly argued for individual rights.

Consider this: For most of the

people who have been president

of the United States (and there

have been only 43, and they’ve

all been men), that title would be

the highlight of a lifetime, the

accomplishment to be most

proud of, the first thing to

appear on your gravestone. Not

so with Jefferson. He chose three

accomplishments to be recorded

on his tombstone, and being

president didn’t even make the

list.

Hamilton-Burr Duel

Hamilton was a Federalist and Burr was a Republican. The men clashed

repeatedly in the political arena. On July 11, 1804, Alexander Hamilton

(former Secretary of the Treasury) and Aaron Burr (Jefferson’s Vice

President) met on the dueling grounds at Weehawken, New Jersey, to duel.

When it was over, Hamilton would be mortally wounded, and Burr would be

wanted for murder.

Burr

Hamilton

England and France at War

At first, the European wars had made money for U.S. merchants because the

U.S. sold weapons and supplies to both sides. (The United States didn't care

who won the war as businesses earned huge profits.)

France and England continued to blockade each other’s ports and warned

U.S. ships to stay away because neither France nor England wanted the other

to obtain outside supplies.

Many U.S. ships were impounded (seized). U.S. merchants demanded that the

federal government provide protection.

Embargo Act of 1807

Law passed in 1807 that stopped all trade between America and any other

country. The goal was to get Britain and France, who were fighting each

other at the time, to stop restricting American trade. The Act backfired,

and the American people suffered. The Act was ended in 1809.

I know what to do! If we don’t

allow American ships to trade

with anyone, then we can’t be

attacked! That’s brilliant, but

how are we going to

make a living if we

can’t trade with

anyone?

Oh? I didn’t

think about

that…

Non-Intercourse Act of 1809

Jefferson admitted that the Embargo Act was a mistake. In 1809, Congress

replaced it with the Non-Intercourse Act, which allowed Americans to trade

with all nations except England and France.

Like its predecessor, the Embargo Act, it was mostly ineffective and instead

seriously damaged the economy of the United States.

Napoleon and the Louisiana Territory

During the French Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte took control of the weak

French government in 1799. As ruler, he gained control of much of Europe

and forced Spain to cede Louisiana, including New Orleans to France.

Americans feared the establishment of a French empire on their western

border. Certainly a French colony along the Mississippi River would

threaten the safety of the United States.

Napoleon

New Orleans

The United States Purchases the Louisiana Territory

President Jefferson hoped Napoleon could be persuaded to sell New Orleans.

In 1803, President Jefferson knowing that Napoleon was at war with

England and needed money solicited Robert Livingston, the American

minister in France, to ask Napoleon if he would sell it.

Napoleon offered not only New Orleans, but also the entire Louisiana

Territory which stretched from the Mississippi River to the Rocky

Mountains and from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada. The price set for both

was $15 million dollars.

The Senate ratified the Louisiana purchase though purchasing the territory was constitutionally illegal and going

beyond Jefferson’s presidential rights.

Louisiana Purchase

The Louisiana Territory

consisting of 868,000

square miles was

purchased from

Napoleon for $15 million

dollars. The best real

estate deal in history,

only $ .03 an acre. It

doubled the size of the

United States and

eventually 13 states

would be formed from it.

When France obtained the territory from Spain, Jefferson’s goal to purchase

the territory was the great port of New Orleans, land West of the Mississippi,

as well as the threat of French invasion. Jefferson obtained the territory for

$15 million.

Louisiana Purchase

Lewis and Clark Expedition

Jefferson wanted to know more about this area of North America. He decided to

send Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the region.

They were tasked to:

Draw maps of the area.

Collect samples of wildlife, plants, and soil.

Establish peaceful relationships with all Native Americans encountered along the way.

York accompanied the Lewis and

Clark expedition as a slave to

Clark. He made invaluable

contributions to the expedition on

many occasions. York participated

in the hunts to bring game to the

camp. He helped put up tents,

managed sails, and helped with the

rowing. York was also a curiosity to

the Indians. Most had never seen a

black man. They were intrigued by

his color and there is the story

about a Mandan chief trying to rub

the black off of York's skin. Yet the

Indians loved York. They respected

him. Indian children and women

frequently followed him around

because of his powerful build and

his uniqueness.

York

Lewis and Clark Expedition

The Lewis and Clark Expedition was commissioned by President Thomas

Jefferson shortly after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Their perilous

journey lasted from May 1804 to September 1806. The primary objective was

to explore and map the newly acquired territory, find a practical route across

the Western half of the continent, and establish friendly relations with Native

Americans.

Lewis’ Newfoundland dog named Seaman, eventually

became one of the most famous members of the Lewis

and Clark Expedition. Seaman had proved his worth

over and over throughout the arduous wilderness

journey as a powerful hunter, vigilant watchdog and

devoted companion.

As part of his support for the Lewis and Clark Expedition,

Jefferson authorized peace medals to be given to American

Indian tribal leaders encountered along the journey. By

doing so, Jefferson hoped to promote integration of the

American Indian with American society and secure

westward lands for expansion.

Sacajawea Sacajawea (sak uh juh WEE uh), a young Shoshone woman who was living with

the Mandan tribe. She had been kidnapped from her own tribe several years

before by the Blackfeet Indians.

In the spring of 1805, Sacajawea agreed to go along as guide and interpreter.

Lewis and Clark built canoes and followed the Missouri River until they reached

the Columbia River. On November 7, 1805, Lewis and Clark reached their goal,

the Pacific Ocean. They had traveled 3,000 miles from the Mississippi River to

the Pacific Ocean.

Sacajawea

Lewis wrote in his journal: “Great joy in camp. We are in view

of the Ocean, this great Pacific Ocean which we have been so

long anxious to see.”

Lewis and Clark Return

In 1806, Americans happily received the news of the return of Lewis and Clark.

Only one man died on the trip from appendicitis. The explorers brought back

valuable information about the unknown land.

The Barbary War

American trading ships ran great risks, especially in the Mediterranean Sea

where the Barbary States located along on the coast of North Africa would attack

American and European ships and tried to force them to pay tribute, or bribe.

The bribe would protect their ships from attack.

The ruler of Tripoli wanted the United States to pay an even bigger bribe. When

Jefferson refused, Tripoli declared war on the United States. In response,

Jefferson ordered American ships to blockade the port of Tripoli.

The Barbary War

One of the American ships, the Philadelphia, ran aground near Tripoli. Pirates

boarded the ship. They imprisoned the crew. The pirates planned to use the ship to

attack other American ships.

American sailors quietly reboarded and recaptured the Philadelphia and set it on fire

so the pirates could not use it.

The Barbary War

American Marines, marched 500 miles across North Africa to make a surprise

attack on Tripoli.

The war with Tripoli lasted until 1805. In the end, the ruler of Tripoli signed a

treaty promising to leave American ships alone.

We promise to

behave and not

attack anymore

American Ships

July 4, 1826

Both Jefferson and Adams died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the

signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Gasp… Uhhh…

That Jefferson

still lives!

Not knowing that Thomas Jefferson had died earlier that morning, Adams succumbs to death cursing

that his political rival still lives.