Launching the New Government

Ch. 9 U.S. History

GEORGE WASHINGTON1789-1797

George Washington’s Presidency

• April 30, 1789 Washington (Virginia) is inaugurated (sworn in) as President.John Adams (Mass.) becomes the Vice-President.

InaugurationCeremony in which President take the oath of office

Washington sets precedents

As 1st U.S. President, Washington establishes many governmental precedents.PRECEDENT: an act or decision that sets an example for others to follow.

Court System Established

Federal Judiciary Act of 1789: Created an independent federal court system with the Supreme Court and lower level courts.

• The U.S. Supreme Court is to have a Chief Justice and five associate justices. Currently we have 9 total justices.

• Washington appoints John Jay as Chief Justice.

Presidential Cabinet Created

• Cabinet: Group of department leaders who serve the President.

• The first Presidential Cabinet had four departments

First Presidential Cabinet1. Secretary of War Henry Knox

oversaw the nation’s defenses.

2. Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson oversaw the relations between the U.S. and other countries.

First Presidential Cabinet

3. Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton managed the government’s money.

First Presidential Cabinet

First Presidential Cabinet

4. Attorney General Edmond Randolph advised the government on legal matters.

National Debt

National Debt: amount of money a government owes to others.

Hamilton’s Financial Plan

Hamilton’s primary goal as Secretary of the Treasury was to reduce the national debt.

Hamilton’s Financial Plan

Alexander Hamilton believed that the federal government should be stronger than the state governments.

Hamilton’s Financial Plan

A. Pay off the war debt to develop the trust of other nations for trade. He wanted to buy up Revolutionary War bonds and reissue new ones.

Hamilton’s Financial Plan

B. Raise the federal government’s revenues through tariffs and taxes.

TARIFFS – a tax on imported goods.

Whiskey Rebellion• Hamilton wanted

to tax liquor to raise money.

• Backcountry PA corn farmers protested and refused to pay the tax. Washington sent militia to put down rebellion.

Whiskey Rebellion• The rebellion

tested the will of the new government.

• Washington showed that the new government would act firmly in crisis and violence would not be tolerated.

French Revolution• After the American

Revolution, the French also fought for liberty and equality. But the Revolution grew violent.

• Radicals in France executed thousands in the name of reform.

French Revolution

Thomas Jefferson believed that the violence of the revolution was justified.

French Revolution

Washington did not want to disrupt the U.S. relations with other countries and wanted to remain neutral.• Neutrality – a

decision not to take sides in a war

Neutrality ProclamationProclamation declared that the United States would remain independent from disputes between other nations.

Neutrality Proclamation

Difficult to maintain neutrality because American merchants profited from trade with Britain and France.

Neutrality Proclamation• U.S. neutrality

was challenged because Britain and France seized cargoes from U.S. ships.

• Frigate: a ship that sails fast and has many guns

Jay’s Treaty• Chief Justice

John Jay negotiated a treaty with the British

• Treaty called for Britain to pay damages for seized American ships.

National Unity Threatened• American leaders

formed political parties to organize support for their views.

• Americans saw political parties as a threat to national unity.

National Unity Threatened• Faction: opposing

groups within parties

• Factions began to grow around Cabinet members Hamilton and Jefferson

National Unity Threatened• Hamilton and his

supporters wanted a strong federal government.

• These Federalists drew support from the North.

National Unity Threatened• Jefferson believed a

strong national government threatened the rights of states.

• His supporters were Democratic Republicans and included farmers, artisans and wealthy planters.

Adams is Elected President

• 1796: John Adams becomes the 2nd President of the U.S.

• A Federalist, he won the office over Thomas Jefferson.

• Jefferson became Vice President.

War Avoided

• President Adams strengthened the navy to keep the nation out of war.

• Adams resisted war fever and avoided armed conflict.

Federalist Party Splits• Hamilton

disagreed with Adams over whether the U.S. should go to war.

• The Federalist Party split as a result of continuing diplomatic talks with France.

Alien and Sedition Acts

• During crisis with France, the Federalist Party pushed laws through Congress.

• President could expel any alien, or foreigner, thought to be dangerous to the country.

Alien and Sedition Acts

• Law made it harder for immigrants to become citizens.

• Sedition: stirring up rebellion against a government

• Citizens could be fined or jailed for criticism of government

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

• Certain states challenged the Sedition Act in the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions.

• Thomas Jefferson help pass the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions.

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

• The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions claimed that states can judge whether a law is constitutional.

Good Luck on the Test!