Washington:Our First President

Objectives:Objectives:1) Analyze how the U.S. confronted the difficult task of forming a new government2) List and Explain how the political ideas of Hamilton and Jefferson differed3) Describe how Washington’s leadership brought legitimacy to the presidency

Washington: The Obvious Choice

President chosen by “electors” named by state legislatures

Each elector had two ballots Washington unanimous

choice on 1st ballot Under this system

winner = President Second = V.P. (it was Adams with

34 electoral votes)

Washington’s Washington’s challengeschallenges

► Everything Washington did was a “first” Everything Washington did was a “first”

► ““We are in a wilderness without a single We are in a wilderness without a single footstep to guide us.” footstep to guide us.” – Washington– Washington

► U.S. at the time easy prey U.S. at the time easy prey U.S. army U.S. army less than 700 officers and less than 700 officers and

soldiers; no navysoldiers; no navy

Washington Needs HelpWashington Needs Help

1.1. Washington creates Executive Washington creates Executive positionspositionsBecomes first “Cabinet”Becomes first “Cabinet”

2.2. Washington brings clarity to the Washington brings clarity to the Judicial BranchJudicial Branch Judiciary Act of 1789Judiciary Act of 1789

The First “Cabinet”

• Secretary of State: Thomas Jefferson• Secretary of the Treasury: Alexander Hamilton• Secretary of War: Henry Knox• Attorney General: Edmund Randolph

Judiciary Act of 1789• Provided more details about Judicial Branch• 6 Supreme Court justices (John Jay is first Chief Justice) (#s

went up over time)• Other lower federal courts• Affirmed “supremacy clause” of Constitution (Article 6,

Section 2): • states could appeal to a federal court if constitutional issues were

raised

Check for understanding

•How did Washington confront the difficult task of running a new government?

Division in Washington’s

Cabinet

Hamilton VS. Jefferson

Deep philosophical differences Both men greatly respected by Washington Become leaders of first political parties in US

Jefferson Democratic-Republicans Hamilton Federalists

2 party system becomes well-entrenched after just a few years

Despite Washington’s pleas to avoid partisanship in private and public comments (ex. Farewell Address)

Hamilton vs. Jefferson

• Strong Federal Gov’t• Fear of “mob” rule• Republic led by “elite”• “loose” interpretation• Economy shipping /

manufacturing• Assumption B.U.S.

• Favors “creditors”• Supporters:

• Merchants / manufacturers / landowners / investors / lawyers / clergy

• Strong State Gov’t• Fear of “absolute” rule• Democracy “virtuous”• “strict” interpretation• Economy agriculture /

farming• NO B.U.S.

• Favors “debtors”• Supporters:

• “plain people”• Farmers / trades people

Check for understanding

• Give at least 3 examples of how Hamilton and Jefferson differed.

Bank of the United States

• Hamilton wanted a national Bank of the United States to issue paper money and handle tax receipts and other government funds

• A problem • not called for directly in Constitution

• Debate • strict vs. loose interpretation

(Article I, Section 8) – “elastic clause”• Hamilton gets his Bank, by…

Our Nation’s Capital• Philadelphia• In 1789, it’s New York City (then back to Philly)• Plans made to create a new city • Centrally located to appeal to Northerners and Southerners:

the District of Columbia• Built on a swamp along Potomac River between Maryland

and Virginia• Pierre L’Enfant and Benjamin Banneker (African American) engineers (designers)

• Becomes nation’s capital in 1800 (Adams the first president to live in White House – the “President’s House”)

• To this day, unique relationship to U.S.; not a state

Washington faces Obstacles at Home & Abroad1.French Revolution2.Jays Treaty3.Pinckney’s Treaty4.Whiskey Rebellion5.Natives

Meanwhile, in Europe…• French Revolution begins (1789)• Jefferson (Democratic-Republicans)

• Strong supporter of France

• Hamilton (Federalists)• Support Great Britain

• Washington decides in 1793 to remain neutral

• Declaration of Neutrality

• Jefferson soon resigns from Cabinet

Jay’s Treaty

The Jay TreatyThe Jay Treaty (1794) (1794) Between U.S. and Great Britain Between U.S. and Great Britain after Battle of Fallen Timbers; after Battle of Fallen Timbers; many Americans angry with many Americans angry with details details

no assurance that Americans no assurance that Americans could not be “pressed” into could not be “pressed” into service in British navy service in British navy British allowed to continue fur British allowed to continue fur trade along Canadian border trade along Canadian border

BUT Britain did agree to leave BUT Britain did agree to leave Northwest territory and Northwest territory and war had war had been avertedbeen averted

Pinckney’s Treaty• Treaty of San Lorenzo • Americans gain right to access Mississippi River & New

Orleans• Resolved territorial disputes between Spain and U.S.

http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/the-french-revolution-jay-treaty-and-treaty-of-san-lorenzo.html#lesson

The Whiskey Rebellion• The federal government needed

money• The 1st federal tax on Americans

excise tax on distilleries (alcohol producers)

• Farmers in Western Pennsylvania distilled corn into whiskey; more profitable & practical

• Some attacked tax collectors and many refused to pay the tax

• In 1794. Washington called up 15,000 militiamen and personally led them in show of force rebellion ended with no loss of life

War with Native Americans, Britain?• American settlers move west of the Appalachian Mountains into

lands U.S. “won” in American Revolution in Northwest Territory• Native Americans disagree that their lands were “won” by anyone and

resist• Native Americans successful at first but eventually suffer great losses

at Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794

http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/the-whiskey-rebellion-and-battle-of-fallen-timbers.html#lesson

Check for understanding

• Describe how Washington’s leadership brought legitimacy to the presidency

Goodbye George • Washington Farewell Address 1796

• "The unity of government...is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence...of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize."

• "It serves to distract the Public Councils, and enfeeble the Public Administration....agitates the Community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one....against another....it opens the door to foreign influence and corruption...”

• "Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice?"

• "It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world..."

• "...avoid the necessity of those overgrown military establishments, which, under any form of government, are inauspicious to liberty, and which are to be regarded as particularly hostile to Republican Liberty.“

• ".......the name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism..."