George Washington

1789-1797

Precedents

• Right hand on Bible– “so help me God”

• Inaugural ball

• Cabinet

• 2 terms

• Gov’t from NY to Philly

Cabinet

• Heads of Departments = secretaries

• 1st Cabinet – Sec of State = T Jefferson– Sec of Treasury = Alex Hamilton– Sec of War = Henry Knox

• Unwritten Constitution

Hamilton v Jefferson

Hamilton v Jefferson

• Political Parties develop

• Hamilton = Federalists

• Jefferson = Democratic Republicans

• Unwritten Constitution

• Strict v. Loose Interpretation

Hamilton’s Plan

• Payoff national debt at face value (bonds) & have Fed Gov’t assume state debt (south unhappy)

• Raise Tariffs (south unhappy)

• National Bank – store Gov't funds, deposit & transfer, source of loans, regulate $ supply (strict v loose)

Compromises

• Capitol to D.C.

• Tariffs lower

• Excise tax on whiskey >>> Whiskey Rebellion (1794)

Foreign Affairs Under GW…no not that GW

• During 1st term = French Rev.– Americans generally supported French Republic– US had alliance w/ France - Britain was seizing

American ships

• Proclamation of Neutrality (1793) – neutral in conflict >>> Jefferson resigned

• Citizen Genet – French minister - recruited Americans w/out Washington’s consent

Foreign Affairs Continued

• Jay’s Treaty – Chief Justice John Jay to GB to discuss impressments >> GB would leave posts on western frontier (angered pro-French Americans but kept neutrality)

• Pinckney's Treaty – Spain feared US/Brit Alliance

– Spain opened New Orleans and Mississippi to US duty free

– Florida’s northern border = 31st parallel

Domestic Issues

• Native Americans (domestic issue?) – Brits supported N.A.’s – resisted western expansion into Ohio Valley – Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794)– Treaty of Greenville – Shawnee surrendered

Ohio Territory

Domestic Issues Cont…

• Whiskey Rebellion (1794) – Western Penn – group of farmers refused to pay excise tax >> Washington federalized 15,000 troops under Hamilton (Jefferson criticized) >> rebellion collapsed w/no bloodshed

GW’s farewell Address

• No European Affairs

• No permanent Alliances

• No Political Parties

• Avoid Sectionalism