The Beginnings of America’s Government

President Washington

Even though he wanted to retire he was elected first president

He established precedents that shaped future of the United States

Cabinet

Congress established 3 executive departments

State Department-handle relations with other nations, headed by Thomas Jefferson

Treasury Department to deal with financial matters, headed by Alexander Hamilton

War Department to provide for the national defense, headed by Henry Knox

Judiciary Act of 1789

One group in Congress favored a national legal system

Other group favored state courts The act established a federal court system

with 13 district courts and 3 circuit courts State laws remained but federal courts

would have power to reverse state decisions

Whiskey Rebellion

Farmers resisted paying a tax on the whiskey they made

July 1794, federal officers came into western Penn collect a tax

Farmers resistance turned into an armed protest known as the Whiskey Rebellion

Pres. Washington sent an army to quiet rebellion, this showed that government would use force to maintain social order

Problems in the West

Native Americans who lived between App. Mountains and Mississippi River had trouble with new government

American settlers were ignoring treaties and moving into lands promised to Native Americans

Washington sent an army to restore order in the west

Treaty of Greenville

After American army lost a few battles they defeated Native Americans at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in August of 1794

Treaty of Greenville was signed in 1785 to settle the issue

Native Americans agreed to surrender most of the land in present-day Ohio

Problems with Europe

French Revolution began in 1789 and in 1793 France and Britain went to war

Washington wanted America to remain neutral

French tried to involve United States

Washington announced a Proclamation of Neutrality that prohibited Americans from fighting in the war and stopped British warships form American ports

Jay’s Treaty

The British were capturing American ships that traded with the French and forcing their crews into the British navy

Washington sent John Jay to make a treaty to avoid war with Britain

Jay’s Treaty said Britain shall

1 withdraw from American soil

2 pay damages for ships they seized

3 allow some American ships to trade with British colonies in Caribbean

Jay’s Treaty Approved

Even though the treaty was controversial and Washington himself didn’t favor it but it was approved by a slim margin

Pinckney Treaty

To settle differences with Spain, Thomas Pinckney went to Spain in 1795

Pinckney Treaty gave Americans the right to navigate the Mississippi River and also the right to trade at the port of New Orleans

Washington Says Goodbye

Only served 2 terms Greatly troubled by divisions in politics and

political parties In his farewell address he spoke against the

evils of political parties His speech is still read aloud in the Senate

every year on his birthday