Washington Takes Office

Essential Question

How did President Washington set the course for the new nation?

• Discuss how the new government was organized during Washington’s presidency.

• Explain why the new nation faced an economic crisis.

• Identify the three parts of Hamilton’s financial plan.

• Describe how Washington responded to the Whiskey Rebellion.

Objectives

Terms and People

•inauguration– a ceremony in which the President takes the oath of office

•precedent– an example to be followed by others in the future

•bond – a certificate issued by a government for an amount of money that the government promises to pay back with interest

•speculator– a person who invests in a risky venture in the hope of making a large profit

Terms and People (continued)

•unconstitutional – contrary to what is permitted by the Constitution

•tariff – a tax on imported goods

How did President Washington set the course for the new nation?

President Washington set precedents for the nation by choosing top advisors to form his Cabinet and by establishing the court system.

In April of 1789, George Washington began his term as the first President of the United States.

His inauguration was held on April 30, 1789.

Washington had several reasons to feel anxious as he started his term as President.

The country

was divided on

many issues.

His actions would set a precedent.

The new nation

depended on him.

The first job of the President and the Congress was to put a working government in place.

Congress passed laws to set up the three departments of the executive branch.

Treasury

WarState

Washington appointed four well-known men as his top advisors. This group later became known as the Cabinet.

Alexander Hamilton

Secretary of the Treasury

Thomas Jefferson

Secretary of State

Henry Knox Secretary of War

Edmund Randolph

Attorney General

Washington also established a judiciary, or court system.

Supreme Court

Circuit Courts

District Courts

Washington also faced the challenge of America’s significant debt.

The American colonies needed money for the war.

The new government owed money to its investors.

Americans and foreigners bought bonds to help the war effort.

The nation’s economic crisis was complicated by the issue of speculators.

Speculators had bought bonds from the original buyers for less than they were worth.

If the government paid its debt, speculators would make a profit. Many Americans thought this was unfair.

The new government was not collecting enough money to repay its debt. It needed new sources of income.

Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton developed a plan to solve the financial crisis.

The government would:

Pay all federal and state debts

Create a national bank

Impose a high tax on imported goods

Many Southerners opposed Hamilton’s plan for the government to repay state debts.

Southerners thought each state should repay its own debts.

Hamilton believed his plan would encourage future investors.

Southerners supported Hamilton after Congress agreed to move the new capital city from Philadelphia to Washington D.C. in the South.

In 1791, Congress created the National Bank. Americans disagreed over whether the Constitution gave government this power.

Supporters pointed out that the Constitution gave Congress the power to make all laws “necessary and proper” for fulfilling its duties.

Opponents believed a national bank was unconstitutional, because it was not specifically addressed in the Constitution.

Congress did not pass Hamilton’s tariff plan. In 1791, it imposed a tax on all U.S. whiskey.•People in areas like western Pennsylvania were angry at the tax on American-made whiskey passed by Congress.

•Whiskey was a cash crop to western Pennsylvania farmers.

•Farmers were angry that cases about the law were tried in district courts, often far away from the people affected. Angry because they did not feel the government was doing enough to protect them from Native Americans nor help with trade. Corn was converted to whiskey which was like cash in many areas.

Congress did not pass Hamilton’s tariff plan. In 1791, it imposed a tax on all U.S. whiskey.

•Small farmers thought that they should not have to pay.

•Washington issued a proclamation requiring them to obey the law.

•District courts, far away from the affected people were used.

•The Whiskey Rebellion was crushed.

Section Review

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