Washington’s

Administration

1789-1797

Treaty of Paris, 1783

George Washington

1st POTUS 1789 – 1797

The Precedent President

100% of electoral vote =

unanimous!

Why?

Led Continental Army during Revolution, had faith and trust of the entire nation.

Step 1: Pick a Good TitleHis Elective Majesty?His Excellency the

Supreme Commander in Chief?His High Mightiness,

the President of the United States and Protector of their Liberties?

His Highness the President of the United States of America

and Protector of the Rights of the Same?Mr. President

Henry Knox, Secretary of War aka “the Muscle”

Step 2: Choose a Cabinet

Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State

aka “the Smooth Talker”

Alexander Hamilton, Secretary

of the Treasury aka “the Money Man”

Step 3: Choose a plan.Federalists• Led by Hamilton• Feared anarchy

more than tyranny• Elitist, distrusted

common man• Loose interpretation• Wanted:o Strong federal

government to preserve independence

o National debt as investment in success

o Strong ties with Britaino US as an industrial,

mercantile power

Democratic Republicans

• Led by Jefferson• Believed limited

government preserves liberty

• Patrician, trusted the common man

• Strict interpretation• Wanted:o Weak federal

government to preserve liberty

o Against national debt

o Strong ties with Franceo US as an agrarian nation

Component Pro Con

A) Fed Govt assumes states’ debt

B) Sells debt to investors as govt bonds

US builds credit

Investors become stakeholders in fed govt’s success

Economic elites control nation’s finances

Southern states had paid debts; felt it unfair to help North

Hamilton’s Economic Plan

Component Arguments For It Arguments Against It

Establish natl bank Issue money; handle taxes, receipts, and other govt. funds. Bank investors become stakeholders in fed govt’s success

Fear of plutocracy (rule by the rich) Is it constitutional?

Hamilton’s Economic Plan

Component Arguments For It Arguments Against It

Tariff (tax on imports) Raise money for new govt Spur industrial growth by making US manufactured goods more competitive against foreign goods

Southern states import more, will pay unfair share of taxes

Hamilton’s Economic Plan

Component Arguments For It Arguments Against It

Excise tax on whiskey

Sin tax on immoral product

Will raise significant funds

Targets poor frontier farmers who distill corn into whiskey for transport

Hamilton’s Economic Plan

Price of Southern Agreement =City of Washington, District of

Columbia

Washington vs. the Whiskey Rebellion

Judiciary Act of 1789

• Six Supreme Court justices; 13 districts in 11 states

• First Chief Justice John Jay

• SCOTUS jurisdiction over all cases involving a state

• Appellate jurisdiction over federal circuit court decisions and state courts challenging any federal law

French Revolution, 1789

50%Interest payments of national debt

25%Military expenditures

6%Court life at Versailles

19%Running the

country

FRENCH ANNUAL

BUDGET IN THE 1780s

French Revolution, 1789

01020304050607080

% of Income Spent on Bread

17871788

French Revolution, 1789

Commoners3rd Estate

Aristocracy2nd Estate

Clergy1st Estate

The Suggested Voting Pattern:Voting by Estates

1

1

1

Louis XIV insisted that the ancient distinction of the three orders be conserved in its entirety.

French Revolution

• Help our ally fight Britain?

• Proclamation of Neutrality, 1793

• “Why … entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition …? It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.”

– Farewell Address, 1796

Washington’s Foreign AffairsTreaty With Why ResultJay’s Treaty (1794)

Britain Unpaid private debts to Britain British forts around Great Lakes, impressment of American sailors

Secured NW border, normalized trade relations with Britain

Pinckney's Treaty (1795)

Spain Spain feared close American-British relations

Defined SW border with Spanish territory, opened Mississippi to trade

Treaty of Greenville (1795)

coalition of Native American tribes

Little Turtle defeated by Gen. “Mad Anthony” Wayne at the Battle of Fallen Timbers

Native Americans ceded Ohio to US

Disputed Territorial Claims Between Spain & US, 1783-1796

Indian Land Cessions: 1768-1799

Washington’s Legacy

1. First cabinet and other precedents

2. Judiciary Act of 17893. Suppressed Whiskey

Rebellion4. Secured borders and

foreign policy of Isolationism

5. Warned against political parties

6. Established two-term tradition