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
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