September 21, 2015 The Washington Presidency

 Washington sets the precedent or example for future presidents  Precedents Washington set were: establishing and appointing Cabinet members to help them, 2 term presidency length, and being called “Mr. President”  In the early elections first place winner became President and second place became Vice President  Washington’s VP: John Adams (Federalist)

 To help executive branch and advise President  Secretary of State: Thomas Jefferson – communicate, spokesperson for President on U.S. policy  Secretary of Treasury: Alexander Hamilton – head of federal government spending and budget  Secretary of War: Henry Knox - Head of war policy, how to get fund for war, military strategy ( now called secretary of defense)  Attorney General: Edmund Randolph – Lawyer for the federal government, experience and knowledge of the law, chief law officer (now called Department of Justice)

 National Debt: (first major problem), federal government should pay off the states’ debts, combine all state debt  Washington DC: New capital, not in a state - a district  The National Bank: Collect taxes and put in bank, bank issued money and made loans to farmers and businesses  New Tariff: Tax on imported goods to encourage the growth of domesticate business – people will buy American made goods

 Why did the Pennslyvania farmers rebel? Many citizens protested a tax on all Whiskey made and sold in the U.S. – an uprising started in PA, harassing federal tax collectors, violent protests  Sin Tax 1791 – Whiskey tax to pay off national debt, 6-9 cents per gallon  Americans were testing the strength of the new government  Washington’s Response: Dispatched the PA militia to put down rebellion, 1000s of soldiers marched to Pittsburg and western PA

 U.S. division to stay neutral  Jefferson “We must support a revolution to create a democracy”  A. Hamilton “too violent” - Reign of terror – King, Queen, 10,000 killed (beheaded by guillotine)  T. Jefferson: Pro-France, France helped US in our revolution  A. Hamilton: Pro-British, anti-France, Americans will always have close ties to Britain because of our ancestry. Britain is worried revolutionary ideas will spread across Europe into British homeland.  France: Wants the US to ally and attack Britain  Washington: Stay neutral. Does not encourage getting into European wars  Neutrality Proclamation – US will not aid Britain or France

 Urges U.S. against 2 things: Political parties European alliance