The First President Chapter 8, Lesson 1

The First President Washington becomes the First President of the United States (under the Federal Constitution. Several others had been presidents under the Articles of Confederation) after taking the Oath of Office on April 30, 1789. John Adams becomes his Vice President. The office of President is the highest in the land and causes suspicion amongst some of the population. Though some of this subsides as Washington was a man that the people trusted, and did not believe he would try to become king. Washington understood he would be creating many precedents (traditions) as the first president. John Adams thought he should be referred to as “His Highness the President of the United States” but it was decided that “Mr. President” was more appropriate.

The First President The First Congress (Summer 1789) – Set up the first three executive departments. State Department – Would handle relations with other nations; Washington selected Thomas Jefferson. Treasury Department – Dealt with financial matters, Washington selects Alexander Hamilton. War Department – Provided the Nation’s defense, Washington selects Henry Knox. Attorney General – Concerned with legal affairs and is Chief law enforcement officer, Washington selects Edmund Randolph. Washington met with his cabinet members and Attorney General often and became known as the Cabinet. Judiciary Act of 1789 – Compromise where established a federal court system with 13 district courts and three circuit courts to serve the nation allowing for state laws to remain, but the courts could reverse the state decisions.

The First President The Supreme Court has the final authority on many issues. Washington nominates John Jay to lead the Supreme Court as Chief Justice and the Senate approves. The Judiciary Act helped create the first steps toward a strong and independent national judiciary. The Bill of Rights – In order to fulfill the promise made during ratification James Madison introduces 12 amendments for the Bill of Rights. Only 10 are ratified by the state and become known as the Bill of Rights. It sets a limit on government by protecting the rights of individual liberty and the rights of the accused. Madison added the Tenth Amendment that declares powers not given to the federal government are reserved to the state or people in order to protect against a too-powerful national government.

The First President Washington rarely proposed laws, he left that task to Congress. Washington focused on foreign affairs and military matters, while leaving the governments economic policy to his secretary of the treasury, Alexander Hamilton. The National Debt (money the government owed) was growing. Hamilton’s plan to resolve this was to pay off the millions of dollars of debt owed by the Confederation government to foreign nations and American citizen. He faced opposition since the government had issued Bonds (paper notes promising to repay the money in a certain length of time) Some original owners had sold the bonds for less than they were worth and so they felt betrayed. Hamilton recommended they be paid back at their original value.

The First President Many felt betrayed because the new bond holders would make a huge profit while others made less. Also, the South felt that they had accumulated much less debt than the north and that they would have to pay more than their share. Hamilton reaches a compromise by placing the nation’s capital in the South. A special district was made between Virginia and Maryland that would become Washington D.C. The Southerners supported his plan to pay off the state debts. Hamilton also asks Congress to create the national bank, the Bank of the United States. Both private and investors and national government would own the Bank’s stock. Jefferson and Madison argued that the bank was unconstitutional, but Hamilton argued that even though the Constitution did not outright say it could make a bank they still had the power to do so (Necessary and Proper) Washington agreed and signed the bill creating the National Bank.

The First President Hamilton next proposed a tariff (tax on imports) to encourage people to buy American products The South had little industry to protect so it was against it. Hamilton did win support in Congress for some low tariffs to raise money and to protect American industries. Wanted people to buy American made items to help the economy. By the 1790s, the revenue made from tariffs provided 90% of the national governments income. Hamilton then requests the making of national taxes to for additional funds to operate and make interest payments on debt. Hamilton requested congress approve a variety of taxes, including one on whiskey distilled in the United States. People feared a national government with strong economic powers dominated by the wealthy class. Everyone had a different vision for what America should be.