Washington, Adams, Jefferson The First Presidents Washington, Adams, Jefferson
President # 1 George Washington ~ 1789-1797
Washington oversaw the planning of Washington DC and the White House
He was inaugurated in 1789 in New York City The first capital of the US under the Constitution Inauguration = the ceremony where the president takes the Oath of Office “…So Help me God”
He set the precedent for being the president Precedent = acts that sets examples for others to follow
The precedents: He set up the cabinet Cabinet = group that advises the president He only used well know leaders with different views to help him Each president still has a cabinet today that includes: 15 department heads called Secretaries
The precedents: Warning about Political Parties He thought they would cause people to become jealous and hurt the nation
The precedents: Farewell Address- The Farewell Address is a speech at the end of each presidency. Thought that America should trade with Europe, but that America should stay out of Europe’s political affairs = America should remain NEUTRAL
Problems Washington Faced: US was in DEBT ????How could they raise $$$$$???? People were unsure if Constitution would work Solution … States should pay $ that is owed from the Articles of Confederation Sec. of Treasury, Alexander Hamilton’s idea was special taxes alcohol production This led to the Whiskey Rebellion which Washington used to prove the power of the Constitution
President # 2 John Adams ~ 1797-1801
Adams is the first President to live in the White House
Kept America neutral and out of war with France
XYZ Affair France was attacking American ships, Adams wanted to make peace with the French and stay neutral. The French refused to talk Instead they offered America a bribe, pay $ and there will be no war Adams refused!
Instead he built up the Navy. France was impressed and backed off Americans didn’t mind paying for defense but they DID NOT want to pay $ for a bribe!
President # 3 Thomas Jefferson ~ 1801-1809
Jefferson wants 2 things Wanted equal rights for ALL people (Democratic idea)
# 2 Wanted to be able to ship US products on Mississippi River and through city of New Orleans to the East Coast . He worried that France would not let US do that.
Instead France offered to sell land to the US Jefferson didn’t know if the president had constitutional power to buy land He decided he did and made a treaty to buy the land
Louisiana Purchase Doubled the size of the nation
Sent Lewis and Clark to explore the new lands west of the Mississippi Are the first AMERICANS to see the Pacific Ocean Kept journals and maps of the places, people and things they saw
The Story of John and Tom