The Washington Presidency: 1789-1797 The First President The First Congress Hamilton’s Plan The First Political Parties
Washington’s Cabinet: 1789 Background: George Washington Cabinet Departments- Secretary of War: Henry Knox Secretary of Treasury: Alexander Hamilton State of State: Thomas Jefferson Attorney General: Edmund Randolph Postmaster General: Samuel Osgood Vice President: John Adams
Washington’s Cabinet
Mount Vernon
First Congress Judiciary Act of 1789: 13 federal Court districts 3 circuit courts, 6 supreme court justices, John Jay James Madison: Speaker of the House Tariff Act of 1789: 5% duty on imports Bill of Rights 1st: Freedom of speech & religion 2nd: Right to bear arms 4th: No unreasonable search and seizures 5th: Due process clause, no self incrimination 7th: Right to a speedy trial by jury
Hamilton’s Plan Report on Public Credit Report on a National Bank Pay face value of all bonds (funding) $54m Pay all state debt (assumption) $20m Report on a National Bank Create the BUS (20% gov. owned) “necessary and proper clause” Report on Manufacturing High tariff: protect manufacturing & bring in revenue for internal improvements
Alexander Hamilton
Foreign Affairs French Revolution: GW neutral Citizen Genet: raises money for pirates Jay’s Treaty: Britain will remove forts, new trade treaty, Britain will pay for ships when America pays Tory debt. But they did not stop impressment, nor recognize American neutrality. Republicans mad.
The Federalists Hamilton & Adams Trusted elite: classical republicanism Promote manufacturing & commerce Pro British Strong central government High tariff- internal improvement Bank of the United States (BUS) Army and navy
Jeffersonian Republicans Jefferson & Madison Trusted the common man Agricultural economy: yeoman farmer Pro French: pro French Revolution State’s rights, local rule Low Tariff, low internal improvements Afraid of BUS No standing army
Politics: very heated Partisan Newspapers Democratic Clubs
Washington’s Farewell Whiskey Rebellion: Pennsylvania farmers refuses to pay new tax. GW send 15,000 troops to down mob. Farewell Address: Avoid partisan fighting Avoid foreign entanglements