The Presidency of George Washington 1789 - 1796

Although Washington did not seek the presidency, he was the unanimous choice of the Electoral College

As a revered Revolutionary leader, he had the national stature to lead the country through uncertain times ahead

The two men who would dominate Washington’s first administration were … Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton.

Hamilton & Jefferson had conflicting visions of how America should develop

ECONOMIC VIEWS HAMILTON JEFFERSON Favored creation of a national bank to store federal funds and provided loans to businessmen Favored a protective tariff for manufacturers JEFFERSON Opposed the creation of a national bank because he believed it was unconstitutional Supported free trade

ECONOMIC VIEWS HAMILTON JEFFERSON Believed government should assume state debts Proposed an excise tax to pay off the debt Supported a commercial society with a large industrial base JEFFERSON Opposed the assumption of debts Opposed taxation to pay off debt Preferred an agrarian society – believed it to be the backbone of America

POLITICAL & SOCIAL VIEWS HAMILTON Believed the wealthy should run society His supporters were mostly merchants, bankers, manufacturers, or wealthy farmers JEFFERSON Believed the masses could run the government His supporters were mainly artisans, frontier settlers, or small farmers

POLITICAL & SOCIAL VIEWS JEFFERSON Championed a weak central government in favor of strengthening state government Held to a strict interpretation of the Constitution, which argued that the federal government had only the powers specifically spelled out Pro-French HAMILTON Supported a strong central government Believed in a loose interpretation of the Constitution, and that it permitted everything that it did not expressly forbid Pro-British

The dispute between Hamilton and Jefferson led to the emergence of the two-party system

The Federalists, led by Hamilton and John Adams The Anti-federalists, or Democratic-Republicans, led by Jefferson and James Madison

Jefferson and Madison opposed Hamilton’s financial plan, but Washington supported it, and most of Hamilton’s plan was accepted.

In return for Jefferson’s support for the federal government’s assumption of state debts, Hamilton agreed to locate the national capital in the South, along the Potomac River

The site would become known as Washington, DC.

The adoption of Hamilton’s economic plan introduced financial stability and promoted economic growth

WHISKEY REBELLION

In the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794, Pennsylvania farmers opposed Hamilton’s excise tax on a distilled alcohol, such as whiskey

The rumor that farmers were marching on to Philadelphia to protest the tax rekindled memories of the government’s failure to deal effectively with Shay’s Rebellion.

Washington was determined to demonstrate the new government’s strength, and he raised an army of fifteen thousand men under the command of Alexander Hamilton, who put down the rebellion.

Jefferson and western farmers condemned the episode as an excessive use of force against the common people

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

The French Revolution of 1789 (and the resulting continent-wide war) soon engulfed Europe… “Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite”

The French Revolution sharply divided Americans… Should the government support/give assistance to the French Republic? (which was fighting England, Spain, and Austria)

Washington believed that the United States was too weak to get involved in Europe’s war.

Despite public sentiment in favor of supporting their revolutionary brothers in France, Washington issued a “proclamation of neutrality” in 1793.

This policy allowed American merchants to prosper, because they could trade with both side.

Jefferson resigned his post as secretary of state in protest

Washington’s Farewell Address

By 1796, Washington had become tired of the political bickering between Federalists and Democratic-Republicans, and he announced his retirement at his beloved Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon, Fairfax County, VA (near Alexandria)

GEORGE WASHINGTON’S FAREWELL ADDRESS

George Washington's Farewell Address is a letter written to "The People of the United States of America".  Washington wrote the letter near the end of his second term as President, before his retirement to his home Mount Vernon.

Originally published in Daved Claypole's American Daily Advertiser on September 19, 1796 under the title "The Address of General Washington To The People of The United States on his declining of the Presidency of the United States" the letter was almost immediately reprinted in newspapers across the country and later in a pamphlet form.

The work was later named a "Farewell Address," as it was Washington's valedictory (a speech presented at a graduation) after 20 years of service to the new nation. It is a statement of republicanism, warning Americans of the political dangers they can and must avoid if they are to remain true to their values.

In his farewell address, Washington advised the young nation…

Washington’s Farewell Address… Not to get involved in European affairs To avoid permanent alliances To avoid factionalism or political parties, which could destroy the country

Washington’s advice on foreign policy influenced American politics into the 20th century, but his hope of avoiding political parties went unheeded, and they became a vital part of the American political system