10.1 Establishing a New Government pp. 326-329

Objective: Describe the first government under the new Constitution.

A. Electors Select Washington (p. 326) The Electoral College unanimously selected George Washington as the nation’s first President. He and the nation’s first Vice President, John Adams, were sworn in at Federal Hall in New York City, the nation’s first capital. The nation was weak, its military force was small, and it owed a considerable sum of money.

B. The Reluctant President (p. 327) Washington was cautious, but he proved a capable leader who used his integrity and firmness in making sound decisions. He had no models to follow in his new job. Nearly everything Washington did in his first term of office established a model, or precedent, that later Presidents followed.

C. The First Congress (p. 328) The U.S. Congress, the legislative branch, met for the first time in New York City in March 1789. The first session of Congress passed much important legislation. The most important was the addition of a Bill of Rights to the Constitution, which was not ratified by the states until 1791.

D. New Executive Departments (p. 328) In 1789 Congress established the first three executive departments—State, War, and Treasury. A few months later, in the Judiciary Act of 1789, Congress created the office of attorney general. Washington met with these advisers, called the cabinet, to discuss actions and policies.

E. Washington’s Cabinet [Brace Map] -Secretary of State -Gave advice on foreign matters Thomas Jefferson -Secretary of War -Gave advice on military matters Henry Knox Washington’s Cabinet -Secretary of Treasury -Advised on economic matters Alexander Hamilton -Attorney General -Gave advice on legal issues Edmund Randolph Textbook page 328

F. The Judicial Branch (p. 329) The Judiciary Act of 1789 set up the organization of the Supreme Court; it also set up the lower federal court system. The Supreme Court was granted the power to declare laws unconstitutional—that is, contrary to what is written in the Constitution. Washington appointed John Jay as the first chief justice of the Supreme Court.

Review: 1. Who was unanimously elected as the nation’s first President? 2. What city served as our first national capital under the new administration? 3. A President’s official advisors are collectively known by what term? 4. Identify the members of Washington’s cabinet and the offices they held. 5. What legislation set up the organization of the Supreme Court and the lower federal court system? 6. Define unconstitutional— 7. Who was the nation’s first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?