George Washington No Party Affiliation (But really a Federalist)

Why is Washington’s Presidency Important? Washington was the first president He knew his actions would help to shape the new federal government His actions set a precedent for future presidents to follow

Washington’s Presidency was dominated by three major issues: Defining Federalism – the scope and power of the national government vs. that of state governments. Foreign Policy – The United States’ relationship with European powers. Westward Expansion – Protecting Americans as they moved west and maintaining access to vital transportation routes controlled by European powers.

Article II of the United States Constitution The Executive Power shall be vested in a President… The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States…he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices…he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States…He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law.

That is A LOT for one person to be responsible for every day!

The Cabinet

Washington asked Congress to create four Executive Departments to assist him in his responsibilities. Those Departments were… 1.The Department of State 2.The Department of the Treasury 3.The Department of War 4.The Justice Department

Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson Author of Declaration of Independence U.S. Ambassador to France Responsible for carrying out Foreign Policy

Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton Banker from New York Served under General Washington in Revolutionary War Responsible for collecting government revenue (taxes) and paying government debts and obligations Developed plan for paying off U.S. debts

Secretary of War Henry Knox Served as Washington’s artillery commander during Revolutionary War Responsible for coordinating U.S. Army and Naval forces National Defense

Attorney General Edmund Randolph Head of Justice Department In charge of law enforcement and the nations chief lawyer

The Cabinet Today

Over the years the size of the cabinet has expanded National crises like 9/11 have led to the addition of new executive departments Cabinet Secretaries are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate The cabinet does not really advise the President today, they carry out his policies

Judiciary Act of 1789 Article III of the Constitution did not spell out the details of the Judicial Branch Congress passed and Washington signed a law that created federal district and circuit (appellate) courts and set the number of Supreme Court Justices (1 Chief Justice and 5 Associate Justices)

Pinckney’s Treaty Spain controlled the port of New Orleans and thus the Mississippi River. U.S. farmers living west of the Appalachian Mtns. needed access to the Mississippi to transport their crops to markets in the east. This treaty between the U.S. and Spain was negotiated by Thomas Pinckney and gave the U.S. the right to use the port of New Orleans and thus the Mississippi River.

Battle of Fallen Timbers Miami Confederacy (Little Turtle) vs. U.S. (“Mad Anthony” Wayne) Miami Confederacy is defeated and the Ohio River Valley is opened up to settlement by Americans.

Jay’s Treaty Negotiated by John Jay At issue was which nation, the U.S. or Great Britain, would control the lands west of the Appalachian Mountains (Ohio River Valley or Northwest Territory) The treaty gave control to the U.S. but allowed British fur trappers to continue their fur trade in the region This treaty angered many settlers in the western U.S.

Neutrality VS Great Britain and France were at war with one another Each nation wanted the U.S. to support them against the other George Washington felt the best thing for the U.S. to do was to take a course of neutrality Neutrality – a nation does not favor one side over another in a conflict and maintains a normal relationship with each warring nation.

Whiskey Rebellion As part of Alexander Hamilton’s economic plan to pay off the nation’s debt from the Revolution an excise tax was imposed on whiskey. Whiskey production brought in a lot of cash for farmers in western Pennsylvania (it was sometimes even used as currency) These farmers felt victimized by the tax and refused to pay it. When federal agents showed up to collect the tax the farmers refused to pay and even physically attacked some of the agents.

Whiskey Rebellion Farmers organized themselves into a militia of close to 7000 men. George Washington had two options: ignore the uprising or enforce federal law.

Whiskey Rebellion Washington chose enforcement; he and Hamilton led an army of 15,000 troops into Western Pennsylvania and put down the rebellion. This established the new federal governments authority to enforce its laws within the states, even if the states disagreed with the law.