Washington’s Presidency AN UNPRECEDENTED PRESIDENCY

GEORGE WASHINGTON “A recent poll of 900 American historians shows Washington has dropped to 3 rd place in presidential greatness behind Lincoln and FDR. Which only goes to show how little American historians know about American history”. – Historian Gordon Wood

GEORGE WASHINGTON “…my movements to the chair of Government will be accompanied by feelings not unlike those of a culprit who is going to the place of his execution: so unwilling am I, in the evening of a life nearly consumed in public cares, to quit a peaceful abode for an Ocean of difficulties…” - G. Washington, 1789

I. Building a Workable Government A. First Congress  Almost all US Government members were Federalists  44 of 52 elected members of the House supported the ratification of the Constitution  Revenue Act (1789): tariff on some imports  Bill of Rights (1791) - adopted in 1791, safeguards some of most precious American principles B. Executive and Judiciary  Organize exec. branch with War, State, Treasury Depts.  Judiciary Act (1789) – Est. Federal judiciary

I. Building a Workable Government C. National and State Debts Hamilton push assumption of both in his Report on Public Credit ◦create sound credit ◦tie wealthy to new US Government D. Hamilton's Financial Plan ◦Assumption of state debts ◦national bank ◦tariffs ◦excise taxes Compromise: ◦Hamilton’s plan accepted (1790) ◦US capital located on Potomac

I. Building a Workable Government E. First Bank of the United States Hamilton push charter of private/public bank to solve exchange shortage ◦Use bank notes as nation’s currency Madison and Jefferson: no authorization in Constitution ◦strict constructionists Hamilton counters with loose/broad construction ◦If Constitution doesn’t prohibit it, then Gov’t can do it ◦Washington agreed

I. Building a Workable Government F. Tariffs ◦cut dependence on European imports ◦foster domestic manufacturing ◦Opponents argue ◦small farmers = mainstay of republic ◦US future agrarian, not industrial

I. Building a Workable Government G. Whiskey Rebellion To fund state debt assumption, Hamilton gets Congress (1791) to tax whiskey production ◦Affect farmers on frontier ◦Western PA - Protests; some violent (1794) - Washington sent in militia to crush rebellion ◦Feared another Shays’ Rebellion

I. Building a Workable Government H. Battle of Fallen Timbers Final battle of the Northwest Indian War ◦Western Indian Confederacy got minor support from the British, For control of the Northwest Decisive victory for the United States Treaty of Greenville (1795) ◦Indians ceded most of Ohio territory

II. Building a Nation among Nations French Revolution  Foreign policy divisions magnify tension  Americans initially praise 1789 Revolution  As executions mount, some (Federalists) fear disorder  Republicans more sympathetic; Federalists disapprove.  Dilemma with France and England war (1793)  allied with France  depend on trade with England  Washington issues Proclamation of Neutrality (1793)

Jay Treaty Debate  USA wanted England to  Cease impressment of sailors  respect neutral rights  evacuate frontier posts  compensate for slaves freed  sign commercial treaty Jay Treaty (1795)  British agreed to vacate the western forts  British compensated American ship owners  United States gave most favored nation trading status to Britain, and acquiesced in British anti-French maritime policies  guaranteed the payment of private prewar debts owed by Americans to British merchants II. Building a Nation among Nations

- Democratic-Republicans were outraged by Jay’s Treaty - Washington redeems himself with Pinckney’s Treaty ◦Spain allows navigation rights on Mississippi River and trade through New Orleans

III. Washington’s Farewell, 1796 A. Farewell Address - Warns against entangling alliances ◦But maintain trade relations - Warns against factions, political parties B. Precedents - Cabinet - Inaugural and Farewell Addresses - “Mr. President” - Neutral Foreign Policy - 2 terms