1. Washington, Adams, Jefferson
The First Presidents
Washington, Adams, Jefferson

2. President # 1 George Washington ~ 1789-1797

3. Washington oversaw the planning of Washington DC and the White House

4. He was inaugurated in 1789 in New York City
The first capital of the US under the Constitution
Inauguration = the ceremony where the president takes the Oath of Office
“…So Help me God”

5. He set the precedent for being the president
Precedent = acts that sets examples for others to follow

6. The precedents: He set up the cabinet Cabinet =
group that advises the president
He only used well know leaders with different views to help him
Each president still has a cabinet today that includes:
15 department heads called Secretaries

7. The precedents: Warning about Political Parties
He thought they would cause people to become jealous and hurt the nation

8. The precedents: Farewell Address-
The Farewell Address is a speech
at the end of each presidency.
Thought that America should trade with Europe, but that America should stay out of Europe’s political affairs =
America should remain NEUTRAL

9. Problems Washington Faced:
US was in DEBT
????How could they raise $$$$$????
People were unsure if Constitution would work
Solution …
States should pay $ that is owed from the Articles of Confederation
Sec. of Treasury, Alexander Hamilton’s idea was special taxes
alcohol production
This led to the Whiskey Rebellion which Washington used to prove the power of the Constitution

10. President # 2 John Adams ~ 1797-1801

11. Adams is the first President to live in the White House

13. Kept America neutral and out of war with France

14. XYZ Affair
France was attacking American ships, Adams wanted to make peace with the French and stay neutral.
The French refused to talk
Instead they offered America a bribe, pay $ and there will be no war
Adams refused!

15. Instead he built up the Navy. France was impressed and backed off 
Americans didn’t mind paying for defense but they DID NOT want to pay $ for a bribe!

16. President # 3 Thomas Jefferson ~ 1801-1809

17. Jefferson wants 2 things
Wanted equal rights for ALL people
(Democratic idea)

18. # 2
Wanted to be able to ship US products on Mississippi River and through city of New Orleans to the East Coast . He worried that France would not let US do that.

19. Instead France offered to sell land to the US
Jefferson didn’t know if the president had constitutional power to buy land
He decided he did and made a treaty to buy the land

20. Louisiana Purchase
Doubled the size of the nation 

21. Sent Lewis and Clark to explore the new lands west of the Mississippi
Are the first AMERICANS to see the Pacific Ocean
Kept journals and maps of the places, people and things they saw

23. The Story of John and Tom