1. 3/11/19
Aim: What precedents did George Washington
set as our 1st President? Q
Discussion: Think of a time when you set an example for others to follow. What did you do, was it something positive, did you take pride in your actions?
Precedent:
an action or decision that serves as guidelines for others to follow

3. Precedents:
Established the 1st Cabinet, or group of advisors to help him do his job.
Thomas Jefferson (Secretary of State) and Alexander Hamilton(Secretary of Treasury)
were among his most important advisors.
Created the title of “Mr. President. Showed respect for the office but
clearly rejects any hint of nobility
Refused to run a third term because he believed that the public
did not elect a king.

4. Washington’s Presidency 3/13/2019 Homework:
Washington’s Farewell Address Packet due Friday 4

5. #1. The 1st Cabinet The Constitution did not explain how
to organize the Executive Branch
Washington appointed a group of advisors to help make
important decisions
Two of his cabinet members,
Thomas Jefferson( Secretary of State: Foreign policy) and
Alexander Hamilton (Secretary of Treasury: Economy)
did not see eye to eye on many things.
Key Question: Why do you think Washington would appoint two men
who disagreed on so many issues?
It would guarantee seeing ALL SIDES of an issue 5

6. #2. Alexander Hamilton imposed a tax on whiskey that farmers from
The Whiskey
Rebellion
Alexander Hamilton imposed
a tax on whiskey that farmers from
Western Pennsylvania produced.
This “whiskey tax” was a federal law meant to pay
off war debt
Pennsylvania farmers were angry since they
already paid their debt and were asked to pay
additional money to bailout states that did not. 6

7. Rather than pay the tax, the farmers prepared a
rebellion against the government.
President Washington marched 13,000
U.S. soldiers and stopped the rebellion before it
began.
Key Question: Why do you think Washington was willing
to use such force?
Didn’t want another Shays’ Rebellion-set the tone of a President that
would take swift action when necessary 7

8. #3. The Proclamation of Neutrality
In the 1790s Europe was ravaged by war
between England and France. France was
also undergoing the French Revolution ( ).
America had to make a decision over choosing sides
Trade with England was important
to America’s economy
France
had a long standing alliance with
America. 8

9. Key Questions : Which side would America choose?
Washington decided on neutrality, which means not choosing sides
Why do you think Washington chose to “proclaim neutrality”?
He felt that America was a young nation that did not have a lot of money or an established military. America was more concerned about issues on the home front such as launching the Constitution and building our economy

10. 1.
Excise tax: tax on a specific good
Federalist, believed in a strong
central government, in this case
the power to tax the people 2.
Taxed a good they were making
for themselves 3.
Threatened power of the gov.
to raise money 4. 5.
Marched 13,000 troops to
prevent rebellion from
happening

11. Washington’s Farewell Address
“..Observe good faith and justice towards all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.. It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances, with any portion of the foreign world…Taking care always to keep ourselves…on a respectively defensive posture, we may safely trust to temporary alliances for extraordinary means…The great rule in conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations to have as little political connections as possible…”
Foreign policy: how a nation advances it’s interests in foreign countries
He did not like permanent alliances
because it risked dragging the
US into other nations wars 1.
He believed in neutrality (not
choosing sides)
no permanent alliances, and
Isolation (not getting involved in
other countries issues) 2.
Strengthen our economy and keep out of the affairs of other nations 3. 11