Use this image to search for clues:

According to the image, what was Washington “first” at?

Why was George Washington an important president?

What is a precedent?

1. George Washington

2. John Adams

3. Thomas Jefferson

4. James Madison

5. James Monroe

6. John Q. Adams

7. Andrew Jackson

When the Constitution was ratified in 1789, George Washington was elected America’s 1st president:–He was the unanimous

choice for president–Washington helped

shape the new nation & created precedents for future presidents & leaders

Washington’s 1st Term: 1789-1793

Washington as President During his 1st term, Washington

helped shape the new nation:–He approved the Judiciary Act of Judiciary Act of

17891789 which created federal courts–Congress created the Treasury,

State, War, Justice Departments–Created the 1st cabinet (group of

advisors who head departments)–Focused on the U.S. economy

Washington’s Cabinet Henry Knox, Secretary of War

Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of Treasury

Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State

George Washington, President

Edmund Randolph, Attorney General

Hamilton & Jefferson were the most influential of the cabinet members but they had different views on the role of gov’t for the new nation

Comparing the Ideals ofComparing the Ideals of Hamilton & JeffersonHamilton & Jefferson

Activity

Hamilton vs. Jefferson:The Nature of Human Beings

HamiltonHamilton People are

motivated by self-interests

Only the “elite” should govern

JeffersonJefferson The “common”

man can make good decisions

Corruption occurs when power is in the hands of the “elite”

Hamilton vs. Jefferson:The Best Type of Government

HamiltonHamilton Powerful national

government Articles of

Confederation was too weak

JeffersonJefferson Power should

remain with state governments

Keep the national gov’t small

Hamilton vs. Jefferson:Political Party & Its Ideas

HamiltonHamilton FederalistStrong national

government & fewer states rights

JeffersonJefferson Republican

(Democratic-Republican)

Limited national government & more states rights

Hamilton vs. Jefferson:Ideal Economy

HamiltonHamilton Economy based

on industry

JeffersonJefferson Economy based

on small, independent farmers

Hamilton vs. Jefferson:View on the Constitution

HamiltonHamilton Supported the

ConstitutionConstitution can

be “loosely” interpreted with the “necessary & proper” clause

JeffersonJefferson Supported the

Constitution because of the Bill of Rights

Constitution should be strictly interpreted

Powers not given to the national gov’t are reserved for state gov’ts

Hamilton’s Financial PlanComponents of the Financial Plan:

1.The national gov’t should take all the state debts (assumption) & pay them off at full value (funding)

2.Create a “Bank of the U.S.” to regulate American currency

3.Create a “protective tariff” on British manufactured goods to get people to buy American goods

Funding & assumption passed, but only after a deal was made

with Southern states to move the national capital to Virginia

(Washington D.C.)

Jefferson opposed the “BUS” because it would give too much power to bankers &

the Constitution did not give Congress the power to create a national bank

It passed when Hamilton used the “Elastic Clause” (Article 1, Section 8) to argue that

the bank was “necessary & proper”

This was the only part of Hamilton’s financial plan that was not approved

Disagreements between Hamilton & Jefferson led to the 1st American political parties

Washington’s 2nd Term: 1793-1797

Whiskey RebellionWashington faced a big challenge

in 1794 with the Whiskey RebellionWhiskey Rebellion:–7,000 farmers marched on

Pittsburgh to protest a whiskey tax–Washington viewed the protest as

a threat to safety & led the U.S. army to put down the rebellion

–With the Constitution, the national gov’t was strong enough to end the threat (the gov’t of the Articles couldn’t end Shays’ Rebellion)

The presence of Washington & 13,000 soldiers was enough to

end the Whiskey Rebellion

American Neutrality Washington faced another serious

challenge when war broke out between England & France in 1793

Americans were divided:–Hamilton supported Britain–Jefferson supported France

In 1793, Washington issued the Proclamation of NeutralityProclamation of Neutrality because the best way to protect American interests was to stay out of the fight

Why would some Americans want to support France?

Why would some Americans want to support Britain?

The French Revolution led to war between England & France

Washington's Farewell AddressIn 1796, Washington chose not to

run for a 3rd term; This created the two-term precedenttwo-term precedent for presidents

Washington’s Farewell AddressFarewell Address:–Warned against political parties–Warned against “entangling

alliances” with foreign nations (led to the precedent of non-intervention in foreign affairs)

The Adams Presidency1797-1801

1. George Washington

2.2. John John AdamsAdams

3. Thomas Jefferson

4. James Madison

5. James Monroe

6. John Q. Adams

7. Andrew Jackson

Former vice-president John Adams defeated Thomas Jefferson in the presidential election of 1796

Former VP John Adams (Federalist)Thomas Jefferson

(Republican)

The Adams Presidency The war between England &

France caused Adams problems:–France was mad that we did not

ally with them to fight England & started to seize merchant ships

–Adams sent diplomats to France but 3 unnamed French officials (“X”, “Y”, “Z” ) demand bribes

–Many thought the XYZ AffairXYZ Affair was reason to go to war with France, but Adams kept his cool

“Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!”

The Alien and Sedition ActsAdams’ handling of the conflict

with France led to criticisms from the Democratic-Republicans

The Federalists in Congress passed the Alien & Sedition ActsAlien & Sedition Acts:–Made it a crime to criticize the

president or gov’t leaders–This attack on free speech

backfired & badly damaged the Federalist Party & Adams

Virginia & Kentucky ResolvesJefferson & James Madison were

outraged & wrote the Virginia & Virginia & Kentucky ResolvesKentucky Resolves in 1798-99:–Presented a “states’ rights”

argument suggesting that states could ignore (nullify) national laws that they viewed as unfair

–The “states’ rights” & “nullification” arguments will be used by the South to secede from the USA during the Civil War in 1860-61

The “Revolution of 1800”By 1800, President Adams & the

Federalist Party were wounded:–Jefferson defeated Adams for

the presidency beginning nearly 30 years of dominance by the Democratic-Republicans

–This election marked the first time power was transferred from one party to another