The Foreign and Domestic Policies of America s First President!

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1 Washington s Ways The Foreign and Domestic Policies of America s First President!

2 Washington s Ways Copyright, 2012 Mr Educator - An analysis of President Washington s Domestic and Foreign Policies - 1.) This lesson can be used as an introduction to the domestic and foreign policies of George Washington. It can also be used as the entire source of information for students. 2.) Distribute Washington s Ways reading and explain to students what Domestic and Foreign policy is (that every President has a plan on how to handle these matters.) The reading starts with a brief definition of each term. 3.) Distribute Washington s Ways graphic organizer. This can be used as a complement to an interactive student notebook. It can be also be whole-punched to keep in a binder. 4.) Review each section of the organizer, clarifying what students are looking for as they read. Have students work individually or in pairs to complete the organizer. 5.) Debrief with the class to ensure all correct information has been attained. 6.) Wrap up with such questions like: 1.) What challenges did Washington face as President? 2.) Being that Washington was the FIRST President, what challenges did he face? (to get students thinking that because he was first, he had no guidelines to follow. He was in fact setting a precedent for future leaders.) 3.) Do you think it was easy to be the first President? 4.) What is easier - being the First President or a President today? Now includes an analysis that supports each perspective during the French Revolution. Should Washington support the French or the British? These can be used as an alternative essay assignment or to complement the current lesson!

3 Washington s Ways Domestic Policy (a set of laws or policies set forth by a President dealing with matters within a country s borders) Foreign Policy (a set of laws or policies set forth by a President dealing with matters outside a country s borders) The Whiskey Rebellion The French Revolution Nearly twenty years after the Revolutionary War began, the United States government faced a smallscale revolution by some of its own citizens. As in the previous war, taxes were a central issue. President George Washington and Treasure Secretary Alexander Hamilton understood that putting down this rebellion was critical to the life of the nation. In order to create a self-supporting and effective government, Hamilton knew he needed to find a steady source of revenue. He proposed a tax on whiskey produced in the United States, and Congress instituted it in In general, the citizens of that time felt negatively toward the idea of taxation. The farmers of western Pennsylvania, many of whom refined whiskey and profited from its sale, proved outright hostile to the idea. In July of 1794, a force of disgruntled whiskey rebels attacked and destroyed the home of a tax inspector. The rebellion grew in numbers and threatened to spread to other states. Hamilton knew that the presence of a large and potentially hostile force in Pennsylvania could not be tolerated. If the government were to survive, it would have to show itself capable of keeping control. Hamilton advocated the use of military force; President George Washington instead put state militias on the ready and sent in negotiators. When talks proved fruitless, Washington agreed to Hamilton's view. A force of 13,000 militia troops, led by Hamilton and Virginia governor Henry Lee, marched into western Pennsylvania. By the time the federal force arrived, the rebellion had collapsed and most of the rebels had fled. Two men were convicted of treason and later pardoned by Washington. Alexander Hamilton was elated. The fledgling federal government had proven it could keep order -- a necessity if the U.S. was to avoid instability. The outbreak of the French revolution coincided with the beginning of George Washington's first administration, but by 1793, warfare had engulfed Europe, pitting England, Prussia, Austria, and Spain against the new French Republic. The French Revolution began under the same principles that Americans fought for years earlier that a government cannot restrict the basic freedoms of its people. In Washington s cabinet, Thomas Jefferson opposed any expression of neutrality while Alexander Hamilton supported it. Washington eventually sided with the Hamilton and issued a proclamation of neutrality that barred American ships from supplying war material to either side (although some trade continued secretly since many private sailors relied on this market). The issue was very sensitive. The United States had won the War of Independence largely through the military and financial support of France, but that was before the French Revolution. Hamilton and his fellow supporters were not in sympathy with the revolution. Their argument, which ultimately persuaded Washington, was that France had helped in a war in which they had an interest in the outcome. France's new war was entirely of a European nature and the United States had no interest. On the contrary, Jefferson and his followers were inspired by the French Revolution and felt that neutrality was a betrayal. Jefferson argued that not only do the French people deserve American support (because France had supported the 13 colonies in the American Revolution), but they were also fighting for the same basic principles of individual liberty the Americans had fought for. In the end, there was nothing to gain and much to lose for the United States to involve itself in a European conflict, and whether from Hamilton's logic or the clear national interest, Washington opted to remain neutral.

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6 Should Washington Support the French? - On February 6, 1778, America signed the Treaty of Alliance. The Treaty of Alliance made the United States and France allies against Great Britain in the Revolutionary War. - France aided the colonists by providing military armaments and loans. France's support deepened after the Americans beat the British in the October 1777 Battle of Saratoga, proving themselves committed to independence and worthy of a formal alliance. - During the Revolution, France sent an estimated 12,000 soldiers and 32,000 sailors to the American war effort, the most famous of whom was the Marquis of Lafayette. He became a good friend with American commander in chief George Washington in the process. - Thomas Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans believed America had an obligation to support France, both because France helped America and because the Treaty of Alliance was still in effect. ART. 1. The Treaty of Alliance 1 (Alliance between France and America during the Revolutionary War) If War should break out between France and Great Britain, during the continuance of the present War between the United States and England, his Majesty and the said United States, shall make it a common cause, and aid each other mutually with their good Offices, their Counsels, and their forces, according to the exigency of Conjunctures as becomes good & faithful Allies. ART. 8. Neither of the two Parties shall conclude either Truce or Peace with Great Britain, without the formal consent of the other first obtain'd; and they mutually engage not to lay down their arms, until the Independence of the United States shall have been formally or tacitly assured by the Treaty or Treaties that shall terminate the War. (Britain still did not recognize American Independence; Britain still occupied forts in the Northwest Territory.) Did America have an obligation to support France during the French Revolution? 1

7 Should Washington Support the British? - Britain was the United States most important trading partner, and British trade was too important to risk war. - Since 90% of import duties came from British trade, Hamilton advocated pro- British policies, which he saw as necessary for national economic survival. - Britain was also a buyer of many American goods. American merchants had been profiting from the war by shipping sugar and coffee brought from the West Indies in the Caribbean to Europe. - The use of tariffs on imports was a major way Hamilton s financial plan raised money to pay off the war debt. - America benefited from both British exports and imports. - Alexander Hamilton and the Federalists opposed Jefferson. They believed that America did not have an obligation to France. Hamilton wanted America to either remain neutral or side with the British this way, the American economy would continue to develop. Would a war with Britain hurt the US economy?