Essential Question What were the major domestic and foreign problems facing the nation during the presidency of George Washington? 1
Washington was inaugurated in NY Set precedents on how to run our country Congress set up departments within the branch Constitution did not establish names or limit number of departments Washington set up first three departments in summer 1789 Washington appointed the department leaders who became his advisors 1 st Secretary Handle relations with other nations/foreign affairs 2
Current Secretary Handle relations with other nations/foreign affairs Deal with national financial matters 1 st Secretary 3
Deal with national financial matters Current Secretary 1 st Secretary Provide for national defense 4
Current Secretary Provide for national defense President s legal advisor & responsible for enforcement of national laws 5
President s legal advisor & responsible for enforcement of national laws Current Loretta Lynch Became known as the President s Cabinet Constitution does not say the President must use them to advise him on decisions Washington used these men to make critical national decisions 6
Departments of the President s Cabinet Agriculture Commerce Trade/sales & purchases Defense (formerly War) Education Energy Health & Human Services Protects health & offer those services to Americans State Transportation Veteran Affairs Works for veterans of America Homeland Security Protects America & its people Housing & Urban Development Home ownership & community growth Justice Enforce law Labor Welfare of job seekers Interior Protects natural & cultural heritage of U.S.A. Treasury Government in Action Judiciary Act of 1789 Create a federal court system Supreme Court assigned 6 justices John Jay appointed as Chief Justice 3 courts of appeals District court in each state 7
Began the year of Washington s inauguration, 1789 Originally seen as a good thing in America By 1793, the Revolution turned bloody Many Americans were offended by the violence, attacks on religion, disregard of individual liberties Britain went to war with France in 1793 SUSTAIN NEUTRALITY French wanted us to help in war with Britain They were our allies in the Revolution Washington encouraged neutrality Discouraged American involvement Proclamation of Neutrality Prohibited Americans fighting in overseas war Barred warships in American ports 8
American Treaties Washington sent John Jay, chief justice of the Supreme Court, to England to negotiate a treaty Jay s Treaty British withdraw from America, pay damages, & allow some ships to trade in the Caribbean Many Americans wanted trade with British West Indies, which it did not open Thomas Pinckney negotiated a treaty with Spain Pinckney s Treaty Spain granted Americans right to travel freely on Mississippi R. and to store good in New Orleans without paying a tax; settled boundary dispute Hamilton presented a 3 step program to improve finances #1: Pay off all war debt Combine all state debts into a single national debt $52 million Many Southern states had repaid their debt Replace old bonds issued by the national government with new bonds. Paying off all the loans would reestablish the United States credit 9
#2: Raise government revenue Hamilton felt industry (manufacturing) would make economy stronger Proposed a tariff to encourage American products South had little industry & opposed the tariff Congress should approve many new taxes A new whiskey tax was proposed New taxes would give govt. new financial powers Would ensure a steady flow of income to the government Bank would give government a safe place to keep money Businesses would be helped through loans Bank would issue bank notes (paper money used as currency) #3: National bank that would serve many purposes 10
Hamilton believed in a loose interpretation of the constitution A very broad and flexible view of power Doing what is necessary and proper Thomas Jefferson and James Madison Argued for a strict interpretation of the Constitution If Constitution does not mention it, the government cannot do it. Elastic Clause Reserve Clause 10 th Amendment Compromise for approval To get his plan approved, Hamilton created a compromise with Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson would support Hamilton s financial plan if Hamilton would support moving the nation s capital to the South Created a new Southern capital called City of Washington, District of Columbia 11
Compromise creates a Capital The Whiskey Tax Hamilton tries to increase revenue for the U.S. Government Tax on all distilled spirits passes Congress in 1791 12
Whiskey Rebellion From Pennsylvania to Georgia western farmers refuse to pay tax Tax collectors were attacked Rebellion Location Rebellion in the western part of the state 13
End of Rebellion Federal troops sent to break up rebellion Insurgents arrested Washington offers pardons in exchange for oaths of loyalty to the government Why is it important? Proved that the federal government under the new Constitution had power Washington was willing to use military force to enforce federal law 14