US History, October 22 Entry Task: Some claim George Washington had the most challenges as our first President. Do you agree? Why/why not? Talk with your table. Announcements: Spirit Days sheet pass around Did I get your letter yesterday? Test Corrections due today Context: Would the Constitution survive???
1789 57 years old Six feet three inches tall, 200 lbs No children (of his own) No formal education Balanced rather than brilliant A hero who would give his name to one U.S. state, a capital city, thirtythree counties, at least seven mountains, nine colleges, and 121 post offices
In short, George Washington was the strong leader of a weak nation. "He has a dignity which forbids familiarity mixed with an easy affability which creates love and reverence." Abigail Adams 1790 an observer wrote, the President wore "a look of habitual gravity, sobriety that stopped short of sadness."
Washington: 1789 "I fear I must bid adieu to happiness," he blurted out to a close friend only days before his inaugural, "for I see nothing but clouds and darkness before me; and I call God to witness that the day which shall carry me again into public life will be a more distressing one than any I have ever yet known." In common with the other Founders, Washington faced a conundrum: How could a free society harmonize its competing interests?
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 1 st president: He was the unanimous choice for president Washington helped shape the new nation & created precedents for future presidents & leaders Population doubled every 25 years KY, TN, OH pioneers
Washington ran unopposed All 69 electors cast one vote each for Washington Eleven other candidates for VP John Adams
Washington s 1 st Term: 1789-1793
Precedents are models, examples or influences other Presidents would follow President sets their own personal style (at first, he refused salary) Cabinet appointed by President and advises him VP has no official duties President acts independent from Congress Congress relies on the advice of the President Served 2 terms and stepped aside for someone else Believed political leaders should not be bound by party loyalty
More Could have been called: His High Mightiness, the President of the United States and Protector of their Liberties," Title? Mr. President Patron of the arts Landscape paintings of each state (many still in White House)
New York City was the first capital of the U.S. under the Constitution Federal Hall, shown with the Presidential carriage, was originally constructed in 1699 as a City Hall for New York.
Washington's Inauguration, 1789 Allyn Cox, Oil on Canvas, 1973-1974 George Washington was sworn in as the nation's first president on April 30, 1789, on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York. The mural depicts (from left to right) Robert R. Livingston, chancellor of the state of New York, administering the oath; Secretary of the Senate Samuel Otis holding the Bible; George Washington, with his hand upraised; and Vice President John Adams.
Federal Hall, New York City
Henry Knox, Secretary of War Washington s Cabinet Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of Treasury George Washington, President Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State 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
Political Parties Family Tree
Disagreements between Hamilton & Jefferson led to the 1 st American political parties
Hamilton People are motivated by self-interests Only the elite should govern Jefferson The common man can make good decisions Corruption occurs when power is in the Hamilton vs. Jefferson: hands of the elite The Nature of Human Beings
Hamilton Powerful national government Articles of Confederation was too weak Jefferson Power should remain with state governments Keep the national Hamilton vs. Jefferson: gov t small The Best Type of Government
Federalist Hamilton Strong national government & fewer states rights Jefferson Democratic- Republican Limited national government & more states rights Hamilton vs. Jefferson: Political Party & Its Ideas
Hamilton Economy based on industry Jefferson Economy based on small, independent farmers Hamilton vs. Jefferson: Ideal Economy
Hamilton Supported the Constitution Constitution can be loosely interpreted with the necessary & Hamilton vs. Jefferson: View on the Constitution proper clause Jefferson 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
Predict: What problems could a new nation face?
Early American Problems - GENERAL 1. People were more loyal to their state than to their country. 2. People questioned the Constitution. (since the Articles of Confederation didn t work) 3. People worried about the British and the French. 4. The nation was severely in debt.
Hamilton s Financial Plan Jefferson opposed the BUS because it would give too much power to bankers & Components of the Financial Plan: 1. The national gov t should take all the state debts the (assumption) Constitution & pay them did off not at give full value Congress (funding) 2. Create the power a Bank to of the create U.S. a to national regulate American bank currency This was the only part of Hamilton s 3. Create a protective tariff on British manufactured goods financial to get plan people that to buy was American not approved goods Funding & assumption passed, but only after a deal was made with Southern states to move the It passed when Hamilton used the Elastic national capital to Virginia Clause (Article 1, Section 8) to argue that (Washington D.C.) the bank was necessary & proper
Foreign Debt $11,710,000 Federal Domestic Debt $42,414,000 State Debt $21,500,000 Congress & Sec. of Treasury Alexander Hamilton solve debt problems: Pay off $80 million debt Excise tax: Taxes placed on manufactured products Tariff: a tax on imports Establish good credit with foreign nations Create a national bank with a national currency Raise money for govt backed by gold silver Misc. Revenue Excise Tax on Whiskey Custom Duties (Tariffs) Compromise with Thomas Jefferson called the Assumption Act led to the creation of Washington, D.C. debt
Whiskey Rebellion Washington faced a big challenge in 1794 with the Whiskey Rebellion: 7,000 farmers marched on Pittsburgh to protest a whiskey tax Mutinous Moonshiners brought collections to a halt 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 presence of Washington & 15,000 soldiers was enough to end the Whiskey Rebellion
The French Revolution led to war between England & France
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 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?
British forts on U.S. soil. Still haven t removed troops and supplying Indians with weapons Disputed land claims with Spain..Cut off Mississippi River
Native American Resistance Region: Settlers moved into territories no known as Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin Little Turtle, Chief of the Miami Tribe, won several battles against the US Army General Mad Anthony Wayne sent in to defeat tribes at Battle of Fallen Timbers Leads to Treaty of Greenville, to establish territory rights in the land west of the Appalachian Mountains
Map 13 of 45
1796 & 1800 Elections: The LID came off!!! Two groups wore different clothes, drank in different taverns, etc FEDERALISTS: referred to Jeffersonians as fire-eating salamanders, poison-sucking toads Adams' men called Vice President Jefferson "a meanspirited, low-lived fellow, the son of a half-breed Indian squaw, sired by a Virginia mulatto father. - Distrusted the swayability of the common folk DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICANS: Jefferson's camp accused President Adams of having a "hideous hermaphroditical character, which has neither the force and firmness of a man, nor the gentleness and sensibility of a woman." Those who labor in the earth are the chosen people of God
Create a CAMPAIGN POSTER 1796 Option 1: John Adams Federalist Option 2: Thomas Jefferson Democratic- Republican Your poster should include: Clearly articulated political views (examples the role government should play in lives of citizens, foreign policy, appealing to supporters, etc.) at least FOUR Include the date (YEAR) and some type of artwork (be creative! A symbol/animal, perhaps?) and slogan. 1 sentence: WHY people should vote for Fed or DRs based on their platforms
Newspapers were increasingly critical of GW during the last two years in office He refused to run for a 3 rd term
Washington s Farewell Address Extolls the benefits of the federal government. "The unity of government...is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence...of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize." Warns against political parties. The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissension is itself a frightful despotism, On stable public credit. "...cherish public credit. One method of preserving it is to use it as sparingly as possible...avoiding likewise the accumulation of debt...it is essential that you...bear in mind, that towards the payments of debts there must be Revenue, that to have Revenue there must be taxes; that no taxes can be devised, which are not...inconvenient and unpleasant..." Warns against permanent foreign alliances. "It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world..."
Federalists put little emphasis on involving ordinary people in politics, favored a strong central gov t, preferred commercial interests, were pro-british, and were pessimistic about the future. DRs disliked a strong central gov t, focused on westward expansion, preferred agrarian interests, and were more optimistic about the future.