GEORGE WASHINGTON

1. GEORGE WASHINGTON FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 1789

2. Election of 1789

3. GEORGE WASHINGTON: THE MOST RESPECTED MAN IN AMERICA Americans revered Washington for winning their War of Independence and his role in presiding over the Constitutional Convention. The picture is of Washington as the commanding general of the Continental Army, 1780.

4. THE EXPERIMENT IS LAUNCHED A contemporary engraving of George Washington’s first inauguration as President of the United Sates at Federal Hall in New York City, April 30, 1789.

5. How does the President act? • Inauguration portrait: Gilbert Stuart • Washington: important for president to dress and act in a dignified manner, • ended up modeling official conduct after King George III

6. VICE PRESIDENT JOHN ADAMS • Shocked republican-minded congressmen; suggested President Washington and other federal officials be given aristocratic-sounding titles • Critic suggested Adams be called “His Rotundity”

7. TOWARD AN AMERICAN KING? Republicans feared that the Federalists planned to replace with British George III American George I

8. Washington’s Cabinet • Secretary of War- Henry Knox • Secretary of Treasury- Alexander Hamilton • Secretary of State- Thomas Jefferson • Attorney General- Edmund Randolph • Postmaster General- Samuel Osgood

9. Hamilton’s Financial Program • Issued three reports in 1790 • Public Credit • National Bank • Manufacturing

10. Hamilton’s Financial Program – National Debt • US DEBT (1790) • Owed foreign nations $11.7 million • “Assumed” state debts ($21.5 million) • Took on $42.4 million domestic debt (under Articles) • TOTAL DEBT OWED BY THE U.S. = $75.6 MILLION • INTEREST ON DEBT = $4.6 MILLION PER YEAR • US ASSETS (1790) • Customs revenue = $4.4 million • Excise and other revenues (tariffs and taxes) = $1.2 million • TOTAL YEARLY REVENUE = $5.6 MILLION • LEFT OVER REVENUE = $1 MILLION • Can government pay off national debt?

11. Hamilton’s Financial Program – National Debt • Hamilton’s Plan • Redeem debt with new government bonds • Eliminates debt • Gives country credit • Government assumes state debt • Bond holders tied to debt • Problems • Speculators bought up bonds; made LOTS of money • Asst. Sec. of Treasury included • Corruption? • Opposition • Virginia Representative James Madison • Speculators only get highest market value • original owners get the rest • Problems? • Many southerners saw corruption! • CAPITAL COMPROMISE

12. THE CAPITAL MOVES SOUTH Hamilton needs congressional support for Assumption plan Makes a deal with Jefferson and Madison Hamilton agreed to national capital in the south Anew city on the Maryland -Virginia border

13. First Bank of the United States • 20 Year Charter • 1/5 Stock owned by Congress • 4/5’s Private stock • Monopoly on ALL government transactions • Bank could • Loan to merchants • Handle government money • Issue bank notes

14. Report on Manufactures • Hamilton based ideas on Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations • Smith believed • State supported mercantilism bad • Favored laissez-faire (leave alone) system • No government involvement • Market determines price (supply and demand)

15. Assess Alexander Hamilton’s plan for the U.S. Acceptable or not . . . Why?

16. Constitutional Issues -- Interpretation Strict constructionalists Loose constructionalists • If not specifically stated in Constitution, then government can’t do it! • Proponents feared too much central control • Followers included • Thomas Jefferson • James Madison • Article I: gives government right to make “all laws necessary and proper” to carry out duties • “elastic” clause • Puts flexibility in Constitution • Followers included • Alexander Hamilton • George Washington • John Adams

17. Constitutional Issues – Whiskey Rebellion • part of Hamilton’s economic plan • Taxes increased • Included whiskey • 1792: Pennsylvania farmers protested • Challenged constitutionality

18. Constitutional Issues – Whiskey Rebellion • Mobs attacked tax collectors • Washington sent army (he commanded) • Mobs broke up first • Showed states subject to federal law • Jefferson supported rebels

19. Jefferson on the Whiskey Rebellion • “I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing” • “Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." • "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.”

20. Foreign Issues – can the new Republic succeed? • French Revolution • French Revolutionary Wars • Washington’s Proclamation of Neutrality • Citizen Genet’s Mission to U.S. • Jay’s Treaty • Pinckney’s Treaty

21. Foreign Issues – French Revolution • French monarchy overthrown 1792 • Replaced with Republic • 1793: King Louis XVI executed • Compare to American revolution? • Should the Americans support the French?

22. Foreign Issues – French Revolutionary Wars • France in turmoil; British want revenge! • Which side should Americans support? Why?

23. Foreign Issues – Proclamation of Neutrality • Who tended to support French? • Jefferson and supporters • Why? • French supported Americans during our revolution • Revolution against tyranny! It was just! • FRANCOPHILES! • Who tended to support British? • Hamilton and supporters • Why? • British trade vital to American economic success • French Revolution too violent • ANGLOPHILES!

24. Foreign Issues – Proclamation of Neutrality • Washington’s reaction • Proclamation of Neutrality • Said • U.S. wouldn’t take sides • U.S. allowed trade with all sides • Results • Europe needed • American farm production • American cotton • Cotton replaces tobacco as chief export • American economy SOARS!

25. Foreign Issues – Citizen Genet • Threatens American neutrality • French Ambassador Edmund Genet raised militia to fight Spanish in Florida • Ignored Washington’s request to stop • Stops when recalled to France (worried about head) • Washington grants asylum • Genet lives rest of life in America

26. Foreign Issues – Jay’s Treaty • British seizing American ships; confiscating cargo • Violation of Neutrality Acts • John Jay to Britain to negotiate treaty • Jefferson opposed treaty – “too conciliatory” toward British • Senate ratified 20 to 10 (needed 2/3)

27. Foreign Issues – Jay’s Treaty Results U.S. Britain • Must submit claims of illegal seizures • Compensate British for pre-Revolutionary War debts • Couldn’t aid Indians against Americans • Must leave forts in Northwest • Can confiscate property of France Is there a “winner” and a “loser”?

28. Pinckney’s Treaty with Spain, 1795 • Negotiated by Thomas Pinckney • Settled southern boundary with Spain • Britain lost in war • Allowed for • Navigation of Mississippi • Southern border between Georgia and Florida • Mississippi River: border between America and Spanish Louisiana

29. Pinckney’s Treaty with Spain, 1795

30. Washington’s Farewell Address 1796 • No Third Term • Walks away from power • No Permanent Military Alliances • Keep Public Credit Sound • Avoid Political Parties, especially geographical

31. How would you evaluate the success or failure of George Washington’s Presidency?

32. Opposing Factions Alexander Hamilton Thomas Jefferson

33. Alexander Hamilton • Scottish ancestry • Born in West Indies • Raised by mother (father abandoned family) • Moved to mainland in 1772; attended Kings College (Columbia University) • Aide to Washington during Revolutionary War • Married into New York wealth • Lawyer in New York City

34. Alexander Hamilton • Beliefs: • STRONG national government • Trade is key • Favor Mercantile & Financial Interests • Pro-Britain • Supported by the: • Well-to Do • Well-Born • North & East • Why?

35. Thomas Jefferson • Enlightenment Man • Into • Architecture • Natural history • Scientific farming • Politics • Wealthy Virginia planter

36. Thomas Jefferson • Beliefs: • Against speculation • Against urban industrialism • For agricultural interests • American agriculture and trade to Europe would support the U.S. • States rights over federal government • Pro-France • Supported by the: • Yeoman farmers • Rural areas • South and West • James Madison close ally • Why?

37. With Hamilton and Jefferson what is developing?