Download Ch 9.1 Washington`s Presidency

CH 9.1 WASHINGTON’S
PRESIDENCY
Mrs. Pagotto
WASHINGTON’S PRESIDENCY
Before we learned a
new Constitution,
approved in 1788,
served as a guide for
the new republican
government.
Now we will learn
George Washington
and his advisers faced
many challenges during
his Presidency.
WASHINGTON’S NEW GOVERNMENT
Key Question: How did Washington’s presidency
shape new political traditions?
With the Constitution approved, a president
needed to be elected.
The first electoral college elected….
GEORGE WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON’S NEW GOVERNMENT
George Washington was inaugurated, formally
sworn in, on April 30, 1789 at the nation’s capital
in New York City. (Notice, the U.S. capital is first
held in NYC).
The presidential runner-up was John Adams, who
became the first vice-president.
Washington knew his actions would set precedent,
an example that becomes standard practice.
Vice President John Adams
BRANCHES OF U.S. GOVERNMENT
THE FIRST CONGRESS (LEGISLATIVE BRANCH)
Congress, both Senate and House of Representatives, met for the first
time in April 1789
Senators wore wigs, lace, and velvet
The Senate was small (2 members from each state), quiet, and proper
The first 5 years the sessions were private, but in 1794 a gallery was
built for the public and press
The House of Representatives was more informal, welcoming the public
and press from the onset, beginning
Members from the House were loud and even wore their hats inside
the chamber
WASHINGTON’S NEW GOVERNMENT
NO ONE KNEW IF A GOVERNMENT BASED ON THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE COUL D REALLY WORK.
What to call the president?
Ex. His Excellency
His Highness the President of the United States
of America and Protector of their Liberties.
Winner: “President of the United States” or “Mr.
President”
WASHINGTON’S NEW GOVERNMENT
Supreme Court (Judicial Branch)
 The Constitution created the Supreme Court, but left the details to the new
Congress
 To help answer questions such as: What type of additional courts should
there be and how many? What would happen if federal court decisions
conflicted with state laws?
 To answer these questions, Congress passed the Federal Judiciary Act of
1789, which gave the Supreme Court six members: a chief justice and five
associate justices. (Justice= judge). It allowed states to keep their own court
systems, but also added federal courts in each state.
 Note: In present day there are now nine justices on the Supreme Court.
 President Washington appointed John Jay as the first chief justice of the
Supreme Court.
WASHINGTON’S NEW GOVERNMENT
HIS CABINET
The constitution gave Congress the task of developing departments to
help the president lead the nation.
Washington chose talented people to head these departments. These
advisors became known as the President’s cabinet. He called upon
these men to advise him on official matters.
The President gets to choose his own cabinet.
Title
Description
Washington Chose:
Secretary of State
In charge of foreign affairs
Thomas Jefferson
Secretary of Treasury
Handle nation’s economy
Alexander Hamilton
Secretary of War
In charge of nation’s
defense
Henry Knox
Attorney General
Handle government’s legal
matters
Edmund Randolph
THE NATION’S FINANCES
Alexander Hamilton, the secretary of treasury,
was assigned by President Washington to
straighten out the country’s finances.
THE NATION’S FINANCES
During the Revolutionary War, the U.S. borrowed millions of dollars
from:
 France
 Spain
 The Netherlands
The U.S. also owed money to soldiers who were promised payment for
their service during the war.
States also had their own wartime debt.
The U.S. debt was over $52 million dollars
Hamilton wanted to pay off these debts to show that the U.S. was
responsible about money and believed that would lead to other
nations doing business with the U.S.
THE NATION’S FINANCES
Hamilton also believed in a strong central government. He
wanted the federal government to be stronger than the
state governments.
He also believed the government should encourage
business and industry and the nation’s prosperity
depended on the support of the nation’s wealthy
merchants and manufacturers.
The government owed these such men money, and
Hamilton wanted to pay them back so they would support
the new government.
THE NATION’S FINANCES
Hamilton had a plan to help the U.S. economy
1. Pay off all war debts
2. Raise U.S. revenue
3. Create a national bank
THE NATION’S FINANCES
Hamilton wanted the federal government to also
pay off the states debt from the Revolutionary
War.
Southern states had a problem with this. Why?
Answer: Most southern states almost had their war
debt paid off, now the “lazy” northern states
were getting their debt paid. Not fair!
ECONOMIC PLAN OF THE U.S.
Compromise:
 Southern states agreed
to the Federal
Government to pay off
all state Revolutionary
War debt if the
National Capital was
moved to a southern
location.
 This is why the nation’s
capital was built in
Washington, D.C.
ECONOMIC PLAN OF THE U.S.
To raise revenue, Hamilton wanted tariffs, which
are taxes on imported goods.
Tariffs serve two purposes:
Raising money for the government
Encouraging the growth of national business
Tariffs make foreign goods more expensive, so
they encourage people to buy American goods.
ECONOMIC PLAN OF THE U.S.
Hamilton also wanted to create a National Bank.
Safe place to keep government money
Able to make loans to businesses and
government
Issue bank notes, paper money that could be
used as currency
ECONOMIC PLAN OF THE U.S.
Hamilton’s plan would give more power to the national government.
Thomas Jefferson argued that the bank would create encourage an
unhealthy partnership between the government and wealthy business
interests. Jefferson said the federal government does not have the
right to create a national bank since it is not listed in the Constitution.
This is seen as a strict interpretation of the Constitution.
Hamilton argued the “Elastic Clause” of the Constitution covered what
was “necessary and proper” for the government to function. (Article 1,
Section 8, Number 18) This is seen as a “loose” interpretation of the
Constitution, which favors greater federal powers.
ECONOMIC PLAN OF THE U.S.
President Washington sided with Hamilton, and
the Bank of the United States was established in
1791.
VOCABULARY
Federal Judiciary Act- 1789 law passed by the first Congress that set
up lower federal courts
John Jay- firstchief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
attorney general- nation’s top legal officer; today also the head of
the Department of Justice
cabinet- group of executive department heads that serve as the
president’s chief advisers
inaugurate- to formally swear in or induct into office
precedent- an example that becomes standard practice
tariff- tax on imported goods