11/16/2014

George Washington: War Hero & Private Citizen

• He had an imposing presence – He was 6 feet 2 inches, 175 lbs – He had sloping shoulders & a strongly George pointed chin • He was an esteemed war hero (General of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary Way) • He preferred quiet at his home (Mount Washington Vernon in Virginia) than the turmoil of politics Launching the New Ship of State and Foreign & Domestic • He was balanced rather than brilliant and commanded followers by strength Disputes during the first presidential Administration of character rather than by the arts of the politician.

George Washington as President Launching the Ship of State

• He did not “seek” the office of the • As the FIRST President of the United States, Washington presidency like his contemporaries had to define the role of the presidency. • He was unanimously elected to the • He established many important precedents (something done presidency by the Electoral College in or said that may serve as an example or rule to authorize or justify a subsequent act of the same or an analogous kind) 1789 that would define the presidency for generations. – No other president has ever been • Washington, as the first president, was able to put his stamp elected unanimously on the new government • He took the oath of office on April • Oath of Office: “So Help me God” 30, 1789 in New York City (the • Established title: Mr. President (although many people temporary capital of the U.S.) suggested the president should be referred to as “His President George Washington Lansdowne portrait by Gilbert Stuart Excellency,” “His High Mightiness,” and “His Majesty”)

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Domestic Issue: The Cabinet Washington’s Cabinet

• He formed the first cabinet, the group of presidential advisors and the heads of the departments. – Note: the Constitution does not mention a cabinet, though provides that a president “may require” written opinions of the heads of the executive- branch departments •Article II, Section II, Clause 1. Thomas Jefferson Henry Knox Edmund Randolph Alexander Hamilton Secretary of State Secretary of War Attorney General Secretary of the Treasury Democratic-Republican Federalist Federalist • Written letters to and from the president from Federalist the heads of the departments were awkward, leading Washington to create the cabinet. Why do you think Washington chose someone from a different political party to serve in his cabinet?

Domestic Issue: The Federal Domestic Issue: Solving America’s Court System Financial Crisis & Economic Problems

• Congress sets up the Federal Court • Financial Program for the country System – Foreign & Domestic Debt – The Judiciary Act of 1789 •Organized the Supreme Court with – Protective Tariffs and Excise Taxes (1) one Chief Justice and (5) five – National Bank Controversey associate justices (8 associate judges today) •Controversy over “necessary and proper” clause that – First Supreme Court Justice was John Federalists use to justify creation of the bank Jay (Federalist Party) • Created 13 federal district courts throughout the country •Created 3 Federal circuit courts

•Created the office of the Attorney John Jay (Federalist) General First Supreme Court Chief Justice

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Hamilton vs. Jefferson Hamilton vs. Jefferson

Contrasting Views on the Federal Government • Alexander Hamilton (Federalist) and Thomas Hamilton Jefferson Jefferson (Democratic-Republican) both cabinet • Concentrating power in federal • Sharing power with state and members in Washington Administration government local governments: limited national • Both have different political views that caused bitter government disagreements between the two men, mainly over • Republic led by a well-educated • Democracy of virtuous farmers elite and tradespeople Hamilton’s economic plan for the country • Loose interpretation of the • Strict interpretation of the • Jefferson later resigned from Washington’s cabinet Constitution Constitution over disagreements with Hamilton & over policy • National Bank constitutional • National bank unconstitutional matters (loose interpretation) (strict interpretation)

Hamilton vs. Jefferson Development of Political Parties

Contrasting Views on the Federal Government • The split in Washington’s cabinet gave rise to the nation’s Hamilton Jefferson first two political parties • Political parties formed around one of key issues in • Fear of mob rule • Fear of absolute power or ruler American history—the power and size of the federal • Economy based on shipping & • Economy based on farming & government in relation to state and local governments manufacturing agriculture – Democratic-Republicans—those who supported Jefferson’s vision of • Payment of national and state • Payment of only the national debt strong state governments (ancestors of today’s Democratic Party) debts (favoring creditors) (favoring debtors) – Federalists—those who supported Hamilton’s vision of a strong • Supporters: merchants, • Supporters: the “plain people” central government (ancestors of today’s Republican Party) manufacturers, landowners, (farmers & tradespeople) • Existence of political parties worried many political leaders, investors, lawyers, clergy including Washington—argued that political parties were a danger to national unity

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Hamilton’s Economic Plan Hamilton’s Economic Plan

• As Secretary of the Treasury, • Hamilton calculated the U.S. public debt Hamilton’s job was to: in 1790 was in the millions of dollars: – set the nation’s finances in order – most of which was incurred during the Revolutionary War – put the nation’s economy on firm – the government was responsible for paying footing 2/3 of the debt and the States were • Hamilton’s Plan: responsible for paying the rest – Manage the country’s debts • The U.S. owed debt to: – Establish a national banking system – Foreign governments – Private citizens – soldiers who were promised payment plus Alexander Hamilton interest for their service in the Revolutionary Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton Federalist Secretary of the Treasury War Federalist

Hamilton’s Economic Plan Bank of the United States

• Hamilton’s Proposal: • Hamilton proposed the creation of a national bank: – Pay off foreign debt – Issue new bonds to pay off the old ones – Would be funded by the federal government and wealthy – Proposed that the federal government assume the debts of the states private investors • This plan favored creditors—those who made the loans – Hamilton hoped the bank would tie investors to the • Hamilton argued this would be an incentive for creditors to support the new government country’s economic well-being • NOTE: if the new government failed, these creditors would never be paid back – The bank would: • Opposition: •Issue paper money & currency (coins) – People in the South furious •Handle tax receipts and other government funds – Many Southern states already paid off most of their debts – Resented plan because they would be taxed to pay Alexander Hamilton Secretary of the Treasury off other state debts Federalist

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Hamilton Wins: Creation of the Opposition to the National Bank Bank of the United States • Opponents to the bank argued: •Hamilton asserted that creating a national bank – The bank would forge an unhealthy relationship between was necessary because he argued: the government and wealthy business interests – that while power not given to Congress to create a – Congress did not have the power to authorize the creation national bank, he argued it Congress had the of a national bank (not mentioned in the Constitution) power to do whatever is “necessary & proper” to – Debate sparked between the belief of a “loose carry out its specific enumerated powers, such as interpretation” vs. “strict interpretation” of the regulating commerce. Constitution Hamilton Convinced Washington & a majority of Congress to accept his economic views, thus establishing the Bank of the United States

Building a National Capital The District of Columbia

• The first temporary capital of the United States was in New • French engineer Pierre L’Enfant drew York City, NY. up pland for the new capital • To win support from the South for his economic plans, • He was later fired by Washington for Hamilton proposed the U.S. capital to be moved from being too obstinate NYC to a new city built in the South on the banks of the • Replaced by Andrew Ellicott who Potomac River. redrew L’Enfant’s plan, who kept – Southern States pleased (especially Virginians) & many, like much of his vision Jefferson & Madison believed that by moving the capital to the – Assisted by Benjamin Banneker (an South, it would be more responsive to their interests. African-American surveyor) • 1790—Hamilton’s debt plan passed through Congress • The capital was officially moved to the along with the authorization of a new capital in the District District of Columbia in 1800 and renamed Washington, D.C. following of Columbia (between Maryland & Virginia) L’Enfant’s architectural design the death of George Washington. of the national capital

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The Bill of Rights The Whiskey Rebellion: Background

• Anti-Federalists clamored for the passage of a bill of rights • In 1789, Congress passed a protective tariff, an once the Constitution was ratified import tax on goods produced in Europe. • The first 10 Amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were – Tax encouraged American production & brought in a added to the Constitution in 1791 great deal of revenue for the country. – Provided safeguard of most precious American principles • Freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, petition, right to bear arms, • Hamilton was not satisfied and wanted to pull in right to trial by jury, privacy, etc. more revenue – Ninth Amendment provided that Americans were entitled to rights – He pushed Congress to approve an excise tax, a tax on a and freedoms not mentioned in Amendments 1-8 product’s manufacture, sale, or distribution – Tenth Amendment provided that rights not expressly delegated or prohibited by the Federal government or to the States were retained – This tax was directed towards the manufacture of whiskey by the people.

The Whiskey Rebellion The Whiskey Rebellion

• Farmers in western • Washington responds to the crisis by federalizing Pennsylvania refuse to pay 15,000 state militia the federal excise tax on whiskey – Placed under the command of Alexander – couldn’t afford to pay the Hamilton, with George Washington at his side tax on whiskey they made from their excess corn • Significance: Show of force is successful: Rebellion • Defended their “liberties”, collapses without any bloodshed on either side defied the federal Many Americans applaud Washington, say its better than the helpless government by attacking government during Shays’ Rebellion

The Whiskey Rebellion: A HUGE revenue collectors test for Washington Westerners resent Washington, say action was unwarranted force against common people Was the new federal government strong enough to deal with a rebellion against its own laws? Thomas Jefferson emerges as the champion of the western farmer

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Domestic Concerns: Native Domestic Concerns: Native Americans Resist White Settlers Americans Resist White Settlers

• American settlers moving • British encouraged Native American farther west, encroaching on tribes to resist against white settlements Indian lands into their lands. • British maintained forts in the Northwest Territory (present – Native Americans often attacked day Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, white settlers as they settled westward Wisconsin, and Michigan) • Native Americans, led by Chief Little – This was a direct violation Turtle, successfully defeated American of Treaty of Paris (1783) millitay campaigns led by General Josiah • British had been supplying Harmar (1790) and General Arthur St. •British had been supplying some of the tribes with arms to Clair (1791) Chief Little Turtle attack new settlers some of the tribes with arms to attack new settlers

Domestic Concerns: Native Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794) Americans Resist White Settlers

• 1792—President Washington appointed • Mad Anthony” Anthony Wayne General Anthony Wayne to lead federal defeated the Miami Confederacy troops against the Native Americans. (The Shawnee, Wyandot, – Little Turtle wanted to negotiate peace with the U.S. in which he argued: Delaware and others Indian • “We have beaten the enemy twice under different tribes in Ohio) commanders…The Americans are not led by a chief who never sleeps…We have never been able to surprise • Anthony and his troops built a him…It would be prudent to listen to his offers of peace.” fort two miles away from the – Other Indian chiefs didn’t agree with British Fort Miami General “Mad Anthony” Wayne Little Turtle and replace him with a Chief Little Turtle less able leader and brought them into war against the U.S.

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Treaty of Greenville (1795) Treaty of Greenville

• Miami Confederacy agrees to give up most of land in Ohio for $20,000 worth of goods & annual pay of nearly $10,000 • Significance: – Started a pattern by which U.S. government gave Indians less for their land for what it was worth – New sources of conflict developed between the U.S. and British (who This depiction of the Treaty of Greenville negotiations may have been painted by one of continued to have forts in the General Anthony Wayne's officers. American Northwest

Western Lands Foreign Affairs

• The 13 states surrendered their western land The French Revolution • U.S. alliance with France still in claims to the federal government place, but had been with the French monarchy • Congress encourages the rapid settlement of • Most Americans supported the land by passing the Public Land Act in 1796 idea of a French republic, but many dismayed by the mob – Orderly sale at reasonable prices violence of the Reign of Terror • Thomas Jefferson argues for U.S. • During Washington administration, three new support of the revolutionaries – Especially since Britain had been states added: seizing American ships bound for – Vermont (1791) France • What’s a president to do? – Kentucky (1792) – Tennessee (1796)

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Neutrality Proclamation Jay’s Treaty with Britain (1794)

Proclamation of Neutrality (1793) • Chief Justice John Jay goes to Britain to try and stop seizing • Britain and France were at war of U.S. ships, impressing sailors • Jay gone for a year, comes back with treaty • Washington doesn’t believe the country is strong – British agree to evacuate western frontier ports enough to get involved in European conflicts – No agreement on seizure of ships • Thomas Jefferson resigns as Secretary of State • Extremely unpopular, angers France supporters, only • French Ambassador “Citizen” Edmund Genet narrowly approved by Senate appeals directly to American people • But, NEUTRALITY preserved – Washington outraged, requests French gov’t remove him, even Jefferson agrees According to the Constitution, who has the power to make a treaty? Why do you think that many Democratic-Republican’s • Genet stays and eventually becomes U.S. citizen were upset with how Jay’s Treaty was negotiated?

Pinckney Treaty (1795) Pinckney Treaty (1795) (Treaty of San Lorenzo) (Treaty of San Lorenzo)

• Spain sees Jay Treaty as sign that U.S. might be getting closer to its foe, Britain • Ambassador Pinckney negotiates treaty opening lower Mississippi and New Orleans to U.S. trade – U.S. no longer has to pay duties to Spain for transferring cargo in New Orleans • Boundary of Florida set at the 31st parallel Why was it in the best interest of the United States to negotiate a treaty with Spain? What was significant about setting the boundary between the U.S. & Florida the opening of the port of New Orleans to Americans?

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Washington’s Farewell Washington’s Legacies

In his farewell • But, parties had • Established precedents for future address, already been forming, presidents to follow: Washington and sectional interests – Established a cabinet warns Americans continue to be a key – Established prestige of the NOT to: feature of American Presidency • get involved in politics – Established relationship between Europe executive and legislative branch • make “permanent • Washington sets – Retired after serving two terms in alliances” precedent of only office • form political serving two terms, •FDR broke this precedent after parties even though there is successfully being elected to 4 no constitutional limit terms as president • put their section •22nd Amendment (1951): before the good Established Term Limit for the of the country president (2 terms or 10 years)

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