WASHINGTON’S PRESIDENCY
ARE YOU DANGEROUS???????
A Graduated License
No Midnight – 6 a.m. driving
No more than 3 passengers in the car
Violations = no driving
George Washington's Presidency
PIH: When is the government justified in imposing its will on citizens?
CQ: Was the Washington administration justified in the actions taken
during Washington's presidency?
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Introduction: Investigation: Investigation: Culminating
PIH and CQ, Brief The 4 different The different Activity:
data on perspectives on the perspectives on the Revisit the CQ, ?
Washington Whiskey Tax Situation National Bank
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XYZA | XYZA
INAUGURATION - 1790
What are your impressions?
Why might they have been so emotional?
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS
(CABINET)
Congress accepts three departments:
Dept. of Foreign Affairs (State):
Thomas Jefferson
Dept. of War (Defense):
Henry Knox
Department of Treasury:
Alexander Hamilton
Washington’s Presidency Timeline
1789 Washington is inaugurated.
1790 Secretary of the Treasury Hamilton and Secretary of State Jefferson debate the issue
of the nation assuming states' debts and a national bank
1791 Excise Tax on whiskey is passed into law. Whiskey farmers become concerned.
Constitution is amended with the Bill of Rights.
Thomas Jefferson's Democratic- Republican Party is established in opposition to
1792
Alexander Hamilton and the Federalists.
Proclamation of Neutrality is issued by President Washington concerning the war
1793
between France and Great Britain. Jefferson resigns from cabinet
1794 Western Pennsylvania farmers begin to rebel against the excise tax on
whiskey by tarring and feathering tax collectors.
1796 Washington refuses a third term. Delivers his farewell address.
WHISKEY
FARMERS
Wheat and Corn = whiskey
Not just drink
trade, currency,
medicine, cooking
Hamilton: Excise tax
on whiskey to cover
interest on federal
securities (sin tax)
WHISKEY REBELLION
Anger over Whiskey Tax
Attacking collectors’
homes, businesses,
tarred and feathered
collaborators , etc.
Gained an army of 5,000
What is a president to
do?
FINANCIAL CRISIS!
Huge Post-Revolution Debt
$12 million owed to Foreign Nations
States owed $25 million in Domestic Debts
$40 Million owed to citizens through War Bonds
What were we in?
HAMILTON’S SOLUTION
Financial Plan to fix debt problem:
Wanted to create National Bank of the
United States
Assume all state and national debt
from war
Provide standard national
currency
Make Americans’ money safe
Regulate state banks and
encourage commercial growth
SHOULD WE
HAVE A
NATIONAL
BANK?
OPPOSITION
Madison: “unfair for ordinary people!”
“Constitution does not give you the power to
create a bank.”
Jefferson: Bank Stock was “Federal Filth.”
“Channels power to the federal govt., away
from states.”
Washington sided with Hamilton and
supported a national bank
Enumerated powers – powers specifically
mentioned in the Constitution
Implied powers – not specifically listed but
necessary for the government to do its job
REVIEW
Whiskey Rebellion – Washington sent in troops to
put down the rebellion of Pennsylvania farmers
National Bank – Washington authorized a bank
of the United States for twenty years
FRENCH REVOLUTION - 1793
French radicals
executed the French
King and declared war
on Great Britain
According to the Treat
of Paris, America was
supposed to help
France
Washington said he
was going to stay
“friendly and
impartial”
JAY’S TREATY - 1794
British were seizing American ships that were
going to or from France
Washington sent John Jay to settle the dispute
British could seize ships heading to or from France
British had to give America “most-favored nation”
status – could not halt or alter trade relations
Many Americans were angry! Why?
Should Washington pass the treaty?
Washington
passed
Jay’s Treaty
PINCKNEY’S TREATY - 1795
Spain joined the French Revolution on the side of
France and feared the U.S. would eventually side
with Britain
Spain offered America the right to use the
Mississippi River for navigation and use the port
at New Orleans for trade
Why was this a big deal?
NEW TERRITORY
Vermont, Kentucky,
and Tennessee were
states
Washington sent
troops (Anthony
Wayne) into Native
lands to get control of
the Ohio region
(Treaty of Greenville)
Should Washington
take Native lands?
POLITICAL PARTIES
Hamilton’s National Bank divided Congress
Hamilton’s supporters = Federalists
Strong national government
Distrust in the capability of the people
National wealth and power depended on manufacturing
and trade
Jefferson and Madison’s supporters = Republicans
National wealth and power depended on the farmers
Did not want division between the rich and the poor
Wanted more states rights
FAREWELL ADDRESS
Warned of:
The danger of political
parties
Not separating church and
state
Not making foreign alliances
PRESIDENTIAL REPORT CARD
List 10 qualifications that you look for in a
president (what makes a good leader?)
Under each qualification, put a BRIEF description of
what you expect
Put them on a scale of 1 – 5 (5 being perfect)
Once you are finished, rate Washington on your
report card
EXAMPLE
Trait 1 2 3 4 5
Funny - knows
how to lighten
the mood
Smart – knows
his US history
Happy – always
has a smile on
his face
Etc.
Etc.
Etc.
Etc.
ELECTION OF 1796
Federalists = John Adams
Republicans = Thomas Jefferson
Electoral College voted: Adams 71 to Jefferson 68
XYZ AFFAIR
France began stopping and seizing American
ships that were headed to Britain
The Federalists began demanding a declaration
of war against France
XYZ AFFAIR
President Adams sent Charles Pinckney,
Elbridge Gerry, and John Marshall to negotiate
with France
France demanded a bribe of $250,000 before they
would talk to the Americans
XYZ AFFAIR
1798 – America suspended trade with France and
began capturing armed French ships at sea
This soon became known as the Quasi-War –
undeclared French/American War at sea
Convention of 1800 – France would let US out of
the Treaty of Paris and America would not asked
for money to pay for French damage
VOCAB
Alien – people who are living in the country who
are not citizens
Sedition – incitement of rebellion
Federalists vs. Democratic-Republicans (1798)
Issue Federalists Democratic-Republicans
Economy? Manufacturing Agrarian (farming)
National Bank? Bank (helps No Bank (too much federal
manufacturing) power)
Interpret Broadly (is it Strictly (is it expressly
Constitution? expressly permitted?)
forbidden?)
Balance of National Authority States’ Rights
Power?
Foreign Policy? Pro-British Pro-French
“The United States . . . were threatened with
actual invasion . . . and had then, within the
bosom of the country, thousands of aliens, who,
we doubt not, were ready to cooperate in any
external attack.”
SUMMARY OF ALIEN AND SEDITION ACTS
(1798)
Naturalization Act To be eligible for citizenship, an alien must
prove 14 years of residence within the
United States (previously 5 years).
Alien Act President may deport any alien he views
as “dangerous to the peace and safety of
the U.S.” No trial or evidence required.
No defense.
Alien Enemies President may, in case of war, deport
aliens of an enemy country or impose
Act severe restraints on them.
SUMMARY OF ALIEN AND SEDITION ACTS
(1798)
Sedition Act 1) Illegal to conspire to oppose any measure or to
impede the operation of any law of the United
States.
2) Illegal for any person to write print or publish
“any false, scandalous and malicious writing . .
. . against the government of the United States,
or either house of the Congress . . . or the
President . . . with intent to defame or to bring
them into contempt or disrepute; or to excite
against them the hatred of the good people of
the United States.
VIRGINIA AND KENTUCKY RESOLUTIONS - 1798
Secretly written by Jefferson and Madison
Said that the states created the Constitution and
could declare federal laws unconstitutional
Argued:
Interposition – stop anything the federal government
does that is illegal before it affects the people
Nullification – states had the right to declare
unconstitutional laws invalid
TEST NEXT CLASS!
35 multiple choice
3 essay