FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 1789
GEORGE WASHINGTON
Election of 1789PresidentialCandidate
Home State Political Party Electoral Vote
George Washington Virginia No Party 69 85.2%
John Adams Massachusetts No Party 34 42.0%
John Jay New York No Party 9 11.1%
Robert Harrison Maryland No Party 6 7.4%
John Rutledge South Carolina No Party 6 7.4%
Other 14 17.3%
Electoral votes not cast 24 29.6%
Total Number of Electors 69
Total Electoral Votes Cast 138
Number of Votes for a Majority 35
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.
GEORGE WASHINGTON: THE MOST RESPECTED MAN IN AMERICA
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.
THE EXPERIMENT IS LAUNCHED
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
VICE PRESIDENT JOHN ADAMSShocked republican-
minded congressmen; suggested President Washington and other federal officials be given aristocratic-sounding titles
Critic suggested Adams be called “His Rotundity”
British George III
TOWARD AN AMERICAN KING?
American George I
Republicans feared that the Federalists planned to replace with
Washington’s CabinetSecretary of War-
Henry KnoxSecretary of
Treasury- Alexander Hamilton
Secretary of State- Thomas Jefferson
Attorney General- Edmund Randolph
Postmaster General- Samuel Osgood
Hamilton’s Financial ProgramIssued three reports in
1790Public CreditNational BankManufacturing
Hamilton’s Financial Program – National DebtUS 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
millionExcise 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?
Hamilton’s Financial Program – National DebtHamilton’s Plan
Redeem debt with new government bonds
Eliminates debtGives country creditGovernment assumes
state debtBond holders tied to
debtProblems
Speculators bought up bonds; made LOTS of money
Asst. Sec. of Treasury included
Corruption?
OppositionVirginia
Representative James MadisonSpeculators only get
highest market valueoriginal owners get
the restProblems?
Many southerners saw corruption!
CAPITAL COMPROMISE
Hamilton needs congressional support for Assumption plan
Makes a deal with Jefferson and Madison
Hamilton agreed to national capital in the south
A new city on the Maryland -Virginia border
THE CAPITAL MOVES SOUTH
First Bank of the United States 20 Year Charter1/5 Stock owned by
Congress4/5’s Private stockMonopoly on ALL
government transactions
Bank couldLoan to merchantsHandle government
moneyIssue bank notes
Report on ManufacturesHamilton based ideas on
Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations
Smith believedState supported
mercantilism badFavored laissez-faire
(leave alone) systemNo government
involvementMarket determines price
(supply and demand)
Acceptable or not . . . Why?
Assess Alexander Hamilton’s plan for the
U.S.
Strict constructionalistsIf not specifically
stated in Constitution, then government can’t do it!
Proponents feared too much central control
Followers includedThomas JeffersonJames Madison
Article I: gives government right to make “all laws necessary and proper” to carry out duties“elastic” clause
Puts flexibility in Constitution
Followers includedAlexander HamiltonGeorge WashingtonJohn Adams
Constitutional Issues -- Interpretation
Loose constructionalists
Constitutional Issues – Whiskey Rebellionpart of Hamilton’s
economic planTaxes increasedIncluded whiskey
1792: Pennsylvania farmers protested
Challenged constitutionality
Constitutional Issues – Whiskey RebellionMobs attacked tax
collectorsWashington sent
army (he commanded)
Mobs broke up firstShowed states
subject to federal lawJefferson supported
rebels
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.”
French RevolutionFrench Revolutionary WarsWashington’s Proclamation of Neutrality
Citizen Genet’s Mission to U.S.Jay’s TreatyPinckney’s Treaty
Foreign Issues – can the new Republic succeed?
Foreign Issues – French RevolutionFrench monarchy
overthrown 1792Replaced with Republic1793: King Louis XVI
executedCompare to American
revolution?Should the Americans
support the French?
France in turmoil; British want revenge!
Which side should Americans support? Why?
Foreign Issues – French Revolutionary Wars
Foreign Issues – Proclamation of NeutralityWho tended to
support French?Jefferson and
supportersWhy?
French supported Americans during our revolution
Revolution against tyranny! It was just!
FRANCOPHILES!
Who tended to support British?Hamilton and
supportersWhy?
British trade vital to American economic success
French Revolution too violent
ANGLOPHILES!
Foreign Issues – Proclamation of NeutralityWashington’s
reactionProclamation of
NeutralitySaid
U.S. wouldn’t take sides
U.S. allowed trade with all sides
ResultsEurope needed
American farm production
American cottonCotton replaces
tobacco as chief export
American economy SOARS!
Foreign Issues – Citizen GenetThreatens American
neutralityFrench 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 asylumGenet lives rest of life in
America
Foreign Issues – Jay’s TreatyBritish seizing American
ships; confiscating cargoViolation of Neutrality
ActsJohn Jay to Britain to
negotiate treatyJefferson opposed treaty
– “too conciliatory” toward British
Senate ratified 20 to 10 (needed 2/3)
U.S.Must submit claims
of illegal seizuresCompensate British
for pre-Revolutionary War debts
Foreign Issues – Jay’s Treaty Results
BritainCouldn’t aid Indians
against AmericansMust leave forts in
NorthwestCan confiscate
property of France
Is there a “winner” and a “loser”?
Pinckney’s Treaty with Spain, 1795Negotiated by Thomas
PinckneySettled southern
boundary with SpainBritain lost in war
Allowed forNavigation of MississippiSouthern border between
Georgia and FloridaMississippi River: border
between America and Spanish Louisiana
Pinckney’s Treaty with Spain, 1795
Washington’s Farewell Address 1796
No Third Term Walks away from
powerNo Permanent Military
AlliancesKeep Public Credit
SoundAvoid Political Parties,
especially geographical
How would you evaluate the success or failure of George Washington’s
Presidency?
Alexander Hamilton
Opposing FactionsThomas Jefferson
Scottish ancestryBorn in West IndiesRaised by mother (father abandoned
family)Moved to mainland in 1772; attended
Kings College (Columbia University)Aide to Washington during Revolutionary
WarMarried into New York wealthLawyer in New York City
Alexander Hamilton
Beliefs:STRONG national governmentTrade is keyFavor Mercantile & Financial InterestsPro-Britain
Supported by the:Well-to DoWell-BornNorth & East
Why?
Alexander Hamilton
Enlightenment ManInto
ArchitectureNatural historyScientific farmingPolitics
Wealthy Virginia planter
Thomas Jefferson
Beliefs:Against speculationAgainst urban industrialismFor agricultural interestsAmerican agriculture and trade to Europe would
support the U.S.States rights over federal governmentPro-France
Supported by the:Yeoman farmersRural areasSouth and WestJames Madison close ally
Why?
Thomas Jefferson
With Hamilton and Jefferson
what is developing?