Launching a New Launching a New RepublicRepublic
1789 - 18001789 - 1800
U. S. HistoryU. S. History
88thth Grade Grade
The revolution was a success, a constitution has been ratified but problems still remain!-The country’s finances are in ruins.-There are disputes with other countries.-Settlers are clashing with the Native Americans.
In addition, the big question is “Who will be
the first president?”
What kind of things should be What kind of things should be taken into account when choosing taken into account when choosing a president? Character? Morals? a president? Character? Morals? Abilities? Abilities?
Do you think the same standards Do you think the same standards apply today in choosing a apply today in choosing a president as applied in 1789? president as applied in 1789? Why or why not? Why or why not?
If it had been up to you to choose the If it had been up to you to choose the first president, how would you first president, how would you
answer the following: answer the following:
What kind of character?What kind of character? What kind of reputation?What kind of reputation? What kind of experience?What kind of experience?
Each member of the Electoral College Each member of the Electoral College wrote two nameswrote two names
The top vote-getter, The top vote-getter, George Washington, George Washington, became president.became president.The runner-up, John The runner-up, John Adams, became Adams, became Vice-President.Vice-President.
On April 30 at Federal Hall in New York City On April 30 at Federal Hall in New York City (at that time, it was the Nation’s capitol) (at that time, it was the Nation’s capitol) Washington was Washington was inauguratedinaugurated, (sworn in as , (sworn in as President) and John Adams as Vice President.President) and John Adams as Vice President.
As the As the firstfirst President of a new President of a new country, what should be the first country, what should be the first order of business?order of business?
Security? Finances? Unifying the Security? Finances? Unifying the country? country?
Identify Problems and Solutions faced by our new nation ProblemProblem SolutionSolution
Identify Problems and Solutions faced by our new nation
ProblemProblem SolutionSolution
Courts
CourtsCourts The writers of the The writers of the
Constitution had left Constitution had left many matters to be many matters to be decided by Congress.decided by Congress.
The Constitution The Constitution created a created a Supreme Court but left it to Congress to decide the number of justices and how much power the court was to have.
Identify Problems and Solutions faced by our new nation
ProblemProblem SolutionSolutionNumber of justices and
how much power CourtsCourts
To create a court system, Congress passed the Federal Judiciary Act of 1789. This act gave the Supreme Court six members: a chief justice, or judge, and five associate justices. Over time, that number has grown to nine.
President Washington appointed John Jay, as the chief justice of the Supreme Court.
Identify Problems and Solutions faced by our new nation
Problem SolutionNumber of justices and
how much power Courts Federal Judiciary
Acts
Identify Problems and Solutions faced by our new nation
Problem SolutionNumber or justices and
how much power Courts Federal Judiciary
Acts
Politics
Politics (Washington’s Cabinet)Politics (Washington’s Cabinet)
The Constitution also gave Congress the task of creating departments to help the president lead the nation.
During the first session Congress created three departments:
Washington’s CabinetWashington’s Cabinet
Department Responsibility Appointed
Washington’s CabinetWashington’s Cabinet
Department Responsibility Appointed
Secretary of War
Secretary of State
Secretary of Treasury
Washington’s Cabinet
Department Responsibility Appointed
Secretary of War Oversee the nation’s defenses
Henry Knox
Secretary of State
Secretary of Treasury
Attorney General
Washington’s CabinetWashington’s Cabinet
Department Responsibility Appointed
Secretary of War Oversee the nation’s defenses
Henry Knox
Secretary of State Oversees relations between the U. S. and
other countries
Thomas Jefferson
Secretary of Treasury
Attorney General
Washington’s Cabinet
Department Responsibility Appointed
Secretary of War Oversee the nation’s Oversee the nation’s defensesdefenses
Henry Knox
Secretary of State Oversees relations Oversees relations between the U. S. between the U. S.
and other countriesand other countries
Thomas Jefferson
Secretary of Treasury
Manage the Manage the government’s government’s
moneymoney
Alexander Hamilton
Washington’s CabinetWashington’s Cabinet And to advise the And to advise the
government on legal government on legal matters,matters,President Washington President Washington
appointed Edmund appointed Edmund Randolph as the Randolph as the Attorney General of the Justice Department:
Washington’s CabinetWashington’s CabinetDepartment Responsibility Appointed
Secretary of War Oversee the nation’s defenses
Henry Knox
Secretary of State Oversees relations between the U. S.
and other countries
Thomas Jefferson
Secretary of Treasury
Manage the government’s
money
Alexander Hamilton
Attorney General
(Office)
advise the government on legal
matters
Edmund Randolph
Identify Problems and Solutions faced by our new nation
Problem Solution
Number or justices and how much
power
Courts Federal Judiciary Acts
President’s need for
aid and advicePolitics Cabinet
Appointments
Identify Problems and Solutions faced by our new nation
Problem SolutionNumber or justices
and how much power
Courts Federal Judiciary Acts
President’s need for
aid and advicePolitics Cabinet
Appointments
Economics
Economic ProblemsEconomic Problems
U. S. had borrowed millions of dollars from France, the Netherlands, and Spain.
Most government leaders agreed that the nation must repay its debts to win the respect of both foreign nations and its own citizens.
If the nation failed to do so, no individual or country would lend it money in the future.
Economic ProblemsEconomic Problems
In 1790, Hamilton presented his plan to Congress. He proposed three steps: pay off all war debts raise government revenues create a national bank
Economic ProblemsEconomic Problems
Hamilton wanted the federal government to pay off the war debts of the states.
However, sectional differences arose over repayment of state debts.
Virginia, Georgia, and many other Southern states had already repaid their debts and did not like being asked to help Northern states pay theirs.
Economic ProblemsEconomic Problems Hamilton favored tariffs. Tariff is a tax on imported goods. It served two purposes:
raising money for the government and encouraging the growth of
American industry.
A compromise was reached; in exchange for Southern support of the plan, Northerners agreed to place the new nation’s capitol in the South.
The location chosen was on the Potomac River between Virginia and Maryland. This location, later named Washington, D. C. they believed would give them more influence in the federal government..
Economic ProblemsEconomic Problems To provide economic stability, Hamilton
asked Congress to create a national bank. The Bank of the United States would
consist of a central bank with branches in major U. S. cities.
Southern farmers feared wealthy northeastern merchants would control it.
Economic ProblemsEconomic Problems Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson
believed it was unconstitutional. Both Jefferson and Hamilton pointed
to the clause in the Constitution that grants Congress the power
“to make all laws … necessary and proper” for carrying out its delegated powers.
They disagreed on the interpretation.
Jefferson believed in the strict construction – narrow or strict interpretation – of the Constitution.
Hamilton favored a loose construction – broad or flexible interpretation – of the Constitution pointing to the “elastic clause” that the bank was “necessary and proper”.
Jefferson and Hamilton argued their positions to Washington. Hamilton won, and the Bank of the United States was established in 1791.
Identify Problems and Solutions faced by our new nation
Problem SolutionNumber or justices
and how much power
Courts Federal Judiciary Acts
President’s need for
aid and advicePolitics Cabinet
AppointmentsSource of income, war debts, manage
money
Economics Tariffs, Pay War Debt, National
Bank
The president, meanwhile, was dealing with other challenges at home and abroad.
Identify Problems and Solutions faced by our new nation
Problem SolutionNumber or justices and
how much power Courts Federal Judiciary
ActsPresident’s need for
aid and advicePolitics Cabinet
AppointmentsSource of income, war debts, manage money
Economics Tariffs, Pay War Debt, National
Bank
Relations with
Native Americans
Relations with Native AmericansRelations with Native Americans
The source of the trouble was competing claims for the Trans-Appalachian West,
the lands between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River.
Spain, Britain, Native Americans, and Americans claimed parts of this area.
Identify Problems and Solutions faced by our new nation
Problem SolutionNumber or justices and
how much power Courts Federal Judiciary
ActsPresident’s need for
aid and advicePolitics Cabinet
AppointmentsSource of income, war debts, manage money
Economics Tariffs, Pay War Debt, National
BankAs settlers move west,
they clash
With Native Americans
Relations with
Native Americans
Relations with Native AmericansRelations with Native Americans At the Battle of Fallen
Timbers the Native Americans were defeated
and the twelve tribes signed the Treaty of Greenville in 1795 which ceded, or surrendered, much of present-day Ohio and Indiana to the U. S. government.
Identify Problems and Solutions faced by our new nation
Problem SolutionNumber or justices and
how much power Courts Federal Judiciary
ActsPresident’s need for
aid and advicePolitics Cabinet
AppointmentsSource of income, war debts, manage money
Economics Tariffs, Pay War Debt, National
BankAs settlers move west,
they clash
With Native Americans
Relations with
Native Americans
Treaty of Greenville
Relations with Americans In addition to these problems at home,
a conflict arose between the government and farmers over a tax put on whiskey.
With little cash to buy goods, let alone pay the tax, farmers often traded whiskey for salt, sugar, and other goods. The farmers used whiskey as money to get whatever supplies they needed.
In the summer of 1794, a group of farmers in western Pennsylvania staged the Whiskey Rebellion against the tax. An army of 13,000 soldiers put down the uprising. As news of the army’s approach spread, the rebels fed.
Identify Problems and Solutions faced by our new nation
Problem SolutionNumber or justices and
how much power Courts Federal Judiciary
Acts
President’s need for
aid and advicePolitics Cabinet
Appointments
Source of income, war debts, manage money
Economics Tariffs, Pay War Debt, National Bank
As settlers move west,
they clash
With Native Americans
Relations with
Native AmericansTreaty of Greenville
Domestic (farmers) rebellion against tax
Domestic affairs
Identify Problems and Solutions faced by our new nation
Problem SolutionNumber or justices and
how much power Courts Federal Judiciary
Acts
President’s need for
aid and advicePolitics Cabinet
Appointments
Source of income, war debts, manage money
Economics Tariffs, Pay War Debt, National Bank
As settlers move west,
they clash
With Native Americans
Relations with
Native AmericansTreaty of Greenville
Domestic (farmers) rebellion against tax
Domestic affairs Armed troops sent to crush the rebellion
Meanwhile, events in Europe gave
Washington a different kind of challenge.
Identify Problems and Solutions faced by our new nation Problem Solution
Number or justices and how much power
Courts Federal Judiciary Acts
President’s need for
aid and advicePolitics Cabinet Appointments
Source of income, war debts, manage money
Economics Tariffs, Pay War Debt, National Bank
As settlers move west,
they clash
With Native Americans
Relations with
Native AmericansTreaty of Greenville
Domestic (farmers) rebellion against tax
Domestic affairs Armed troops sent to crush the rebellion
Foreign affairs
Foreign AffairsForeign Affairs Inspired by the American Revolution, the French
people rebelled against their government. At first, Americans supported the French
Revolution. By 1792, however, the revolution had become
very violent. Thousands of French citizens were massacred and Louis XVI, the king of France, was executed (guillotine).
Foreign AffairsForeign Affairs
Other European monarchs believed the revolution threatened their own thrones.
France soon declared war on Britain, Holland, and Spain.
The war between France and Britain put the United States in an awkward position.
France had been America’s ally in the Revolution against the British.
Identify Problems and Solutions faced by our new nation Problem Solution
Number or justices and how much power
Courts Federal Judiciary Acts
President’s need for
aid and advicePolitics Cabinet Appointments
Source of income, war debts, manage money
Economics Tariffs, Pay War Debt, National Bank
As settlers move west,
they clash
With Native Americans
Relations with
Native AmericansTreaty of Greenville
Domestic (farmers) rebellion against tax
Domestic affairs Armed troops sent to crush the rebellion
Entanglement in other countries affairs
Foreign affairs
Who to side with? President Who to side with? President Washington makes a decision: Washington makes a decision:
The U. S. declared it would remain neutral. It would not help, aid, or get involved with other countries or other countries’ problems.
Identify Problems and Solutions faced by our new nation Problem Solution
Number or justices and how much power
Courts Federal Judiciary Acts
President’s need for
aid and advicePolitics Cabinet Appointments
Source of income, war debts, manage money
Economics Tariffs, Pay War Debt, National Bank
As settlers move west,
they clash
With Native Americans
Relations with
Native AmericansTreaty of Greenville
Domestic (farmers) rebellion against tax
Domestic affairs Armed troops sent to crush the rebellion
Entanglement in other countries affairs
Foreign affairs Doctrine of Neutrality
These are just some of the challenges that the first President of the first nation of it’s kind faced.
In your opinion, how did he do?
Over 200 years later, our country must still make tough decisions.
In your opinion, would President Washington, and the other founding fathers, be proud of what this country has become?
What changes, if any, do you believe they would make?
Notable Events during Notable Events during Washington’s Adminstration: Washington’s Adminstration:
1789 1789 TThe Judiciary Act specified the he Judiciary Act specified the number of Federal courts and number of Federal courts and judges. judges.
1790 1790 Supreme Court met for the first Supreme Court met for the first time time with John Jay as the Chief with John Jay as the Chief Justice. Justice.
1791 1791 Federal capital established in Federal capital established in swamplands on the Potomac. swamplands on the Potomac.
A national banking system A national banking system established by the Bank Act. established by the Bank Act.
The The Bill of RightsBill of Rights take effect. take effect.
1792 1792 Post Office established by Post Office established by Congress Congress as a separate entity. as a separate entity.
New York Stock Exchange organized. New York Stock Exchange organized. Coins are minted by the government as Coins are minted by the government as
enacted by the enacted by the Coinage ActCoinage Act. . 1793 W1793 War breaks out between Britain and ar breaks out between Britain and
France. France. On April 22, On April 22, U.S. declares neutralityU.S. declares neutrality. .
1794 1794 Whiskey RebellionWhiskey Rebellion over excise over excise tax in tax in western Pennsylvania. western Pennsylvania. Federal troops called to suppress the Federal troops called to suppress the armed rebellion.armed rebellion.
1795 1795 The The Jay TreatyJay Treaty ratified. British troops ratified. British troops required to withdraw from the U.S. required to withdraw from the U.S.
1796 1796 Washington delivered his Washington delivered his Farewell AddressFarewell Address. .