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 law

Jefferson 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 Factions

Thomas 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?