George Washington 1789-1797

•Chosen unanimously as 1st President•John Adams VP•Inaugurated in New York 4/30/1789•Thomas Jefferson – Sec. of State•Alexander Hamilton – Sec. of Treasury

Hamilton’s Economic Plan

• Tax on Liquor

• Protective Tariff on imports

• Funding the Debt

• Assumption

- Compromise?

• National Bank

- What Constitutional issues?

Alexander Hamilton

2nd Term Signs of a Struggle• The Whiskey Rebellion 1794

– Taxes on Whiskey led to rebellion in

Western PA.– Feds sent 13,000 troops to put it down– Reactions?

Edmund “Citizen” Genet*Washington’s Proclamation of Neutrality in1793 when England and France go to war

Jay’s TreatySent to Britain to end Impressment and harassment at seaOnly able to secure a deal on US control of NW

First Two Party System

• Federalists – strong central government, economy based on manufacturing and trade, popular in Northeast

• Democratic-Republicans– strong State government, individual rights, and rural farming economy, popular in South and Frontier.

Washington’s FarewellWarned against:

1. Political Parties

2. Permanent Alliances & Foreign Influence

2nd President: John Adams1797-1801

• What were his strengths and weaknesses as a politician?

• Why was he an unpopular President?

• Rival T. Jefferson – his Vice-President

XYZ Affair (1797) & “Quasi War” with France

Alien & Sedition Acts• Allows arrest and deportation of foreigners & arrest for

criticism of the government • Heated controversy explodes on floor of the House of RepsMatthew Lyon (Republican) vs. Roger Griswold (Federalist)

Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions

• Jefferson (Kentucky) and Madison (Virginia)• States had right to “Nullify” laws of the

federal government that exceeds their power.• Nullification issue will continue to be

controversial throughout American history