George Washington – Precedent of Presidents

A Coach Odom Production

Question to consider:

A question of leadership: Is it more important to have a leader of average ability, but who is popular and well-respected among his peers, or to have a leader who may not be very popular or as well-liked, but is far more capable of doing the job?

George Washington:

●General in charge of American Army during Revolution.

●Extremely popular during and after the war.

●Well-respected for his bravery, physical presence, manners, and sense of duty.

●First and only unanimous choice as the first President.

Precedent:

●something done or said that may serve as an example.

●Washington and everyone around him was well-aware that he was setting an example for future presidents to follow, he was a

"precedent for Presidents."

Washington’s Precedent-cy

●Chose a group of advisors (called a ________) to help him run the country.

●Washington chose Secretaries of State, ______, ________, an _________ General and a _______ General.

●Today, presidents choose many more Secretaries, but the “original five" remain.

The Cabinet

●Washington chose secretaries that were both Federalists (Alexander Hamilton – Treasury) and Anti-Federalists (Thomas Jefferson – State).

● In recent years, Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama have also appointed cabinet members from both parties.

Washington’s most important precedent:

●He did not run for a third term.●Washington’s tradition of a two-term limit

on the presidency was observed until 1940.

● In 1951, the 22nd Amendment was ratified, legally limiting the president to 2 four-year terms (8 years). Washington’s precedent became law.

Another "First"

During Washington's time in office, the two-party system was born. Federalists - The original supporters of the Constitution. Favored a strong central government, manufacturing and trade interests, and a loose interpretation of the Constitution. Democratic-Republicans - The old Anti-Federalists. Favored strong state governments, farming and agricultural interests, and a strict interpretation of the Constitution. Traditionally, the U.S. has maintained a strictly "two-party" system. Most "third parties" are dissatisfied members of one of the two major parties and are eventually re-absorbed into the old party, or go to the other side.

Federalist - Alexander Hamilton

-First Secretary of Treasury -Believed in a strong central government with a professional army. -Created the U.S. Mint and established monetary demoniations. Is considered the Father of the American Economic System -Created the U.S. Coast Guard to collect duties and tariffs.

Hamilton and the National Debt

Hamilton supported government assumption of the national debt, where the U.S. government would take over all of the states' war debts and pay them off with Federal money. In doing this, Hamilton was trying to build up the U.S. government's credit so that other nations would be willing to loan it money. It would also free up the states' money to go towards other projects. This idea was opposed in the South because many Southern states had already paid off most of their debts (because they didn't have to borrow as much as the North did).

Cabinet Member - Thomas JeffersonFirst Secretary of State, Second Vice-President and Third President of the United States Supported strong state governments andan a part-time army of citizen-soldiers (militia) trained by full-time professional officers. Resigned as Sectretary of State in 1793 because of differences with Hamilton over just about everything. Oversaw the creation of the Democratic-Republican Party to oppose the Federalists.