Washington Leads a New Nation

Main Ideas• In 1789 George Washington became

the first president of the United States.• Congress and the president organized

the executive and judicial branches of government.

• Americans had high expectations of their new government.

The First President• An honest man and

a Revolutionary War hero. – many wanted him to be president

The First President• Electors from the 11

states that had passed the Constitution met in January 1789 to vote.• electoral college: • a body of electors who

represent the people’s vote in choosing the president.

• Washington • President

• John Adams • Vice President.

The First President• First Lady • Martha

Washington • entertained at social

events

Women in the New NationSome believed that women should play a greater role in the new nation than Martha Washington did.

Others believed that women played an important role just by teaching their children to be good citizens.

Most women in the early republic managed their households and worked hard inside or outside the home to support their families.

Some hoped that more women would receive an education, because few families provided much education for their daughters.

Organizing the Government

• The new federal government had to create polices and procedures that would determine the future of the country.

• President Washington – “The first of everything in our situation will serve to establish a precedent”

• A Precedent is an action or decision that will later serve as example of what to do.

Organizing the Government

• Executive Branch• The First Congress

created the executive departments

• Washington’s cabinet served as his advisers

• Alexander Hamilton – Secretary of the Treasure

• Thomas Jefferson - Secretary of State

Organizing the Government

• Judicial Branch • Congress passed the

Judiciary Act of 1789• set up the federal court

system• Three levels of federal

courts & defined powers• Set up federal district courts

and circuit courts of appeal• President nominated federal

judges.

America’s Expectations for the Nation

• U.S. Population in 1790• 4 million

• Most were farmers• Wanted fair tax laws• The right to settle western lands

• Merchants, laborers, and craftspeople• Wanted help with their

businesses• The First Capital

• New York City• Trade center and economic hub• Population 33,000 and growing

Rural 95%

Hamilton and

National

Finances

Who is Mr. Hamilton?• A very smart man with

a head for economics (money)

• A founding father of our nation

• Served as Washington’s aide.

• The first Secretary of the Treasury.

Your Thoughts

• What issues do you think were facing our leaders at this time? What did they have to do that had never been done before?

• 2 minutes – in you notes write down two issues facing our leaders.

State of the Union -Financially

• National debt• Money owed by the national government due

to the Revolutionary War.• Approximately $64 million (owed to foreign

governments and the states).

• States’ debt• $25 million due to Revolutionary War

expenses.

What is Debt, and What did Hamilton want to do with it?

• An obligation or liability to pay or render something (money) to someone else.

• Hamilton’s plan – Part 1 – pay off all debt• Repay all of the foreign debt immediately• Repay the total value of all outstanding bonds gradually

– This was a problem!• Repay $21.5 million of the $25 million of the states’

debt. Hamilton felt that having the federal government pay off the states’ debt would help the states have more money available to develop commerce in the state – Another problem!!

Solution to Part 1 of Hamilton’s PlanA Compromise

• Hamilton’s bargain:• To get Jefferson and Madison to agree to help get

Southern state support for Hamilton’s debt plan, Hamilton agreed to convince the northern members of Congress to move the national capital out of New York.

• IT WORKED – A NEW NATIONAL CAPITAL

A New CapitalWashington D.C.

Where are we now – 2015?

• http://www.nationaldebtclocks.org/debtclock/unitedstates

What was Hamilton’s plan for the U.S. debt?

Hamilton and JeffersonPart 2

Hamilton’s Views• Believed in a strong central

government• Wanted a balance of power

between the “mass of people” and wealthier citizens

• Wanted to promote manufacturing and business

• Wanted higher tariffs on foreign goods to protect American manufacturers

Jefferson’s Views• Wanted to protect the

states’ power• Believed in the right of

“the people” to rule the country

• Supported agriculture and farmers

• Wanted lower tariffs to keep costs low for goods farmers bought

Hamilton ,Jefferson andA National Bank – Part 3

• Hamilton favored a national bank • The government could safely deposit its money• Loans could be made to the government and

businesses.• He also favored a national mint – so the

government could coin its own money.

• Jefferson felt that a national bank would give too much power to the central government.• He believed that the Constitution did not allow

for the creation of a national bank.

Hamilton ,Jefferson andA National Bank

• New government in action - Debate over the interpretation of the Constitution and the “Elastic Clause”• Hamilton and Loose Construction

• Believed the federal government could take reasonable actions the Constitution did not specifically forbid – “Necessary and Proper”

• Jefferson and Strict Construction• Believed the federal government should only do

what the Constitution specifically says it can do.

Hamilton and Jefferson

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=notJuFGXQ9w

Your Thoughts

• How does what Hamilton says differ from what we discussed yesterday about paying off all debt?• Control of the debt? Controlling what we owe

and to whom??

• What precedent does Washington set by excluding Adams from the cabinet meeting? Is it still the same today?

Hamilton Prevails• The President

and Congress agree with Hamilton and the Bank of the United States is established