Washington’s Presidency

Chapter 9

Washington’s Presidency

• George Washington inaugurated on April 30, 1789.

• John Adams was his vice-president

Federal Judiciary Act• Constitution left it up to

Congress on how many Supreme Court Justices to have.

• 1789 – Congress passed the Federal Judiciary Act– Gave Supreme Court 1

chief justice, 5 associate justices (8 associates as of today)

– Provided for other lower, less powerful federal courts.

– John Jay was appointed chief justice.

Why does a president have a cabinet?

President of the United States

• Then…– George Washington

• Now…– Barrack Obama

Presidential CabinetSecretary of the Treasury

• Then…– Alexander Hamilton

• Now…– Timothy Geithner

Presidential CabinetSecretary of War

• Then…– Henry Knox

• Now…• Secretary of Defense

– Leon Panetta

Presidential CabinetAttorney General

• Then…– Edmund Randolph

• Now…– Eric Holder

Presidential CabinetSecretary of State

• Then…– Thomas Jefferson

• Now…– Hillary Clinton

Alexander Hamilton – Secretary of the Treasury

• Faced the task of fixing the new nation’s economy (US was $52 million in debt).

• Wanted to prove to other countries that the US was economically responsible.

• Came up with a financial plan to reflect his belief in a strong central government.– Paying off war debts– Raising government

revenue– Creating a National Bank

Alexander Hamilton – Secretary of the Treasury

• Paying off war debts…– Southern States

agreed to help pay off Northern States debts, and in return the nation’s capital was placed in the South.

Alexander Hamilton – Secretary of the Treasury

• Raising government revenues…– Called for tariffs on

imported goods• Taxed foreign goods,

such as shoes and textiles

• Insured steady flow of $$ to the government

• Encouraged people to buy American goods…

Alexander Hamilton – Secretary of the Treasury

• Creating a National Bank…– Give government a

safe place to keep money

– Make loans to business and government

– Issue bank notes• paper $$ that could

be used as currency

Interpreting the Constitution

• Hamilton’s plan would strengthen the gov’t.– Started a debate over how

to interpret the Constitution

– Jefferson and Madison believed Constitution discouraged big government

– Believed in strict interpretation of Constitution

– Hamilton pointed to Elastic Clause in Constitution, stating bank was “necessary and proper”…

– Jefferson and Hamilton defended their positions to Washington….

But Washington had other challenges at home and

abroad….

To Be Continued….