The Administration of George Washington. Election of 1789 Only President unanimously elected Only President unanimously elected Vice President John Adams.

The Administration of The Administration of George WashingtonGeorge Washington

Election of 1789Election of 1789• Only Only

President President unanimously unanimously

electedelected• Vice Vice

President President John AdamsJohn Adams

Foresight in going firstForesight in going first"As the first of every thing, in our "As the first of every thing, in our

situation will serve to establish a situation will serve to establish a Precedent, it is devoutly wished on my Precedent, it is devoutly wished on my

part, that these precedents may be part, that these precedents may be fixed on true principles.”fixed on true principles.”

- from a letter written to James Madison from a letter written to James Madison

Created a cabinet (power not mentioned in Constitution)

left to right, President Washington, Secretary of War Henry Knox, Secretary of the Treasury

Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, and Attorney General Edmund

Randolph

Thomas JeffersonSecretary of State

Alexander HamiltonSecretary of Treasury

Henry KnoxSecretary of War

Edmund RandolphAttorney General

Whiskey RebellionWhiskey Rebellion• Pennsylvania

1791-1794

• Why?

- 1791 tax on distilled spirits and carriages

- farmers opposed tax as discriminatory

• harassed tax collectors• grew to an armed rebellion

George George WashingtoWashingtonn

• Under command of Washington himself a militia put down the uprising

• Demonstrated how rebels would be dealt with

• Protest through the law!

Neutrality ActNeutrality Act• War between Great Britain and FranceWar between Great Britain and France• Which side did US take?Which side did US take?

- France wants a Franco-American - France wants a Franco-American AllianceAlliance

• Neutrality Proclamation issued on April 22, Neutrality Proclamation issued on April 22, 1793 1793

- By Washington- By Washington- US would be "friendly and impartial" - US would be "friendly and impartial"

• Jefferson resigned at the end of 1793Jefferson resigned at the end of 1793• Congress passed the Neutrality Act of 1794 Congress passed the Neutrality Act of 1794

- based off Washington’s ideas- based off Washington’s ideas

Jay’s Jay’s TreatyTreaty

• The problem The problem between GB and USbetween GB and US- seizure of cargo - seizure of cargo from US shipsfrom US ships

unrelated to warunrelated to war- impressment of US - impressment of US sailors sailors - Brits continued - Brits continued occupation of western occupation of western posts w/in U.S. posts w/in U.S. bordersborders

• Chief Justice John Chief Justice John Jay sent to seek a Jay sent to seek a solutionsolution

Jay’s TreatyJay’s Treaty• Britain agreed to Britain agreed to

vacate 6 western vacate 6 western fortsforts

• Most favored Most favored nation trading nation trading status goes to …status goes to …BritainBritain

• Avoided War!!!Avoided War!!!• Did not address Did not address

impressment of impressment of menmen– unresolved issue unresolved issue

(1812)(1812)

Reaction to Reaction to TreatyTreaty

• Washington supported Washington supported itit

• Treaty was signedTreaty was signed

• Viewed as “A Pact Viewed as “A Pact with the British Devil”with the British Devil”

• Jay resigned from Jay resigned from Supreme CourtSupreme Court

Pinckney’s Pinckney’s TreatyTreaty

• Opened up Miss. Opened up Miss. River to American River to American navigation navigation

• Allowed western Allowed western settlers the "right to settlers the "right to deposit" their exports deposit" their exports in New Orleans in New Orleans – engaged in commercial engaged in commercial

transactions within transactions within that city that city

• Spain officially Spain officially recognized the recognized the southern and western southern and western boundaries of the boundaries of the U.S. as the 31st U.S. as the 31st parallel and the Miss. parallel and the Miss. River River - Mississippi and - Mississippi and Alabama accessAlabama access

GW retired after two GW retired after two termsterms - moved back to Mt. - moved back to Mt. VernonVernon

Farewell Farewell AddressAddress

• Warned of two Warned of two important ideas:important ideas:

1. The US should 1. The US should avoid entangling avoid entangling alliancesalliances

2. The US should 2. The US should avoid forming avoid forming political partiespolitical parties

“It serves to distract the Public Councils, and enfeeble the Public Administration....agitates the Community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one....against another....it opens the door to foreign influence and corruption...thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another."

"It is our true policy to "It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent steer clear of permanent alliances with any alliances with any portion of the foreign portion of the foreign world..." world..."

Precedents set by Precedents set by WashingtonWashington• Established the CabinetEstablished the Cabinet

• Supported innovative fiscal concepts Supported innovative fiscal concepts such as the Bank of the US and a such as the Bank of the US and a national debtnational debt

• Introduced a policy of neutrality Introduced a policy of neutrality pertaining to foreign warspertaining to foreign wars

• Two-term limitTwo-term limit• Established relations with Great Britain Established relations with Great Britain

with Jay’s Treatywith Jay’s Treaty• Established the tradition of a Established the tradition of a

Presidential Farewell Address as well Presidential Farewell Address as well as an inaugural addressas an inaugural address

George Washington finished his second term as the first George Washington finished his second term as the first President of the United States in 1797. He died on December 14, President of the United States in 1797. He died on December 14,

1799 at age 671799 at age 67

First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen, he was second to

none in humble and enduring scenes of private life. Pious, just, humane, temperate,

and sincere; uniform, dignified, and commanding; his example was as edifying

to all around him as were the effects of that example lasting…Correct throughout, vice

shuddered in his presence and virtue always felt his fostering hand. The purity of his private character gave effulgence to his

public virtues…Such was the man for whom our nation mourns.

Henry Lee