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LEARNING OBJECTIVES:We will learn about the precedents (firsts/examples) that George Washington made as President.We will learn about Secretary of Treasury, Alexander Hamilton's, economic plan for America. We will learn about the Whiskey Rebellion and how George Washington responded to rioting in the new country.LANGUAGE OBJECTIVES: We will read, discuss, see visuals, answer questions, and write about the Presidency of George Washington.

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George Washington made it clear by his choice of title that the “President of the United States” would not be a king or royalty like in Europe, but a citizen of the new nation.

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Washington’s First Steps

Washington’s inauguration took

place at Federal Hall in New York City which

was the nation’s capitol at that time.

On April 30,1789, George Washington was sworn in as

the first President of the United States.

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pg.278Washington’s First Steps

President Washington set a precedent of giving a speech after his inauguration. Every president since has given a speech telling how they are going to start leading the country. This was just one of many “firsts” the president would make that other presidents have followed.

“There is scarcely any part of my conductwhich may not hereafter be drawn into

precedent.”

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George Washington set another precedent by asking Congress to create executive departments to help him run the government. They became known as the President’s Cabinet.

Washington chose well-known leaders to advice him about how to run the country. He chose Thomas Jefferson to be Secretary of State to help with foreign policy and Alexander Hamilton to be Secretary of the Treasury to help with the economy.

Thomas Jefferson Alexander Hamilton

The First Cabinet

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The Constitution did not tell how many Federal Courts there would be, so Congress had to create the court system by passing the Judiciary Act of 1789 which set up a Supreme Court with 6 members, federal district courts, and circuit courts (like Appeals courts today).

The Federal Court System

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The Federal Court System

John Jay became the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Here he can be seen in his judge’s robes.

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Washington Takes OfficeChapter 9

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pg.280Reducing the Nation’s Debt

As you recall, the United States was still deep in debt from the Revolutionary War. The U.S. owed foreign countries, citizens, and soldiers money that they borrowed to fight and win the war.

Most of the money was borrowed by selling savings bonds. A bond is a promise by the government to repay the money a citizen loaned the government plus a certain amount of interest on a certain date in the future.

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pg.280Hamilton’s Plan

The problem Alexander Hamilton faced was that the U.S. was bringing in very little money and owed a lot of money back to people for the bonds they bought.

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Alexander Hamilton - Secretary of the Treasury

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Alexander Hamilton

Hamilton’s plan was to buy back or pay off the old bonds by giving people new bonds (worth more money in the future). This would give the government time to earn money and time for the economy to improve so they could pay off the new bonds.

OLD Bond

NEW bond

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Debating Hamilton’s Plan

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Hamilton wants:

1. To pay off old bonds and debts immediately by issuing (selling) new bonds.

2. To pay off state’s debts from the federal (national) tax money.

Madison’s complaints:

1. Speculators were buying up old bonds and might make lots of money instead of the people who were given the bonds.2. Southern States have already paid off most of their debt, so it’s not fair to use their tax money to pay off northern debts.

Balancing the Budget

Reducing the National Debt

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Pierre L’Enfant’s early plan for the city of Washington

D.C.

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+ + =

Hamilton’s plan was to create a Bank of the United States (even though it isn’t in the Constitution) which could loan money to farmers and businesses, put protective tariffs on many goods coming to America to help American businesses, and put a tax on whiskey. All of these things should put money in the treasury.

Hamilton’s Plan

Bank of U.S. for loans Tariff on imports Tax on Whiskey

Out of DEBT

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Many farmers who turned their corn into whiskey hated the new tax on liquor which cut into their profits. In Pennsylvania, the farmers started a rebellion against the tax.

Tarred and feathered tax collector

The Whiskey Rebellion

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pg.282The Whiskey Rebellion

President Washington inspecting the troops who

stopped the Whiskey Rebellion

George Washington used a show of strength having troops quickly respond to the rebellion, showing the country that their new government was strong enough to rule a nation.