Washington Administration

When Washington became President  ....

America had:
No Federal Laws
No Way to Enforce Laws
No Federal Treasury
No Judicial Branch

1.  How did Washington Solve these Problems?

     Established a Cabinet
Dept of State  Thomas Jefferson
Dept. of Treasury Alexander Hamilton
Dept. of War  Henry Knox
Postmaster General     Samuel Osgood

2.  Congress Passed the Judiciary Act of 1789
    It established

Supreme Court
1 Chief Justice (John Jay)
5 Justices
13 District Courts
3 Circuit Courts

3.   Hamilton Established a National Bank
(National Debt: $75,624,000)                
  Raised money by:                                
1. Revenue Tariff                                   
  (low tariff on all imported goods)      
2. Protective Tariff                                 
   (high tax on some items)                    
3. Excise Tax                                          
  (tax on Domestic goods)                    


Thomas Jefferson opposed the bank because:
Only rich people could own banks (shares)
What about state banks?
Unconstitutional

This fight caused major problems for Washington. 
It divided the country into those who supported
Hamilton or Jefferson.

The Solution:

Assumption Bill
The South agreed with a National Bank if the capitol was moved from
New York to the Potomac.

Other Domestic Problems:

4. Whiskey Rebellion -- Pennsylvania back country farmers rebelled because of a excise tax placed on the whiskey they make from corn.

Hamilton convinced Washington to take a Army to Pennsylvania to put down the uprising.

This increased the power of the Central Government.

5.  Resignation -- Hamilton & Jefferson


Washingtons Foreign Policy

Only 1 major problem: 
Should America support
The French Revolution?

            Hamilton               Jefferson
  Supported French GovtSupported French People

Citizen Genet -- came to America to get help for France

Washington proclaimed American neutrality and removed Genet

Jays Treaty -- (Unsuccessful) -- signed with Britain
British agreed to get out of Ohio Valley
(should have been gone under Treaty of Paris 1783)
ended up paying for British losses in Revolution

Pinckneys Treaty
(Successful) signed with Spain
Settled boundary dispute over Florida
Stopped provoking Indians
Right of Deposit on Mississippi


Washingtons Farewell Address
Make No Alliances