APUSH - Washington & Adams Presidency

What happened in the Election of 1800, and how was the winner decided?

Adams won the popular vote but lost the electoral vote; Jefferson and Burr tied, and the House of Representatives chose Jefferson as president.

When did George Washington serve as president, how was he elected in 1789, and who became Vice President?

He served from 1789–1797, was unanimously elected by the Electoral College, and John Adams became Vice President.

What oath did George Washington take when sworn in as president?

He swore to faithfully execute the office and preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.

What title did George Washington choose for the president, what was the original proposed title, and how was the president meant to be greeted?

He chose “Mr. President” instead of “His High Mightiness, the President of the United States and Protector of their Liberties,” and people were expected to stand when he entered and shake hands with no hugging.

What major problems did George Washington inherit when he became president?

The nation had huge war debt, lacked a permanent capital, and had very few federal officers besides Washington, Adams, Hamilton, and Congress.

What was George Washington’s cabinet, and why did he create it?

It was a group of federal officials who headed major executive departments to help run the government.

Who was Washington’s Secretary of State, what were his responsibilities, and why was he chosen?

Thomas Jefferson handled foreign relations and was chosen because of his experience as an ambassador to France.

Who was Washington’s Secretary of the Treasury, what party did he belong to, and what was his role?

Alexander Hamilton, a Federalist, managed financial and monetary matters for the United States.

Who was Alexander Hamilton’s major political rival?

Thomas Jefferson.

What did the Judiciary Act of 1789 do to the federal court system?

It organized the Supreme Court with one Chief Justice and five associate justices, created 13 circuit courts, and set up three courts of appeal.

What was Hamilton’s debt assumption plan, how much debt did it involve, and why did he support it?

The federal government assumed state Revolutionary War debts totaling $75 million to give creditors a stake in the nation’s success.

Who had loaned money to the government during the Revolutionary War, and what long-term result did Hamilton’s plan create?

Private individuals loaned money, and the plan created a national debt.

How did Alexander Hamilton raise money for the federal government?

He created tariffs on imported goods and placed a tax on distilled liquor, especially whiskey.

Why was whiskey important to western farmers?

It was one of the only ways surplus corn could be turned into a product that could be transported without spoiling.

How did the government repay its loans under Hamilton’s plan?

Slowly and with interest.

When was the Bank of the United States created, what was its purpose, and who was the primary shareholder?

It was established in 1791 to deposit federal funds and issue stable currency, with the U.S. government as the primary shareholder.

What economic idea did Congress refuse to approve from Hamilton?

Direct subsidies to manufacturers.

What were Jefferson’s and Hamilton’s opposing arguments over the national bank?

Jefferson supported strict construction and argued the bank was not mentioned in the Constitution, while Hamilton supported loose construction using the “necessary and proper” clause.

Who participated in the Compromise of 1790, and what did it accomplish?

Hamilton, Jefferson, and Madison agreed on federal debt assumption and the creation of a new national capital.

Where was the U.S. capital located from 1789 to 1800?

New York City during Washington’s first year, Philadelphia for ten years, and Washington, D.C. in 1800.

What did the Funding Act of 1790 do?

It allowed the federal government to assume state debts from the American Revolution.

When was George Washington re-elected president, and what major foreign event affected his presidency?

He was re-elected in 1792, and the French Revolution influenced U.S. politics.

How did Federalists and Jeffersonian-Republicans differ on the French Revolution?

Federalists opposed it, while Jeffersonian-Republicans supported it as an extension of the American Revolution.

What foreign policy did Washington declare regarding France and Britain?

Neutrality, meaning the US did not take part in either side of the war.

What was Jay’s Treaty, who negotiated it, and why did it anger many Americans?

Jay’s Treaty (1794), negotiated by John Jay, avoided war with Britain but angered pro-French Americans because it failed to address impressment.

What did Britain agree to and refuse in Jay’s Treaty?

Britain agreed to leave western forts but refused to address impressment.

What was the Pinckney Treaty, and what did it give the United States?

A 1795 treaty with Spain granting free navigation and trade on the Mississippi River and New Orleans and establishing Florida’s northern border.

What was the Treaty of Greenville, who was involved, and what land was surrendered?

A 1795 treaty with the Northwest Confederation (Shawnee, Delaware, and Iroquois) after the Battle of Fallen Timbers, surrendering claims to the Ohio Territory.

What caused the Whiskey Rebellion, how did Washington respond, and what was the outcome?

Western Pennsylvania farmers refused to pay the whiskey tax; Washington assembled a large army, and the rebellion dissolved quickly.

What message did the Whiskey Rebellion send to the nation and the world?

It showed the U.S. government would enforce its laws, though it angered western farmers.

Why did George Washington refuse to run for a third term, and what precedent did this set?

He stepped down voluntarily, setting the two-term precedent.

Who won the Election of 1796, who became Vice President, and why did this occur?

John Adams won, and Thomas Jefferson became Vice President because the runner-up received the second-highest votes.

What key advice did George Washington give in his Farewell Address?

He warned against permanent alliances, political parties, and sectionalism.

What was the XYZ Affair, when did it occur, and what did France demand?

The XYZ Affair (1797–1798) occurred when France seized U.S. ships and demanded a $250,000 bribe and a $10 million loan

How did Americans react to the XYZ Affair?

They were outraged and returned home.

What powers did the Alien and Sedition Acts give the government?

They allowed arrest and deportation of non-citizens, extended naturalization from 5 to 14 years, and punished criticism of the government.

Why were the Alien and Sedition Acts controversial and not overturned?

They were seen as unconstitutional, but the Supreme Court was Federalist and judicial review had not been established.

Who wrote the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions, and what did they argue?

James Madison and Thomas Jefferson argued that states could judge the constitutionality of federal laws.

Why did John Adams lose support within his own party?

He made peace with France and supported unpopular laws that seemed unnecessary once the war threat faded.

What happened in the Election of 1800, and how was the winner decided?

Adams won the popular vote but lost the electoral vote; Jefferson and Burr tied, and the House of Representatives chose Jefferson as president.