2D Notes - Washington's Presidency And His Cabinet

Summary

After the ratification of the Constitution in 1789, George Washington became the first president. It established a cabinet with key figures like Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, representing opposing political ideologies. Jefferson championed states' rights and a strict interpretation of the Constitution, while Hamilton advocated for a strong central government and a national bank. Tensions arose during John Adams’ presidency, leading to the Alien and Sedition Acts and the landmark Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison, which established judicial review. Washington's farewell address warned against foreign alliances and the divisive nature of political parties, setting important precedents for future governance.

Notes

When the Constitution was ratified in 1789, George Washington was unanimously voted in as 1st president
Washington first focused on domestic issues
congress created treasury, state, war, and justice departments
Washington created the first cabinet
- Henry Knox - Secretary of War
- Edmund Randolf - attorney general
- Thomas Jefferson - Secretary of State
  - Believed in power to the states, farming economy, and a strict constitution
  - argued the Bank Of the United States was Unconstitutional
  - Formed the Republicans (Democratic-Republicans)
  - Supported France
- Alexander Hamilton - Secretary of Treasury
  - Believed in a strong central government, industrial economy, and a loose constitution
  - Argued the Bank of the United States was necessary to repay debts
  - Formed the Federalists
  - Supported England
Hamilton proposed a national bank to help repay debt
The USA Would gain national credit by repaying debt
Hamilton proposed a tax on whiskey and created a tariff on foreign goods
Washington’s farewell address gave many warnings
Washington believed that if he died during a term presidents would serve for life so he made a 2 term limit
Washington believed that the US Should Not:
- The US Should not make foreign alliances
- Political Parties would create tensions between the states
The First real campaign was in 1796
John Adams became president
France was frustrated by the neutrality of the US and seized ships
3 french officials prevented US officials from meeting the French government to discuss gov. tried to bribe US officials
Alien and Sedation Acts made criticizing the gov illegal and all immigrants lost citizenship
Kentucky and Virginia resolution deemed that the Alein and Sedation Acts were unconstitutional
Federalists did not want to see their policies destroyed by Jefferson and the democratic republicans
President Adams appointed numerous federalists to become judges (“Midnight Judges”)
Jefferson opposed these and ordered James Madison to deny some of these appointments
William Marbury sued Masion when he was deprived of his position
Marbury v Madison (1803) was one of the most important Supreme Court cases in US History
The Supreme Court ruled that President Jefferson’s decision to deny Marbury did not violate the Judiciary Act or the constitution
The Marbury v. Madison case established the principle of judicial review giving the Supreme Court the power to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional
over 3 decades, Marshall’s ruling helped strengthen the power of the national government over the states and protected the rights of citizens