Washington & Adams Administrations (1789-1800)

George Washington's Administration (1789-1796)

First president of the US, elected unanimously in 1789.
Set precedents for future leaders, putting the constitution into practice.
Served two terms, a precedent followed until Franklin Roosevelt.
Established the cabinet: a group of advisors serving as heads of different departments.
- Key cabinet members:
  - Thomas Jefferson: Secretary of State.
  - Alexander Hamilton: Secretary of the Treasury.
  - Henry Knox: Secretary of War.
The Judiciary Act of 1789:
- Organized the Supreme Court with one chief justice (John Jay) and five associate justices.
- Established the lower court system.
Bill Of Rights:
- Added to the Constitution to address concerns of Anti-Federalists.
- Largely written by James Madison.
- Includes the first ten amendments, protecting against government power.
- Examples:
  - First Amendment: Protection of speech, religion, press, and assembly.
  - Fourth Amendment: Prevents unreasonable searches and seizures without probable cause.

Developed by Alexander Hamilton to pay off debt and develop American manufacturing.
Aimed to stabilize the economy.
Part 1: Report on Public Credit:
- Federal government would pay off national debt at face value.
- Federal government would assume war debts of individual states (Assumption Plan).
- Controversial due to concerns about speculators profiting.
- Compromise: Plan accepted, and the capital moved to Washington D.C.
Part 2: Report on Manufacturers:
- Advocated for higher tariffs (tax on imports) to protect infant industries from foreign competition.
- Supported excise taxes (tax on specific goods like whiskey) to raise revenue.
- Controversial, especially in the South and West, as tariffs made goods more expensive.
Part 3: National Bank:
- Established a national bank run by the US government to create a stable economy and currency.
- The bank would deposit government funds and print money.
- Debate over the bank's constitutionality led to the development of different interpretations of the Constitution.
  - Jefferson: strict interpretation i.e. government can only do what Constitution specifically allows
  - Hamilton: loose interpretation i.e. government can do what Constitution does not forbid, using the elastic clause (necessary and proper clause).

Farmers in Western Pennsylvania refused to pay the excise tax on whiskey, part of Hamilton's plan.
Washington sent 15,000 troops to stop the rebellion, demonstrating the power of the federal government.
Critics like Jefferson saw this as the government crushing the liberty of the people.

French Revolution:
- Divided America.
- France asked The US for help in defending its territories.
- Federalists concerned about the violence and wanted to avoid war with England.
- Jeffersonian Republicans felt The US should help France, seeing it as an extension of their own fight for liberty.
- Washington issued the Proclamation of Neutrality in 1793 to keep The US out of the European war.
- Neutrality was tested when French minister Edmond Genet tried to garner US support for France.
Issues with England and Spain:
- England continued impressment of American sailors and occupied forts in the Northwestern territory.
- Spain blocked American access to the Mississippi River.
Jay's Treaty (1794):
- Negotiated by John Jay to avoid war with England.
- British agreed to leave forts on the frontier but did not address impressment or native issues.
- Unpopular amongst Jeffersonian Republicans but kept The US neutral.
Pinckney's Treaty (1795):
- Spain allowed The US usage of the Mississippi River and the right of deposit at the Port of New Orleans.
- Established the northern boundary of Florida at the 31st parallel.

Native American land continued to be encroached upon by settlers moving west.
Native tribes formed the Northwest Confederacy under Chief Little Turtle.
Battle of Fallen Timbers: Natives defeated by the US Army led by General Anthony Wayne.
Treaty of Greenville (1795): Defeated tribes gave up claims to the Ohio territory.

France's war against European nations was a major problem.
XYZ Affair: French officials demanded a bribe from US diplomats to start negotiations.
- Led to outrage in America and calls for war.
- "Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute."
Quasi-War: Undeclared naval war between The US and France.
Convention of 1800: Dissolved the alliance between The US and France, avoiding a larger war.

Passed by Federalist-controlled Congress to limit the political opposition of the Democratic-Republican Party.
Naturalization Act: Increased the time for immigrants to become citizens from 5 to 14 years.
Alien Act: Gave the president the power to deport or arrest immigrants deemed dangerous.
Sedition Act: Made it illegal to criticize the government.

Opposed the Alien and Sedition Acts, arguing they were unconstitutional.
Kentucky Resolution (written by Thomas Jefferson) and Virginia Resolution (written by James Madison) stated that a state could nullify federal laws they felt were unconstitutional.
Compact Theory: States had made a compact with the national government, and if that compact was violated, they did not have to obey those laws.
The argument of nullification used later by states such as South Carolina in the 1830s and by Southerners when they seceded from the Union.