george washington as president Flashcards
elections
1789 - george washington wins election
1792 - washington wins again after being convinced to run again
1796 - john adams wins after washington steps down
1800 - thomas jefferson beats john adams and is elected president
problems facing the new government
the usa was far from united
rhode island and north carolina are still not in the union
the nation had an untried constitution
burdened with colossal debt and had almost no revenue of machinery for collecting money
no judiciary department existed
no army, and navy consisted of 672 men
western borders open to native american attack
british and spanish troops still occupied national territory
advantages for the new government
post war depression was over and the economy was expanding
there was widespread support for the government and anti federalists accepted the popular verdict and agreed to participate in the new political system in good faith
first federal congress - judiciary act
established a hierarchal system of federal courts
supreme court at the top, consisting of a chief justice and 5 associate justices
beneath it, there were district courts in each state and 3 circuit courts of appeal
by creating an entire apparatus, the judiciary act ensured that federal laws and rights would be adjudicated uniformly throughout the nation
the act also provided that the supreme court should rule on the constitutionality of the state courts decision and nullify state laws which violated the constitution
washington selected 6 members of the supreme court, 3 from the north and 3 from the south, and named john jay first chief justice
first federal congress - bill of rights
madison made the adoption of a bill of rights one of the first items of business
the house of representatives adopted 17 amendments, the senate adopted 12 and the states ratified 10
went far towards reconciling anti federalists to the constitution. 9 of the amendments were concerned with the rights of the individual. they guaranteed freedom of speech, religion assembly and press, the right to petition and bear arms, and immunity against arbitrary search warrants
they also prohibited excessive bail, cruel and unusual punishments and the quartering of troops in private houses
10th amendment - reserved to the states all powers except those specifically delegated to the federal government
first federal congress - raising revenue
there was to be a trade duty of 5% on most items
7.5% of certain listed items
50% on 30 specific items such as steel, nails, hemp, indigo, salts and tobacco to protect american trade
tonnage act 1789 - american ships should pay a duty of 6 cents per ton. american built but overseas owned ships 30 cents and overseas built and owned ships 50 cents
washington as president
showed no desire to become a military dictator
every week, he held an open house reception which struck a middle not between court formality and republican simplicity
visiting boston, washington declined to visit john hancock, until hancock paid a call on him, making the point that a president took precedence over a mere governor
congress spent a month discussing a proper title for the president. john adams favoured a high sounding designation such as ‘his elective majesty’ and ‘his mightiness’
the relationship between president and congress
constitutional convention intended that senate should function as the president’s advisory council
thus, the constitution had provided that the president was to appoint high officials and make treaties ‘by and with the advice and consent of the senate’
when washington appeared before the senate in august 1789 to see advice about a number of draft native american treaties, some senators refused to discuss the matter in his presence and the debate became a shouting match
senate insisted on independence
the federal civil service
washington inherited only a shadow of bureaucracy from the confederation - a foreigh office with john jay and 2 clerks, a treasury bond with little treasury and a secretary of war with a very small army and no navy
new bodies were clearly needed
the state, treasury, and war departments were established in autumn 1789, along with offices of attorney general and postmaster general
washington was determined that the heads of the executive department should be responsible to him alone
washington’s cabinet
selected department based on merit, service and geography
alexander hamilton - wartime aide de camp, organised bank of new york
thomas jefferson - secretary of state
henry knox - secretary of war
edmund randolph - attorney general
washington routinely called these men to sit as a group for discussion
could appoint/ dismiss advisors with the approval of congress
madison’s role in the first congress
wrote most of the inaugural address
drafted bill of rights
introduced first revenue bill
made sure departments only answered to the president
significance of washington
invested office with real dignity
allayed fears, showed no desire to become a military dictator
created a robust effective executive
chose cabinet advisors widely
significance of madison
drafted bill of rights
close advisor to washington
introduced first revenue bill
helped washington set up an executive
