George Washington's Presidency, 8th Grade SS

Alexander Hamilton's Debt Financing Plan

1789-1795; First Secretary of the Treasury. He advocated creation of a national bank, assumption of state debts by the federal government, and a tariff system to pay off the national debt.

George Washington

1st President of the United States; commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution (1789-1797)

Thomas Jefferson

3rd President of the United States , He was a delegate from Virginia at the Second Continental Congress and wrote the Declaration of Independence. He later served as the third President of the United States.

Assumption

A belief or statement taken for granted without proof.

Proclamation of Neutrality

A formal announcement issued by President George Washington on April 22, 1793, declaring the United States a neutral nation in the conflict between Great Britain and France that had begun with the French Revolution. It threatened legal proceedings against any American providing assistance to warring countries.

The 1st Cabinet

Alexander Hamilton (Treasury), Thomas Jefferson (State), Edmund Randolph (Attorney General), Henry Knox (War)

Loose Construction

Belief that the government can to anything the constitution does not prohibit

Hamiltonians

Federalist Party; (Hamiltonians or Jeffersonians) favored protective tariffs

Judiciary Act of 1789

In 1789 Congress passed this Act which created the federal-court system. The act managed to quiet popular apprehensions by establishing in each state a federal district court that operated according to local procedures.

Whiskey Rebellion

In 1794, farmers in Pennsylvania rebelled against Hamilton's excise tax on whiskey, and several federal officers were killed in the riots caused by their attempts to serve arrest warrants on the offenders. In October, 1794, the army, led by Washington, put down the rebellion. The incident showed that the new government under the Constitution could react swiftly and effectively to such a problem, in contrast to the inability of the government under the Articles of Confederation to deal with Shay's Rebellion.

Washington's Farewell Address

In the 32-page handwritten address, Washington urged Americans to avoid excessive political party spirit and geographical distinctions. In foreign affairs, he warned against long-term alliances with other nations.

Democratic-Republicans

Led by Thomas Jefferson, believed people should have political power, favored strong STATE governments, emphasized agriculture, strict interpretation of the Constitution, pro-French, opposed National Bank

Battle of Fallen Timbers

Native Americans in this 1794 battle lost against American forces led by Revolutionary war hero "Mad Anthony" Wayne; occurred near Ohio River close to modern Toledo...the U.S. Army defeated the Native Americans under Shawnee Chief Blue Jacket and ended Native American hopes of keeping their land that lay north of the Ohio River

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution that were led by Alexander Hamilton and John Adams. They firmly believed the national government should be strong. They didn't want the Bill of Rights because they felt citizens' rights were already well protected by the Constitution.

Impressment

The British practice of taking American sailors from American ships and forcing them into the British navy; a factor in the War of 1812.

James Madison

The fourth President of the United States (1809-1817). A member of the Continental Congress (1780-1783) and the Constitutional Convention (1787).

Beliefs of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison

They took up the cause of strict constructionists and the Republican Party, advocating limited federal government. Jefferson organized the national government by Thomas Jefferson Republican ideals, doubled the size of the nation, and struggled to maintain American neutrality. Madison strongly supported ratification of the Constitution and was a contributor to The Federalist Papers (1787-1788), which argued the effectiveness of the proposed constitution. Favored strict interpretation of the Constitution.

Pinckney's Treaty

Treaty negotiated by Thomas Pinckney in 1794 in which Spain recognized the right of Americans to navigate the Mississippi and use the New Orleans port. Spain also agreed to fix the northern boundary of Florida along the 31st parallel and prevent Indians from launching raids across the border into the U.S.

Jay's Treaty

Was made up by John Jay. It said that Britain was to pay for Americans ships that were seized in 1793. It said that Americans had to pay British merchants debts owed from before the revolution and Britain had agreed to remove their troops from the Ohio Valley.

Alexander Hamilton's Beliefs

national government should take care of debt and assume remaining war debt from states, taxing whiskey, creating a national bank, promoting industry. He had a loose interpretation of the constitution and believed it was good for the nation.

Strict Construction

way of interpreting the Constitution that allows the federal government to take only those actions the Constitution specifically says it can take