George Washington's Presidency

How many executive departments are there today?

15

From this point on we have always had how many major political parties.

2 (They have changed over time, and there are many times a number of smaller parties in existence, but the two-party system has been one of the identifying characteristics of our government.)

In Washington's time how many executive departments were there?

4

What is a political party?

A political party is a group of people who share similar ideas about government.

What is a tariff?

A tax on imported goods.

What kind of government is Alexander Hamilton for?

A very strong national Government.

Was Alexander Hamilton involved with George Washington during the Revolutionary War?

Aid to George Washington during the Revolutionary War.

Who had to develop a plan?

Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of Treasury was forced to develop a plan to solve the nations financial problem.

Who was the Federalist's leader?

Alexander Hamilton was a leader of the Federalists during the early years of Washington's presidency.

Who was the Secretary of Treasury?

Alexander Hamilton.

What else did Hamilton ask Congress to pass?

An excise tax, which is a tax on goods made and sold within the nation. At Hamilton's suggestion, Congress passed a excise tax on all whiskey made and sold in the U.S.

What are political parties thought to be as?

Bad; everybody is supposed to be concerned about the public good.

Many people suspected George Washing would side with who?

Because he had supported Hamilton's financial plan, many people expected him to side with the Federalists.

Did George Washington's caution help to avoid "foreign entanglements" help?

Because of this, the U.S. did not make an alliance with European nation, or become involved in a European war, for over 100 years!

What are Thomas Jefferson's views of the people?

Believes that "The People" are good

Where was Alexander Hamilton born and where is he from?

Born poor in Nevis (island in Caribbean). Lawyer from New York.

What law did Congress pass?

Congress passed a law placing a tax on certain imports, goods brought into the U.S. from other countries. (a tariff)

What are Alexander Hamilton's views of the people?

Distrusts "the people." Thinks that the rich should decide things.

Who was the Attorney General?

Edmund Randolph

What kind of government is Thomas Jefferson for?

Favors "States' Rights." Wants a limited Federal Government. Wants a country of small, independent farmers.

Who does Alexander Hamilton favor?

Favors England.

Who does Thomas Jefferson favor?

Favors France.

No president after Washington ran for a third term until who?

Following this precedent, no other President ran for a third term until Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940.

Who was the first president and when did he take office?

George Washington, took the oath of office in New York City in April, 1789.

What were Alexander Hamilton's views on manufacturing and farming?

Government should aide in the development of manufacturing to create a more diversified economy.

What did Thomas Jefferson do during the War?

Governor of VA during War.

Why did the war between England and France make the Federalists and Republican divide clearer?

Hamilton and the Federalists favored England. Thomas Jefferson and the Republicans favored the French.

What was Alexander Hamilton's financial plan?

Hamilton wanted to combine the national and state debts and pay them off in an orderly fashion.

What was one of the first things Washington did?

He appointed people to run the departments of the executive branch of the new government. These people became known as the President's Cabinet.

Before Washington left office what did he do?

He cautioned the nation and future presidents to avoid "foreign entanglements."

What did Alexander Hamilton create?

He created a national bank, the Bank of the United States.

What did Washington expect the President's Cabinet to do?

He expected him to not only run their departments, but he also turned to them for advice.

What did George Washington know when he took office?

He knew that his every action would set a precedent - something done for the first time that serves as an example for others to follow. So he had to be careful.

How long did Washington serve as president?

He left office in 1797 and served 2 terms because he felt that was long enough.

What was another part of Alexander Hamilton's plan?

He proposed a series of taxes to raise money.

Who was the Secretary of War?

Henry Knox. (served with Washington during the Revolution)

What did Thomas Jefferson write?

His is the author of Declaration of Independence.

What happened in 1789?

In 1789 the French people started their own revolution. They overthrew the government, executed their king, and attempted to start a democracy.

What happened in 1951?

In 1951 the 22nd Amendment made Washington's precedent law, when it limited a President to two terms.

What were the Federalists Views?

In favor of the Constitution. They supported Hamilton's financial plan. Federalists tended to believe that government should be left to people like themselves, and that only people who owned property should be allowed to vote. The Federalists favored a loose interpretation of the Constitution.

What did the war between England and France do?

In made the divide between the Federalists and the Republicans even clearer.

What were the governments money problems?

It didn't have any money, and it owed a lot of money.

What did Washington's strong action against the "Whiskey Rebellion" show?

It showed that the new government could and would enforce the laws it made. Because of this, people began to have more respect for the government.

Who was the Vice President under George Washington?

John Adams.

Did Americans like the excise tax of whiskey?

Many Americans did not like the excise tax on whiskey.

What did many Republicans suspect Hamilton wanted?

Many Republicans suspected that what Hamilton really wanted was for the U.S. to have a government like England's, with George Washington as king!

Why did farmers make there grain to whiskey

Many farmers on the frontier had problems taking their crops to market because their were few good roads connecting east and west. Whiskey was easier to transport. They also found it was more profitable. They got a higher price for their whiskey than they did for their grain!

What was a major problem the new government face?

Money.

Who were the Federalist?

Most Federalists came from states in the Northeast (New England and the middle states). They tended to be wealthy and well educated. Many were involved in business and trade.

Did the Republican's go away after the Constitution was ratified and the new government began work?

No, Instead, they saw it as their mission to keep an eye on the new government.

How did other European Nation's react to France other throwing their government.

Other European nations, led by England, declared war on France.

Western Land Sales were only what?

Previous national government direct income

Who was the group against the new Constitution?

Republican's (Anti-Federalists)

Where was Thomas Jefferson from.

Rich Planter from Virginia.

Why was the government facing money problems?

The Continental Congress had been forced to borrow money to help fight the Revolution. The government of the Confederation also had been forced to borrow money to meet its expenses.

Most American's either agreed with?

The Federalists or the Republicans.

What were the one group of Americans that were very much in favor of the new plan of government and the Constitution?

The Federalists.

Were Washington's appointments approved? And if so who approved them?

The Senate approved Washington's appointments, and the new government got to work.

Where were farmers particularly upset?

The farmers in Western Pennsylvania, in particular, were upset.

Who did the government owe money too?

The government owned money to the American citizens and to people in other countries.

What was England and other European Nation's Goal by declaring war?

Their goal was to stamp out the French Revolution and restore a king to the throne in France.

What were the Republican Views?

They feared a strong central government and were concerned that each state keep its own rights to govern itself as it saw best ("state's right's"). The Republicans were against Hamilton's plan thought it was unconstitutional. Thought a bank was wrong because the Constitution did not specifically give the government the power to start a bank. hey wanted small government and low taxes. They favored a strict interpretation of the Constitution. In other words, they felt that unless it was stated in the Constitution that the government could do something, it couldn't do it.

Why did the government want to pay back its debts?

They had to be payed, or no one would respect the new government.

What did the farmers in western Pennsylvania do?

They refused to pay the tax. Some government agents sent to collect the tax were attacked by mobs of angry farmers.

Why did the Republicans favor France?

They saw the European attack on the French Revolution as an attack on liberty everywhere. They felt that the U.S. should help the French in their struggle for liberty, just as the French had helped us during our Revolution.

Who were the Republican's

They tended to come from the states in the South and the new states and territories in the West. Many were farmers or artisans [skilled craftsmen].

What do political parties do?

They work together to influence what the government does. They work to get people who share their views elected to the government.

What were Thomas Jefferson's views on manufacturing and farming?

Thinks farming is good —manufacturing bad.

Why was a bank use full?

This would give the government and citizens of the U.S. a place to keep their money. The bank could also loan money to the government when needed which would make the government stronger.

Who was the Republican's leader?

Thomas Jefferson.

Who was the Secretary of State?

Thomas Jefferson.

What did the new Constitution give Congress the power to do?

To pass tax laws

What happened in 1790's?

War broke out between England and France in the 1790's.

What was Washington's views on the French and English war?

Washington decided on a middle course. He issued a Proclamation of Neutrality in the war between England and France. He said that the U.S. would not favor either side.

What did Washington do because of the mob of farmers?

Washington issued a proclamation calling out the militia of several states and ordering the farmers to return to their homes. Then Washington himself led an army of 13,000 soldiers into western Pennsylvania and forced the farmers to pay the tax.

What did Washington realize because of the mob of farmers?

Washington realized that a government that could not enforce the laws it made would not be respected. He knew that people could not be free to choose which laws they would obey and which they would not.

Why did Washington declare neutrality in the war?

Washington the President knew that the new nation was too weak to get involved in European affairs. He felt that U.S. should focus its efforts on growing stronger at home.