Chapter 9 Lesson 1: The Federalist Era- The First President

Cabinet

A group of advisers to a president

What did Americans try to avoid doing with the government?

Americans had fought a revolution to gain independence from British control. They did not want to replace one unjust government with another one.

What did Washington focus on as president? What kind of president was he?

As president, Washington focused on foreign affairs and military matters. He rarely suggested new laws and almost always approved the bills that Congress passed.

What did Americans want in the constitution to guarantee civil liberties?

As protection from the powers of a strong national government, many Americans wanted the Constitution to include a bill of rights. It would guarantee civil liberties. In fact, some states had agreed to ratify the Constitution only with the promise that a bill of rights be added.

What problems would a new national bank solve?

At that time, different states and banks issued their own currencies. Having a national currency would make trade and all other financial actions much easier.

Bond

Certificate that promises to repay borrowed money in the future-plus an additional amount of money, called interest

What was the reaction to Hamilton's plan?

Congress agreed to part of Hamilton's plan, to pay the money owed to other nations. However, Hamilton's plan to pay off the debt owed to American citizens caused protest.

Where did Congress plan to move the nation's capital?

Congress ordered a special district to be laid out between Virginia and Maryland along the banks of the Potomac River. There, George Washington chose the site for the new capital city, later named Washington, D.C., in his honor.

What departments were set up in the executive branch? What were their roles and who headed them?

Congress set up three departments and two offices within the executive branch. Thomas Jefferson-The State Department, which handles relations with other nations. Alexander Hamilton- Department of the Treasure, which manages the nation's money Henry Knox- Department of War, which looks after the nation's defense Edmund Randolph-Attorney general, which addresses the government's legal affairs Congress also created the office of postmaster general.

How much power did Congress decide to give the president over the presidental cabinet?

Congress was unsure how much power the president ought to have over the cabinet. In a vote on this question, senators were evenly divided. Vice President John Adams broke the tie. He voted to allow the president the power to dismiss cabinet officers without Senate approval.

Who did Washington depend on for the government economic policies?

For the government's economic policies, the president depended on Alexander Hamilton, secretary of the treasury. Hamilton was in his early thirties when he took office, but he had bold plans and clear policies in mind.

Besides the new debt payment plan, what did Hamilton ask Congress to create?

Hamilton also asked Congress to create a national bank, the Bank of the United States.

What else did Hamilton call for?

Hamilton also called for national taxes to help the government pay the national debt. Congress approved several taxes, including a tax on whiskey made in the United States.

What did Hamilton believe that the United States needed?

Hamilton believed that the United States needed more manufacturing.

What was Hamilton's proposed plan?

Hamilton proposed that the federal government take over and pay off the states' wartime debts. He argued that paying off the debt as a nation would build national credit and make it easier for the nation to borrow money. Hamilton also believed that federal payment of state debts would give the states a strong interest in the success of the national government.

Describe the relationship between Hamilton and Jefferson and Madison.

Hamilton's ideas created conflict. Jefferson and Madison worried that Hamilton was building a dangerously powerful government run by the wealthy. They began to organize opposition to Hamilton and the policies he favored.

What did Hamilton propose to create a higher manufacturing United States?

He proposed high tariffs.

What did Congress and the president create in the first years?

In those first years, the president and Congress created departments within the executive branch and set up the court system. Congress added the Bill of Rights to the Constitution.

Why did Madison and Jefferson oppose a national bank?

Madison and Jefferson opposed a national bank, believing it would help the wealthy and harm the average American citizens.

What hope did Madision have about the Bill of Rights?

Madison hoped these amendments would help protect Americans against a national government that was too powerful.

Who was the first president and vice president under the United States Constitution?

On April 30, 1789, George Washington took the oath of office as the first president of the United States with John Adams as vice president.

What were the various positions of the members of the Congress about the legal system?

Some favored a uniform legal system for the entire nation. Others favored keeping the existing state systems.

Precedent

Something done or said that becomes an example for others to follow

Why did the states oppose Hamilton's plan?

Strong opposition came from the Southern states. These states had accumulated less debt than the Northern states. Several had already repaid their debts. Yet Hamilton wanted the entire nation to pay all the debt together. Southern states complained about having to help pay other states' debts.

What are tariffs?

Taxes on imports

What does the Bill of Rights limit? What do the Bill of Rights protect?

The Bill of Rights limits the power of government. It protects individual liberty, including freedom of speech and the rights of people accused of crimes. The Tenth Amendment says that any power not listed in the Constitution belongs to the states or the people.

What did Congress establish as an authority? Who headed it?

The Constitution established the Supreme Court as the final authority on many issues. President Washington chose John Jay to lead the Supreme Court as chief justice.

What did the House of Representatives ask Hamilton to do? What did they mean?

The House of Representatives asked Hamilton to make a plan for the "adequate support of the public credit." This meant that the United States needed a way to borrow money for its government and economy.

Who opposed the idea of tariffs? What was the compromise?

The South had little industry and opposed such tariffs. Congress passed only low tariffs.

What financial situation was the United States face? What did tasks did Hamilton face?

The federal and state governments had borrowed money to pay for the American Revolution. They now owed millions of dollars to other countries and to American citizens. As a result, the nation faced serious financial trouble. Hamilton tried to improve the government's finances and strengthen the nation at the same time.

What challenge did the first Congress have to face?

The first Congress also faced the job of forming the nation's court system.

How was the government under the Articles of Confederation?

The government under the Articles were ineffective and weak.

What would be the purpose of the Bank of the United States?

The proposed bank would hold government funds and make debt payments. It would also issue a single form of money for use throughout the nation.

What were the tariffs purpose?

The tariffs would raise money for the government and protect American industries from foreign competition.

What were the roles of the three department heads?

The three department heads and the attorney general had many important duties. Among them was giving advice to the president. Together, this group of top executive advisers formed a cabinet.

What was the compromise that came about the new legal system? What did it mark?

The two sides reached an agreement in the Judiciary Act of 1789. This act established a federal court system. The states kept their own laws and courts, but the federal courts had the power to reverse state decisions. The act marked a first step in creating a strong and independent national judicial system.

What did Madison and Jefferson have to consider when forming a national bank? What did Hamilton argue?

They argued that the Constitution did not give Congress the power to create a bank. Hamilton believed the Constitution indirectly gave Congress power to create a bank when it gave Congress power to collect taxes and borrow money.

What did the decision Congress took about the cabinet do to the executive branch?

This established presidential power over the whole executive branch.

Why was a plan to borrow money to pay debts important?

To be able to borrow in the future, the government had to prove it could pay back the money it already owed.

What was the goal with the new United States Constitution?

To create a strong central government with a strong executive branch headed by a single president.

How did James Madison plan to fulfill his promise of a bill of rights?

To fulfill this promise, James Madison introduced a set of amendments during the first session of Congress. Congress passed 12 amendments, and the states ratified 10 of them. In December 1791, these 10 amendments, together called the Bill of Rights, became part of the Constitution.

How did Hamilton plan to get support for his plan?

To win support for his plan, Hamilton worked out a compromise with Southern leaders. If they voted for his plan to pay off the state debts, he would support locating the nation's capital in the South.

What were the presidents like under the Articles of Confederation?

Under the Articles, the United States had several presidents whose jobs were to lead Congress making them ineffective executive leaders.

What was the end result in the national bank conflict?

Washington agreed with Hamilton and Congress created the national bank.

What was Washington's knowledge about his actions as the first president?

Washington knew that his actions and decisions would set precedents that would help shape the nation's future.

What standards did Washington set?

Washington set the standard for how long a president should serve and for how the nation should relate to other nations.

Washington and Congress: The Goals

Washington worked closely with Congress to create an effective government.

Why did the American citizens oppose Hamilton's plan?

When borrowing money from citizens during the American Revolution, the government issued bonds. While waiting for repayment, many bond owners, who were usually lower class, sold their bonds. They accepted less money than the bonds' stated value. Often, the buyers of these bonds were speculators, people who risk money in hopes of making a large profit in the future. Now, Hamilton was proposing to pay off the old bonds at full value. This would make the speculators rich. The original bondholders would get nothing.