Topic 6

The Washington Administration

1789-1797

 

 

 

A. Washington

 

  1. Not an easy man to know or like – Was determined to be “presidential” and perhaps went too far; tended to be very formal and at times distant (and that is the way he has come down to us through history).
  2. Has tended to come down to us as more of a monument than a man, but like us all he had his shortcomings: bad temper, did not like criticism.
  3. In 1759 he married a Virginia widow, Martha Custis. Something of a marriage of convenience: she wanted a husband; he wanted her wealth (17,000 acres of land and 300 slaves). And while it did last, it does not appear to have been a passionate relationship. And the real love of his life was Sally Fairfax.
  4. Hate to tell you, but he did not chop down that cherry tree! Story made up by Reverend Mason Weems.
  5. On the other hand, a determined man not easily discouraged and had excellent judgment. Given a range of choices, he almost always made the right choice.
  6. After his inauguration on April 30, 1789, Washington and the new Congress went to work handling the task of….

 

 

B. Filling in the Gaps (taking the steps required to make the new government work and last!)

 

  1. The Bill of Rights – Congressman James Madison assumed the leadership and proposed a number of amendments to the Constitution. Eventually, 10 of 12 proposed amendments were ratified by the states.

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Revenue – Revenue Act of 1789 – Tariff duties would be the main source of income for the new government. July 4, 1789

 

 

 

 

  1. The Judicial Branch and the Judiciary Act of 1789 -

 

–         Supreme Court – A chief justice and 5 associate justices

–         13 federal district courts (the lesser courts)

–         Created the office of the Attorney General – Edmund Randolph

–         Section 13 – gave the Supreme Court the authority to issue writs of mandamus – later!

 

 

 

  1. The Executive Branch – Summer and fall of 1789

 

–         State –

–         War –

–         Treasury –

–         Washington did not rush to make his choices; wanted the best men to serve with him

 

 

 

C. Hamilton and the Hamiltonian Financial System

 

  1. A couple of his basic ideas:

 

–         Strong, active national government

 

–         The common people – Did not trust them! Instead, he put his faith in the wealthy, the merchants and planters. These were the most capable and trustworthy members of our society. (Think of Highland Park, Beverly Drive etc.!)

 

 

  1. Hamilton’s Goals:

 

–         Pay off the debt created by the Continental Congress

 

–         Get the wealthy to support the new national government by getting the government to follow policies that would benefit these people economically. If the government put money in their pockets, they would rally around the government and give it their support.

 

•          How? One way he would put money in their pockets would be by paying off the debt of the CC. Most of this was owed to wealthy Americans. If the government paid off this debt, the wealthy would rally around the government and give it their support.

 

 

–         Encourage the growth of American industry

 

 

 

D. Hamilton’s Reports to Congress

 

Report

What was proposed