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Government and Party Politics. Chapter 2, Section 1. Building the Federal Gov. . The one benefit that the new government had was extraordinary leaders . George Washington was chosen to be the first president, and John Adams would become his first vice president.
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Government and Party Politics Chapter 2, Section 1
Building the Federal Gov. • The one benefit that the new government had was extraordinary leaders. • George Washington was chosen to be the first president, and John Adamswould become his first vice president. • As the first president, Washington established several precedents, or actions that would be followed by later leaders. These included: • Established the first Cabinet • Served two terms • Used the phrase ‘so help me God’ in his Inaugural Address • Appointed the first Supreme Court justices
Building the Federal Gov. • As Speaker of the House, James Madison would pass through Congress the Judiciary Act of 1789, which established a federal system of courts and created the position of Attorney General. • Illustrate the system below: 1 Supreme Court 3 circuit courts to hear appeals 13 federal district courts– one for each state
Building the Federal Gov. • Washington’s establishment of a Cabinet, or group of federal leaders who headed major executive branch departments and advised the president. • Who were the members of the first Cabinet? • Secretary of State= Thomas Jefferson • Secretary of the Treasury= Alexander Hamilton • Secretary of War= Henry Knox • Attorney General= Edmund Randolph
Hamilton’s Plan Stirs Debate • After the American Revolution, the United States was left with a debt of $52 million to pay off. • As Secretary of the Treasury, this job was tasked to pay off this debt. • Hamilton created a debt plan based around his Federalist ideals. What were the four components of his plan? • Pay off foreign debt and interest in full • Federal government would assume state debts • Impose whiskey tax and tariffs • Create national bank and national currency
Hamilton’s Plan Stirs Debate • While his plan would ultimately increase the nation’s debt, Hamilton saw potential long-term benefits. • It would establish financial credibility—other countries view the U.S. favorably. • Gain political support from wealthyAmericans. • Investors would benefit, which would then grow industries and commerce in the United States.
Opposing Hamilton • Southerners, who had paid off a large portion of their share of the debt, did not support Hamilton’s Plan. • Ultimately, Congress approved the first three parts of Hamilton’s Plan. However, in order to have the state’s approval of the last part, Hamilton had to come up with a compromise. What was it? • In ten years’ time, the national capital would be moved to between Maryland and Virginia. • Rural Pennsylvania farmers were unhappy with the excise whiskey tax, a main revenue source. They attacked those sent to collect the taxes. • This event became known as the Whiskey Rebellion. Washington and Hamilton saw this as an opportunity to demonstrate the enforcement power of the federal government. • Hamilton and 12,000 militiamen were sent to suppress the rebellion—which had since dissipated.
A Two-Party System Emerges • The American public was divided over the Whiskey Rebellion. Two groups emerged on opposite sides of the political spectrum—the Federalists and the Democratic Republicans. Though the writers of the Constitution had warned against the formation of political parties, differences could soon not be ignored.
