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Washington's Presidency Notes

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Washington's Presidency Notes

Read the briefing, then complete the questions. Use details from the briefing and your own historical reasoning. The timeline is a visual reference.

A New Nation Needs a Leader

In 1789, George Washington became the first president of the United States. The new Constitution had created the presidency, but it did not provide a detailed guide for how a president should act. Washington served two terms, from 1789 to 1797, and helped establish practices later leaders would follow. Washington selected advisers to lead executive departments. This group became known as the Cabinet. Its early members included Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of War Henry Knox, and Attorney General Edmund Randolph. Hamilton proposed that the federal government take responsibility for national and state debts, create a national bank, and raise revenue through taxes, including a tax on whiskey. These plans were controversial. In 1794, some farmers in western Pennsylvania rebelled against the whiskey tax. Washington called out militia forces to enforce federal law; the rebellion ended without a major battle. The United States was also affected by war between Britain and France. Washington's policy of neutrality aimed to keep the country out of that conflict. In his 1796 Farewell Address, he warned about the dangers of intense political divisions and permanent alliances with foreign countries. He also urged the nation to protect its credit and be cautious about debt. Washington stepped down after two terms, setting a precedent that presidents followed until the Twenty-second Amendment made a two-term limit law in 1951.

1789 Washington becomes the first president.

1791 Congress approves Hamilton’s whiskey tax.

1794 Whiskey Rebellion is put down.

1796–1797 Farewell Address; Washington leaves office.

Investigate the Presidency

Use the briefing and timeline to solve each task.

1.Washington was the ______ president of the United States. Write the years he served, and calculate how many years he was president.

2.Match each early Cabinet position to the person who held it. Write the correct letter beside each name. A. Thomas Jefferson B. Alexander Hamilton C. Henry Knox D. Edmund Randolph

Secretary of State
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of War
Attorney General

B. Alexander Hamilton
D. Edmund Randolph
C. Henry Knox
A. Thomas Jefferson

3.A newspaper editor says, “Hamilton’s plan was only about collecting money.” Which detail from the briefing best corrects the editor?

The plan included taking responsibility for national and state debts and creating a national bank, as well as raising revenue.
The plan was to keep the United States neutral in the war between Britain and France.
The plan was to end the presidency after one term.
The plan was to abolish all federal taxes.

4.Farmers protested the whiskey tax in 1794. What was the name of the uprising, and what did Washington’s response show about the federal government?

5.Which two countries were at war when Washington pursued neutrality, and what was neutrality meant to do for the United States?

6.True or false: Washington’s Farewell Address urged the United States to form permanent alliances with foreign countries. Explain your choice in one sentence.

7.Complete both ideas from the Farewell Address: Washington warned about intense political and urged the nation to protect its .

8.Put these events in chronological order by numbering them 1–4: ___ Whiskey Rebellion; ___ Washington becomes president; ___ Washington leaves office; ___ Congress approves the whiskey tax.

9.Washington left office after two terms. Was this limit already written into the Constitution during his presidency? Explain what happened later.

10.Choose one Washington precedent or decision from the briefing. Explain one way it helped shape the presidency or the young United States.