George Washington's presidency set crucial precedents for the new nation. As the first leader of the United States, he faced the challenge of unifying a country divided by regional interests and establishing a strong central government.

Washington created key executive departments and appointed a diverse cabinet. He navigated foreign policy challenges, managed the national debt, and responded to domestic unrest, all while defining the role of the president for future leaders.

Challenges of the first presidency

• As the first president, Washington had to navigate uncharted territory and establish precedents for the role of the executive branch in the new federal government
• Faced with the task of unifying a nation still divided by regional interests and political factions, Washington sought to create a strong central government while respecting the powers of the states
• Needed to address pressing issues such as the national debt, foreign policy challenges, and domestic unrest, all while setting a tone of leadership and integrity for future presidents to follow

Establishing executive branch departments

• Created the Department of State to handle foreign affairs, appointing Thomas Jefferson as the first Secretary of State
• Established the Department of the Treasury to manage the nation's finances, with Alexander Hamilton serving as the first Secretary of the Treasury
• Formed the Department of War to oversee the military, with Henry Knox as the first Secretary of War
• These departments formed the basis of the president's cabinet, a group of advisors who assisted Washington in making executive decisions

Appointing the first cabinet

• Washington's cabinet included Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State, Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Knox as Secretary of War, and Edmund Randolph as Attorney General
• These individuals were chosen for their expertise and diverse perspectives, representing different regions and political ideologies

Secretary of State vs Secretary of the Treasury

• Jefferson and Hamilton often clashed over their visions for the nation's future
• Jefferson favored a decentralized government with a focus on agriculture and states' rights, while Hamilton advocated for a strong central government and a diversified economy based on manufacturing and commerce
• Their disagreements laid the foundation for the emergence of the first political parties (Federalists and Democratic-Republicans)

Defining the role of president

• As the first president, Washington played a crucial role in shaping the powers and responsibilities of the executive branch
• Established the principle of executive privilege, asserting the right to withhold information from Congress and the judiciary when necessary for national security or executive branch functioning

President as chief executive

• Asserted the president's authority to enforce laws and oversee the operation of the federal government
• Used the power of appointment to fill key positions in the executive branch and judiciary

President as head of state

• Served as the nation's ceremonial leader, representing the United States in diplomatic relations and public events
• Established protocols for receiving foreign dignitaries and conducting state dinners

President as commander-in-chief

• Exercised authority over the nation's armed forces, making decisions about military strategy and deployment
• Responded to threats to national security, such as the Whiskey Rebellion, by mobilizing troops to enforce federal law

Developing foreign policy

• Navigated complex relationships with European powers, seeking to maintain American neutrality and protect U.S. interests
• Sent diplomatic missions to negotiate treaties and resolve conflicts, such as the Citizen Genêt Affair and the Jay Treaty

Proclamation of Neutrality

• Issued in 1793, declaring the United States neutral in the conflict between France and Great Britain
• Sought to avoid entanglement in European wars while preserving American commercial interests

Jay's Treaty with Britain

• Negotiated by Chief Justice John Jay in 1794, the treaty resolved lingering disputes from the Revolutionary War
• Provided for the British withdrawal from western forts, opened limited trade with British colonies, and established a commission to settle boundary issues
• Controversial for its perceived favoritism towards Britain and lack of protection for American maritime rights

Managing the national debt

• Inherited a significant national debt from the Revolutionary War, which threatened the stability and credit of the new nation
• Tasked Alexander Hamilton with developing a plan to address the debt and establish a sound financial system

Hamilton's financial plan

• Proposed that the federal government assume state debts, creating a consolidated national debt
• Recommended the creation of a national bank to provide a stable currency and credit for economic growth
• Suggested tariffs on imported goods and excise taxes on domestic products to generate revenue

Funding vs assumption

• Debate arose over whether the federal government should only fund the national debt or also assume state debts
• The issue was resolved through the Compromise of 1790, which traded the assumption of state debts for the location of the nation's capital on the Potomac River

Overseeing the Bill of Rights

• Supported the addition of a Bill of Rights to the Constitution to protect individual liberties and limit the power of the federal government
• Ratified in 1791, the first ten amendments to the Constitution guaranteed freedoms such as speech, religion, and due process, while also reserving powers to the states and the people

Responding to the Whiskey Rebellion

• Faced a major challenge to federal authority in 1794 when farmers in western Pennsylvania resisted the collection of an excise tax on whiskey
• Invoked the Militia Act of 1792 to call up state militias, personally leading troops to suppress the rebellion and demonstrate the power of the federal government to enforce its laws

Farewell Address

• Delivered in 1796, Washington's farewell address announced his decision not to seek a third term and offered advice for the nation's future
• Emphasized the importance of national unity, warning against the dangers of sectionalism and foreign entanglements

Warning against political parties

• Cautioned that the rise of political parties could lead to division and conflict, undermining the stability of the republic
• Argued that the pursuit of factional interests could distract from the common good and weaken the nation's resolve

Advocating for unity

• Called on Americans to put aside regional and ideological differences, embracing a shared national identity
• Stressed the importance of education, morality, and religion in fostering a sense of civic virtue and responsibility
• Urged the nation to steer clear of permanent alliances with foreign powers, advocating instead for a policy of neutrality and commercial impartiality