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The Early Republic

Stephanie Brant

Updated April 4, 2016

Transcript

"Our country! May she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong."

-Stephen Decatur

What may this quote mean?

Sound like a lot?

Welcome to George Washington's life.

What do you do?!

You have some options...

a) sit in the corner and cry

b) chop down a cherry tree

c) RUNNNNNNN!

d) find people to help

That's what George did.

He found some help

Flash back in time...

If you were alive during this time and GW asked YOU to help him to select people to help him govern the COUNTRY, what would you say?

What advice would you give?

Washington--most votes=President
John Adams-2nd most=he became

Vice-President

Inauguration (swearing in of an official)
April 30th, 1789
New York City (new capital)
Washington had a tough job ahead because he set the precedent (example to follow)
Title was debated, some examples:
His Excellency, His Highness
Mr. President was decided to be a good way to address him
Constitution did not set up every structure on purpose but this was left for Congress to do
Courts needed structure
Federal Judiciary Act-passed by Congress and it established...
6 Supreme Court Members
1 Chief Justice + 5 associate judges

(now it's 9 justices)

John Jay named 1st Chief Justice
Lower courts (less power given)

Hamilton in his new role had to figure out what to do with the finances.

-Created a stronger national government

-Looked to have support from wealthy citizens

He focused on:

1) paying off war debts ($52 million debt)

had borrowed money from France, Netherlands, Spain, wealthy citizens
wanted to establish respect internationally and with wealthy citizens and show responsibility
First, he wanted to pay off state debt-this lead to dispute
States in the South had paid already-not the North
Compromise--South would support plan BUT capital needed to move to the South
this is when the location of Washington, DC was chosen

2) raising government revenues

tariffs were established (tax on imported goods)
2 purposes: raising money and growing national industry
citizens were encouraged to buy American goods

3) creating a national bank

safe place for gov't money
loans for businesses and gov't
issue bank notes ($ used for currency)

Hamilton's plan would increase national government

-Jefferson and Madison were worried

Jefferson and Madison saw the Constitution as discouraging central power in the federal government and said it did not give government the power to set up a bank (believed in strict interpretation of the constitution)

(Note: The framers of the Constitution had made it general so it would be flexible)

Hamilton had a loose interpretation--used the elastic clause to support his interpretation (allowed for future generations to expand the meaning of the Constitution)
He believed the bank was "necessary and proper"
Both sides were presented to Washington--Hamilton won
Bank of the United States was established in 1791 (now known as the Federal Reserve System-central banking system)
Open to page 280

Imagine...

You are president (by the way, congratulations).

You have a million and one things on your plate

You have a brand new country to establish

A brand new constitution to set in action

Everyone is looking to you for answers

EVERYONE

What do you do?

Oh, did I mention--you are the first president in your country...ever.