Electoral College
The electoral college is a group of electors, representing each state's vote when choosing a president and vice president. It was founded by the U.S. Constitution in Section one of Article two. It was established in 1787.
Organizing the Government
When George Washington was still in the beginning of office, the newly founded federal government had to create laws and policies that would help the future of the U.S. The first action taken was that First Congress created departments within the executive branch, due to the varying parts of national policy. Then, Washington had a meeting with the department leaders (also know as his cabinet members that helped lead with the president). While at the meeting, Washington was picking two people to fill in the two most important cabinet places. He chose;
-Thomas Jefferson as secretary of state
-Henry Knox for secretary of war
-Alexander Hamilton as secretary of treasury
-Samuel Osgood for postmaster general
These men were chosen for their experiences, like how Knox had helped Washington with the Continental Army. These meetings still take place today. Their second action was to create a federal court system and it's location, so the Judiciary Act of 1789 was passed. This made three levels of federal court and also stated their powers/relationship to state courts. Set up circuit and district courts for the federal court system.
-Thomas Jefferson as secretary of state
-Henry Knox for secretary of war
-Alexander Hamilton as secretary of treasury
-Samuel Osgood for postmaster general
These men were chosen for their experiences, like how Knox had helped Washington with the Continental Army. These meetings still take place today. Their second action was to create a federal court system and it's location, so the Judiciary Act of 1789 was passed. This made three levels of federal court and also stated their powers/relationship to state courts. Set up circuit and district courts for the federal court system.
Remaining NeutralEver since the French disobeyed their king, Britain and France's tensions began to build. In the year 1789, July 14th, Parisians overthrew and conquered the Bastille, a very unpopular castle and prison that symbolized royal power. This became the first action of many, that sparked the French Revolution, where the French rebelled against their own king in 1789. Ever since the American Revolution, many French people were inspired to do the same towards their king. Many Americans supported the French because they thought that France was wanting the same democracy as the U.S. Not all Americans were like this, some were full of anxiety. They worried over the violent actions the French did towards traditional authority. Few years after the revolution, Britain and France went to war causing mixed feelings for the Americans; there were supporters, non-supporters and even people that wanted to be neutral. Washington then published the Neutrality Proclamation, an agreement that the U.S. will not get involved with any foreign countries at war. Washington thought this plan would benefit us in the future, even though many disagreed. Some Congress workers dislike Washington's way of thinking, while James Madison thought Washington abused his authority by issuing the proclamation without permission from Congress.
|
Conflict in the NorthwestAmericans began to settle lands in the Northwest Territory, even though many Native Americans protested against this. Britain saw this as a opportunity to overthrow the U.S. and start conflict, so they provided guns for the Native Americans to attack the settlers. Native Americans and Americans went to war shortly after. In 1792, Washington gave General Anthony Wayne permission to lead an army in the West to fight against the Native Americans along the frontier. After the battle, Wayne and his troops went north to build Fort Greenville, to be sheltered for the winter. When the summer of 1794 grew closer, seven Native American groups attacked a train full of supplies in close range of the fort. These Native Americans were led by Little Turtle, a Miami chief. Seeing this, Wayne and his army did the same to the Native Americans. They attack their enemy's home and destroyed their agriculture. This battle became known as the Battle of Fallen Timbers because the area that this took in place, had many trees get caught on fire. Seeing this defeat, Britain no longer supported the native Americans. Little Turtle then knew that he and his men were no match against the Americans, so he sought out peace. In 1795, in August, leaders of the Native Americans signed the Treaty of Greenville. This treaty allowed the U.S. to conquer most Native American lands and promised safety to the settlers. Also, Native Americans received $20,000 worth of goods and Americans would still remember that the claimed land is also their home.
|
Jay's Treaty and Pinckney's
Jay's and Pinckney's Treaty both settled issues with foreign countries. The cause of Jay's Treaty started in the late 1793. In 1793, the British would capture U.S. ships that carried supplies to the French West Indies and they helped Native Americans fight U.S. settlers. Washington didn't want to go through another war with Britain, so he sent Chief Justice John Jay to London, his task was to create a compromise. Surprisingly, Britain also didn't want to go to war with America again. In 1794, somewhere in November, both Great Britain and America signed what became known as Jay's Treaty in the early 1790s. This treaty settled tensions and issues that began to grow between the U.S. and Britain. The agreement was that Britain would pay for the damage fees on captured U.S. ships and also discontinue their forts along the northwestern frontier.
Later on, The Spanish began to argue over the border between Florida and the U.S. Eventually, Spain blocked the port of New Orleans to the U.S. in 1784. This effected the U.S. economy drastically. In order to try to stop this, Washington requested Ambassador Thomas Pinckney to have a meeting with Spanish officials about this problem. During the meeting, Pinckney asked the Spanish to reopen the port to the U.S. and the right of deposit within New Orleans, meaning that U.S. boats can trade goods in New Orleans without the worry of cargo bills. But, the Spanish minister called Manuel de Godhoy, was trying to slow down the agreement in hopes that Pinckney would become desperate enough to agree on a treaty that benefited the Spanish. The minister did this because he worried that Great Britain and the U.S. would team up against Spain after the treaty was signed. Finally, on 1795, in October, the Spanish minister accepted Pinckney's Treaty. This treaty solved trade and border issues with Spain. The agreement was that Spain would recognize America's southern boundary as 31 degrees, North latitude and reopen the New Orleans port.
Later on, The Spanish began to argue over the border between Florida and the U.S. Eventually, Spain blocked the port of New Orleans to the U.S. in 1784. This effected the U.S. economy drastically. In order to try to stop this, Washington requested Ambassador Thomas Pinckney to have a meeting with Spanish officials about this problem. During the meeting, Pinckney asked the Spanish to reopen the port to the U.S. and the right of deposit within New Orleans, meaning that U.S. boats can trade goods in New Orleans without the worry of cargo bills. But, the Spanish minister called Manuel de Godhoy, was trying to slow down the agreement in hopes that Pinckney would become desperate enough to agree on a treaty that benefited the Spanish. The minister did this because he worried that Great Britain and the U.S. would team up against Spain after the treaty was signed. Finally, on 1795, in October, the Spanish minister accepted Pinckney's Treaty. This treaty solved trade and border issues with Spain. The agreement was that Spain would recognize America's southern boundary as 31 degrees, North latitude and reopen the New Orleans port.
The Whiskey RebellionIn the beginning, western Pennsylvanians complaints against the tax put on whiskey were first peaceful protests until, by 1794, fights began to appear. This became was is called the Whiskey Rebellion, where farmers fought for taxes to be removed from whiskey.Washington began to worry that these rebels would threaten the federal government's power. He thought that he should make people understand that the Constitution gave Congress permission to create and enforce this tax. Washington began to get sick and tired of watching these violent riots taking place, so he led an army of about 13,000 men, to western Pennsylvania, personally. By the time they arrived, most rebels already fled, ending the Whiskey Rebellion without a bloody battle.
|
Washington Says FarewellIn 1796, Washington decided that he wouldn't run for another term (his 3rd term) as president. He written down that he was done with public life and he wanted to go into retirement. Most importantly, he wanted to give Americans a reminder that the people were the true leaders of the U.S. Washington then wrote his Farewell letter, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton also helped out with the letter. This letter stated the dangers to America like political issues and forming permanent ties with countries, for fear that the U.S. may be brought into war. When he left office, he warned the U.S. to fix its differences and preserve its independence.
|