The Early The Early RepublicRepublicThe Early The Early RepublicRepublic

Unit 3Unit 3

Quick review of leadership Quick review of leadership during the American during the American Revolutionary WarRevolutionary War

Some people were afraid Washington might Some people were afraid Washington might become Kingbecome King

Some people wanted Washington to become Some people wanted Washington to become KingKing

Some people wanted government to be Some people wanted government to be controlled by the wealthy (Alexander controlled by the wealthy (Alexander Hamilton)Hamilton)

Some people wanted government to be Some people wanted government to be controlled by all people (regardless of WHO controlled by all people (regardless of WHO they were) (Thomas Jefferson)they were) (Thomas Jefferson)

Where do you see yourself Where do you see yourself 20 years from now?20 years from now?

Job Job FamilyFamily EducationEducation Life styleLife style Where youWhere you’’ll be livingll be living Kind of place youKind of place you’’ll live inll live in Things youThings you’’ll do for funll do for fun

You will soon be at a You will soon be at a ““crossroadscrossroads””

You have a lot of decisions You have a lot of decisions to make in the next year or to make in the next year or two that may greatly affect two that may greatly affect how your life will turn out.how your life will turn out.

In 1789: America was at a In 1789: America was at a crossroadscrossroads

America chose George America chose George Washington to get them Washington to get them started – started – unanimously unanimously and he was inaugurated on and he was inaugurated on April 30April 30thth, 1789, 1789

(sworn into office)(sworn into office)

George Washington George Washington and….and…. why is he so famous? why is he so famous?

Commander of the Colonial Armed Forces Commander of the Colonial Armed Forces during the American Revolutionduring the American Revolution

President of the Constitutional ConventionPresident of the Constitutional Convention Dad died when George was 11Dad died when George was 11 Raised by his ½ brothersRaised by his ½ brothers No college educationNo college education Married a wealthy widowMarried a wealthy widow Had 2 adopted children – Had 2 adopted children – no direct descendantsno direct descendants More………….More………….

Also…Also… Not considered brilliant, Not considered brilliant,

but knew how to choose but knew how to choose capable people (set up a capable people (set up a group of group of ““advisorsadvisors””))

Had a great deal of Had a great deal of respect from everyone respect from everyone

(including the tradition (including the tradition that no one should be that no one should be president more than president more than twice – which set a twice – which set a precedent precedent

Very honest – and a Very honest – and a great sense of great sense of responsibilityresponsibility

A A ““life of the partylife of the party”” kind kind of manof man

Something that happens Something that happens that gets repeated over that gets repeated over and over.and over.

Washington knew he wouldnWashington knew he wouldn’’t be t be able to take care of everything able to take care of everything that was going on in the entire that was going on in the entire

country at oncecountry at once So he hired some So he hired some

advisorsadvisors These became his These became his ““cabinetcabinet””

At first there were At first there were only three, and a only three, and a fourth to help with fourth to help with legal matterslegal matters

Secretary of Defense – Secretary of Defense – led by Henry Knoxled by Henry Knox

Secretary of the Secretary of the Treasury – Alexander Treasury – Alexander HamiltonHamilton

Secretary of State – Secretary of State – Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson

Attorney General – Attorney General – Edmund RandolphEdmund Randolph

One of WashingtonOne of Washington’’s s advisors:advisors:Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton

America had money problemsAmerica had money problems Hamilton was a financial Hamilton was a financial

genius – he set up our genius – he set up our countrycountry’’s financial systems financial system

He decided he could raise He decided he could raise money through money through tariffstariffs, taxes, , taxes, and excise taxesand excise taxes

A tax on goods brought A tax on goods brought into the countryinto the country

We still use HamiltonWe still use Hamilton’’s banking s banking system todaysystem today

Today itToday it’’s called: The s called: The Federal Reserve SystemFederal Reserve System

ItIt’’s actually 12 banks - s actually 12 banks - each regulated by a group each regulated by a group (appointed by the (appointed by the president) in Washington president) in Washington D.C. D.C.

They manage the countryThey manage the country’’s s money supply.money supply.

You especially hear of You especially hear of them when they change them when they change lending rates – to either lending rates – to either fight inflation, or to fight inflation, or to encourage business encourage business growth at growth at ““downdown”” times. times.

Sometimes you may see Sometimes you may see related items in the news related items in the news

Ben Bernanke and Alan Greenspan

Some of these people have Some of these people have HUGE arguments over the HUGE arguments over the

constitutionconstitution Others favor a Others favor a loose loose

interpretationinterpretation of the of the Constitution and the Constitution and the government can use government can use whateverwhatever’’s s ‘‘reasonable and reasonable and properproper”” to carry out that to carry out that powerpower

Some people favor a strict interpretation of the Constitution: That the government only has the powers the constitution says it has

(These are some of the things they argue about on the political TV shows)