the new government begins part 1 organizing the new government
TRANSCRIPT
The New Government Begins
Part 1Organizing the
New Government
Making Careful Decisions
• The Founding Fathers wanted to make sure they did things correctly. They even spent 3 weeks deciding what to call the President!!!
• “His Excellency”, and “His Highness” were suggested, but Washington was simply happy with “Mr. President”.
Setting a Precedent
• Washington knew the things he did would be watched carefully and would set a PRECEDENT.
The President’s Cabinet
To help him complete his duties, the president has a CABINET. The original cabinet had 5 executive departments:
1. State 4. The Attorney General
2. Treasury 5. Postmaster General
3. War
Current Cabinet Positions
• Agriculture• Commerce• Defense• Education• Energy• Health/Human
Services• Homeland Security
• Housing/Urban Dev.• Interior• Justice• Labor• State• Transportation• Treasury• Veterans Affairs
The President’s Cabinet
• The JUDICIARY ACT was passed in 1789 to set up the United States court system.
• John Jay became the first Supreme Court Chief Justice.
The Judiciary Act
Repaying the National Debt
To help raise money during the Revolution, the government had sold bonds to people. When you buy a BOND, the government promises to pay back to you the money you spent, plus interest.
Many southern states had paid off their bond debts, but many northern states and the federal government had not. Alexander Hamilton, the Secretary of the Treasury, said the government should buy up all the old bonds and issue new ones. When the economy improved, the new bonds could be paid off.
Alexander Hamilton felt strongly that the debts had to be paid off
in order for the young nation to maintain its
credibility.
Opposition to Hamilton’s Plan
People such as James Madison opposed the plan because they thought it rewarded SPECULATORS who stood to make a lot of money.
Southerners said they didn’t think the plan was fair, because they had already paid off their war debt.
Hamilton’s Compromise
Hamilton knew many southerners wanted to move the capital of the United States closer to the South. He told the southerners that if they would support his plan for paying off war debt, he would convince northerners to move the capital toward the South.
A compromise was reached, and it was agreed to build the new capital city on land located between the states of Virginia and Maryland. They wanted the city to be done by 1800. The capital was then temporarily moved from New York to Philadelphia while the new city was being built.
Strengthening the Economy
Alexander Hamilton asked Congress to create the Bank of the United States. Tax money was put here and the U.S. started paying off its debts. Money was also lent out to farmers and businesses to try and stimulate the economy.
The First Bank of the United States
TariffsAnother way the government tried to help the economy was to create TARIFFS, which are taxes on foreign goods.
Northerners liked the tariffs but southerners did not. Most industries were located in the North. A compromise deal was reached.
Taxes Lead to The Whiskey Rebellion
The government frequently taxes successful money-making products. As part of Hamilton’s financial plan, a tax was placed on whiskey, a drink made from wheat, rye, or corn. Farmers were angry, because it decreased their profits, and they also used whiskey like money, to purchase things like salt, sugar, and other things.
Farmers in Pennsylvania even went so far as to rebel by harassing and tarring and feathering tax
collectors, and even threatening the city of Pittsburgh.
The government called out the military to put
down the rebellion. This showed that the
federal government could, and
would use its authority.
Here George Washington reviews the troops. By the
time the troops got to Pittsburgh, the rebellion
had settled down.