U.S. History

Chapter 10: Launching the New Nation

Section 1: Laying the Foundations of Government

The First President

• Concerned about age and lack of political experience

• January 1789: First electoral college meets

The First President• President: George

Washington

• VP: John Adams

• Considered it his duty “to render service to his country in obedience to its call”

John Adams: First Vice President of the United States

The First President

•Traveled to New York City to be sworn into office

The First President

•Women lacked equal rights:

–Voting

–Education

The First President

•Republican Motherhood: stressed the idea that women should play an important role in teaching children to be good citizens

Life in the New Republic

• Ununited country

• Much work to be done

• New York City: first capital of the United States

Federal Hall: first seat of U.S. government

Setting Precedents

•George Washington: “The first of everything in our situation will serve to establish a precedent.”

•Precedent—an action or a decision that serves as an example for later generations

Setting Precedents

• Congress created executive departments that specialized in areas of national policy

• Nominated by Washington and approved by Senate

Washington and his Cabinet

Setting Precedents

Secretary of Treasury:

Alexander Hamilton

Secretary of State:

Thomas Jefferson

Setting Precedents

Attorney General:

Edmund Randolph

Secretary of War:

Henry Knox

Setting Precedents

• Judiciary Act of 1789: Established federal court system

District Courts

Court of Appeals

Supreme Court

Setting Precedents

•John Jay: first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

•6 membersJohn Jay