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[[George Washington]] was so popular and respected that he probably could have become king.  Even if Washington did not become king, he could have ruled as president for the rest of his life.  But his greatness was, like Jesus, to decline power that was available to him in order to advance a greater good.  Washington was inaugurated as president in 1789 and voluntarily gave up power in 1797 at the age of 65 - seven years younger than the 2008 presidential candidate John McCain.  Washington set an unwritten tradition of a maximum of two terms for presidents, which was followed by every president until the Democrat Franklin Roosevelt.  After Roosevelt broke the rule by being elected four times to president, the two-term tradition was enshrined in the Constitution as an amendment in 1951.<ref>http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html</ref>

[[George Washington]] was so popular and respected that he probably could have become king.  Even if Washington did not become king, he could have ruled as president for the rest of his life.  But his greatness was, like Jesus, to decline power that was available to him in order to advance a greater good.  Washington was inaugurated as president in 1789 and voluntarily gave up power in 1797 at the age of 65 - seven years younger than the 2008 presidential candidate John McCain.  Washington set an unwritten tradition of a maximum of two terms for presidents, which was followed by every president until the Democrat Franklin Roosevelt.  After Roosevelt broke the rule by being elected four times to president, the two-term tradition was enshrined in the Constitution as an amendment in 1951.<ref>http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html</ref>

An example of Washington's greatness was his handling of "Citizen" Edmond Genet (pronounced zhe – nay), who was sent by France to the United States just after the French Revolution.  France felt that the United States owed it assistance after how France provided so much help to Americans to win the Revolutionary War.  But Washington wanted to stay out of foreign conflicts.  Ignoring Washington's wishes, Genet went around America stirring up pro-French sentiment with impassioned speeches.  Genet even sent out private American citizens to attack British shipping (called "privateers," but acting like pirates).  Washington told Genet to stop this, but he refused.  Washington told France to recall him.  But the French Revolution had become uncontrollable, with senseless violence and executions.  "Citizen Genet," as he was known, reasonably feared the guillotine if he returned to France.  He then begged Washington to grant him asylum in this country.  Despite Washington's enormous and justified irritation, he granted Genet's wishes.  Genet later married the daughter of the governor of New York, and became an ordinary farmer!

An example of Washington's greatness was his handling of "Citizen" Edmond Genet (pronounced "zhe–nay"), who was sent by France to the United States just after the French Revolution.  France felt that the United States owed it assistance after how France provided so much help to Americans to win the Revolutionary War.  But Washington wanted to stay out of foreign conflicts.  Ignoring Washington's wishes, Genet went around America stirring up pro-French sentiment with impassioned speeches.  Genet even sent out private American citizens to attack British shipping (called "privateers," but acting like pirates).  Washington told Genet to stop this, but he refused.  Washington told France to recall him.  But the French Revolution had become uncontrollable, with senseless violence and executions.  "Citizen Genet," as he was known, reasonably feared the guillotine if he returned to France.  He then begged Washington to grant him asylum in this country.  Despite Washington's enormous and justified irritation, he granted Genet's wishes.  Genet later married the daughter of the governor of New York, and became an ordinary farmer!

Another example of George Washington's leadership was his handling of the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794.  Farmers in western Pennsylvania protested a 7-cent per gallon tax on corn whiskey.  These farmers refused to pay the tax, retaliated against farmers who did pay it, and even attacked U.S. marshals and revenue agents.  Washington told the Pennsylvania governor to end the rebellion, but he refused.  Washington himself then raised an army from neighboring states and personally risked his own life to ride out as the soldiers' leader to quell the rebellion.  The farmers gave up without bloodshed.  Several were caught, tried and convicted for their rebellion.  What did Washington do next?  He pardoned them.  The successful suppression of this rebellion established the power of the federal government in the eyes of the people, and let people know that they should not challenge the President of the United States.

Another example of George Washington's leadership was his handling of the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794.  Farmers in western Pennsylvania protested a 7-cent per gallon tax on corn whiskey.  These farmers refused to pay the tax, retaliated against farmers who did pay it, and even attacked U.S. marshals and revenue agents.  Washington told the Pennsylvania governor to end the rebellion, but he refused.  Washington himself then raised an army from neighboring states and personally risked his own life to ride out as the soldiers' leader to quell the rebellion.  The farmers gave up without bloodshed.  Several were caught, tried and convicted for their rebellion.  What did Washington do next?  He pardoned them.  The successful suppression of this rebellion established the power of the federal government in the eyes of the people, and let people know that they should not challenge the President of the United States.

In 1796, Washington was up for reelection to a third term of the presidency.  But he then did something that no leader of a revolution has ever done:  he gave up his power for the good of others.  He left by publishing one of the greatest documents in all of American history:  Washington's Farewell Address.  Written by [[Alexander Hamilton]], this [[Farewell Address]] urged Americans to stay out of conflicts in Europe, in part to avoid the divisive effects such conflicts have on Americans (e.g., some rooted for England and others for France).  Washington also reminded Americans that morality is the foundation of a prosperous society: "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports."

In 1796, Washington was up for reelection to a third term of the presidency.  But he then did something that no leader of a revolution has ever done:  he gave up his power for the good of others.  He left by publishing one of the greatest documents in all of American history:  Washington's Farewell Address.  Written by [[Alexander Hamilton]], this [[Farewell Address]] urged Americans to stay out of conflicts in Europe, in part to avoid the divisive effects such conflicts have on Americans (e.g., some rooted for England and others for France).  Washington also reminded Americans that morality is the foundation of a prosperous society: "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports."

Several other important things happened during the presidency (the Administration) of George Washington.  The Bill of Rights passed in 1791 to limit the federal government.  The rivalry grew between [[Alexander Hamilton]], who favored a strong national government, and [[Thomas Jefferson]], who favored states' rights.   

Several other important things happened during the presidency (the Administration) of George Washington.  The Bill of Rights passed in 1791 to limit the federal government.  In addition, during this time an intense rivalry grew between [[Alexander Hamilton]], who favored a strong national government, and [[Thomas Jefferson]], who favored states' rights.   

'''Debate:  compare the views of [[Alexander Hamilton]] (who felt the federal government should have whatever powers are not denied to it, by virtue of the "elastic" or "necessary and proper" clause of the Constitution) to the views of [[Thomas Jefferson]] (who felt the federal government should have only the powers expressly given it).  Which one was right?'''

'''Debate:  compare the views of [[Alexander Hamilton]] (who felt the federal government should have whatever powers are not denied to it, by virtue of the "elastic" or "necessary and proper" clause of the Constitution) to the views of [[Thomas Jefferson]] (who felt the federal government should have only the powers expressly given it).  Which one was right?'''

Two other events of the 1790s were significant, though unrelated to President Washington or Congress.  In 1793, Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, which is a mechanical way to separate cotton from its thorny branch and seeds.  The cotton gin enabled a machine to do the work of 50 men, and greatly increased cotton production by the South.  It turned the South into a powerful economic force and made it the primary source of cotton production in the entire world.  By the time of the [[Civil War]], the South thought it was invincible due to its ability to produce cotton ("King Cotton"), and how the entire world depended on the South for this basic ingredient of so many things at the time.

Two other events of the 1790s were significant, though unrelated to President Washington or Congress.  In 1793, Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, which is a mechanical way to separate cotton from its thorny branch and seeds.  The cotton gin enabled a machine to do the work of 50 men, and greatly increased cotton production by the South.  It turned the South into a powerful economic force and made it the primary source of cotton production in the entire world.  By the time of the [[Civil War]], the South thought it was invincible due to its ability to produce cotton ("King Cotton"), and how the entire world depended on the South for this basic ingredient of so many things at the time.

Also in 1793, the new U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision named ''Chisholm v. Georgia''.  It allowed, for the first time, a lawsuit to be filed against a state in the new federal courts by a citizen of ''a different'' state.  This outraged the states and was considered an "activist" decision by the Supreme Court, because it subjected a state to the judicial power of the new national government.  Within two years Congress passed and more than 3/4 of the states ratified the [[Eleventh Amendment]] to the Constitution specifically to overturn this decision.  This demonstrated a "check and balance" on Supreme Court power: amend the Constitution to overturn a bad decision.  Including the Bill of Rights, there have been a total of 27 amendments to the Constitution, a few of which were motivated by a desire to overturn a bad Supreme Court decision.  Note that Congress cannot overrule the Supreme Court if it bases its decision in the Constitution itself; and amendment to the Constitution is then the only way to overrule the Supreme Court.

Also in 1793, the new U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision named ''Chisholm v. Georgia''.  It allowed, for the first time, a lawsuit to be filed against a state in the new federal courts by a citizen of ''a different'' state.  This outraged the states and was considered an "activist" decision by the Supreme Court, because it subjected a state to the judicial power of the new national government.  Within two years Congress passed and more than 3/4 of the states ratified the [[Eleventh Amendment]] to the Constitution specifically to overturn this decision.  This illustrated a type of "check and balance" on Supreme Court power: the power of the People to amend the Constitution to overturn a bad Supreme Court decision.  Including the Bill of Rights, there have been a total of 27 amendments to the Constitution, a few of which were motivated by a desire to overturn a bad Supreme Court decision.  Notice that Congress cannot overrule the Supreme Court if the Court bases its decision in the Constitution itself; an amendment to the Constitution is then the only way to overrule a Supreme Court decision that is based in the Constitution.

==The Presidency of John Adams==

==The Presidency of John Adams==

[[John Adams]], born to a prosperous farmer in Massachusetts, became the second President of the United States after George Washington, who was a "tough act to follow" (i.e., no one could be as respected as Washington was).  John Adams was elected President as the Federalist Party's candidate in 1796, and served from 1797-1801.   

[[John Adams]], born to a prosperous farmer in Massachusetts, became the second President of the United States after George Washington, who was a "tough act to follow" (i.e., no one could be as respected as Washington was).  John Adams was elected President as the Federalist Party's candidate in 1796, and served from 1797-1801.   

He served only one term (four years) and his presidency was a failure due primarily to foreign policy humiliations.  The problem was that no one in Europe respected this new country called the United States, and Adams had to deal with that lack of respect.  For example, in 1798 there was the "XYZ Affair," in which American diplomats went to France to demand an end to French attacks on American ships.  Instead of being received in a dignified manner, three French agents (referred to anonymously as "XYZ") demanded that a bribe be given to them in order to consider the American request.  News of this demand for a bribe reached the United States and it was humiliating to the young country.

He served only one term (four years) and his presidency was a failure due primarily to foreign policy humiliations.  The problem was that no one in Europe respected this new country called the United States, and Adams had to deal with that lack of respect.  For example, in 1798 there was the "XYZ Affair," in which American diplomats went to France to demand an end to French attacks on American ships.  Instead of being received in a dignified manner, three French agents (referred to anonymously as "XYZ") demanded that a bribe be given to them or else the American request would not even be considered.  News of this demand for a bribe reached the United States and it was humiliating to the young country.

Adams had been a successful attorney, and had courageously obtained "not guilty" verdicts at the trial of the British soldiers who fired upon colonists in the Boston Massacre.  But like many trial attorneys, Adams was combative in personal discussions also.  He loved to argue all the time.  That does not make for a good President.

Adams had been a successful attorney, and had courageously obtained "not guilty" verdicts at the trial of the British soldiers who fired upon colonists in the Boston Massacre.  But like many trial attorneys, Adams was combative in personal discussions also.  He loved to argue all the time.  That personality does not make for a good President.

Adams did not handle the criticism of him well.  Recall that he was from Puritan Massachusetts, where it was customary to exclude or even execute someone who challenged authority.  Adams' reaction to unfavorable statements about him was to sign the Alien & Sedition Acts, which made it a crime to criticize him!

In particular, Adams did not handle the criticism of him well.  Recall that he was from Puritan Massachusetts, where it was customary to exclude or even execute someone who challenged authority.  Adams' reaction to unfavorable statements about him was to sign the Alien & Sedition Acts, which made it a crime to criticize him!

The political party known as the "Federalist Party," which Adams led, wanted to censor and weaken the opposition party, known as the "Democratic-Republican Party."  The Alien & Sedition Acts were designed to weaken the Democratic-Republican Party, which had [[Thomas Jefferson]] and [[James Madison]] as its leaders.  The Alien Act gave the President the power to expel aliens (immigrants) from the country, and the Sedition Act made it a crime to impede any law or utter criticism of high government officials like Adams.  By today's standards, the Sedition Act was blatantly unconstitutional under the First Amendment protection of free speech.

The political party known as the "Federalist Party," which Adams led, wanted to censor and weaken the opposition party, known as the "Democratic-Republican Party."  The Alien & Sedition Acts were designed to weaken the Democratic-Republican Party, which had [[Thomas Jefferson]] and [[James Madison]] as its leaders.  The Alien Act gave the President the power to expel aliens (immigrants) from the country, and the Sedition Act made it a crime to impede any law or utter criticism of high government officials like Adams.  By today's standards, the Sedition Act was blatantly unconstitutional under the First Amendment protection of free speech.