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| | 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 all France did to help us win the Revolutionary War. But in 1793 Washington issued his Proclamation of Neutrality to keep us neutral in the enormous turmoil in Europe.<make clearer> But Genet went around our new country stirring up pro-French sentiment with impassioned speeches. He 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 got out of hand, with senseless violence and executions. “Citizen Genet,” as he was known, reasonably feared the guillotine if he returned to France. He begged Washington to grant him asylum in this country. Washington did. Genet later married the daughter of the governor of New York, and became a normal 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 all France did to help us win the Revolutionary War. But in 1793 Washington issued his Proclamation of Neutrality to keep us neutral in the enormous turmoil in Europe.<make clearer> But Genet went around our new country stirring up pro-French sentiment with impassioned speeches. He 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 got out of hand, with senseless violence and executions. “Citizen Genet,” as he was known, reasonably feared the guillotine if he returned to France. He begged Washington to grant him asylum in this country. Washington did. Genet later married the daughter of the governor of New York, and became a normal farmer. |
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| − | Another example of George Washington’s greatness 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 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 rode out as their leader to quell the rebellion. The farmers gave up without bloodshed. Several were caught, tried and convicted for their rebellion. What did Washington do? He pardoned them. | + | Another example of George Washington's greatness 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 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 rode out as their leader to quell the rebellion. The farmers gave up without bloodshed. Several were caught, tried and convicted for their rebellion. What did Washington do? 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. |
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| | The first major legislative accomplishment of the "Washington Administration" (the name given to the government under a president) was the Judiciary Act of 1789, which established federal court system. Later, in the first major ruling of the Supreme Court in 1803, the Court declared a small portion of this Act unconstitutional in ''Marbury v. Madison''. | | The first major legislative accomplishment of the "Washington Administration" (the name given to the government under a president) was the Judiciary Act of 1789, which established federal court system. Later, in the first major ruling of the Supreme Court in 1803, the Court declared a small portion of this Act unconstitutional in ''Marbury v. Madison''. |
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| − | In 1796, Washington was up for reelection. 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. It also reminded Americans that morality is the foundation is our society. <an the problems with divisive parties> | + | In 1790, George Washington's top aide and the Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, gave a report on public credit to Congress. Hamilton urged Congress to create a national bank run by a private board of directors. Thomas Jefferson, who was a rival of Hamilton, opposed establishing a national bank, arguing it was not authorized by the Constitution. But Hamilton persuaded Washington based on the "necessary and proper" clause (implied powers) of the Constitution. Accordingly, in 1791 Hamilton was successful in persuading Congress to establish the First Bank of the United States, pursuant to the Bank Act. |
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| − | 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. A rivalry developed between [[Alexander Hamilton]], who favored a strong national government, and [[Thomas Jefferson]], who favored states’ rights. | + | Hamilton had other achievements with Washington's support. In the "compromise of 1790," Hamilton arranged for the South to agree to the federal assumption of state debts in exchange for the North agreeing to a southern location for the new capital (the District of Columbia). In 1791, Hamilton laid out a plan for government encouragement of industry. This plan was not as successful as Hamilton's other efforts. |
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| | + | In 1793, President Washington issued "Washington's Neutrality Proclamation," |
| | + | which established the neutrality of the United States in the French Revolution, despite our alliance with France. This was consistent with Washington's view that the United States should not entangle itself in foreign matters. |
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| | + | In 1794 and 1795, President Washington averted averted a second war with Britain over conflicts in the Northwest and shipping. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Jay (one of the three authors of the Federalist papers) persuaded the British to leave the Northwest posts, but Jay accepted continuing humiliation of the United States by British naval supremacy. This weak treaty ("Jay's Treaty") greatly angered many Americans. |
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| | + | There were also conflicts between Congress and the President. Due to the American outrage, Congress demanded that President Washington provide papers relating to Jay's Treaty so everyone could see how this happened. But Washington refused, and established the principle of "Executive Privilege" of President: the President does not take orders from Congress and does not have to produce executive-type documents to it. Being George Washington and having suppressed the Whiskey Rebellion, no one was going to challenge him on this! |
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| | + | A treaty that was more successful than Jay's Treaty was Pinckney's Treaty in 1795, whereby Spain gave the United States the right to navigate the Mississippi River, and Spain accepted a border between the United States and Spanish Florida (remember, Florida was not an English settlement and was not part of the United States then). |
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| | + | In 1796, Washington was up for reelection. 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. It 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." Washington also urged national patriotism and warned against divisiveness. |
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| | + | 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. |
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| | '''Debate: compare the views of [[Alexander Hamilton]] (the federal government has whatever powers are not denied to it, such as the power to establish a national bank, by virtue of the "elastic" or "necessary and proper" clause of the Constitution) to the views of [[Thomas Jefferson]] (the federal government has only the powers expressly given it). Which one was right?''' | | '''Debate: compare the views of [[Alexander Hamilton]] (the federal government has whatever powers are not denied to it, such as the power to establish a national bank, by virtue of the "elastic" or "necessary and proper" clause of the Constitution) to the views of [[Thomas Jefferson]] (the federal government has only the powers expressly given it). Which one was right?''' |