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==George Washington's Presidency==

==George Washington's Presidency==

[[George Washington]] was so popular and respected that he probably could have become king.  He was in his fifties, about the age of our President Bush.  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, in his declining 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 presidential candidate John McCain. He set an unwritten tradition that was followed by every president until Franklin Roosevelt. The two-term tradition would be enshrined in the Constitution in 1951<ref>http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html</ref>

[[George Washington]] was so popular and respected that he probably could have become king.  He was in his fifties, about the age of our President Bush.  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 presidential candidate John McCain. He set an unwritten tradition that was followed by every president until Franklin Roosevelt. The two-term tradition was ultimately 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 all France did help us win the Revolutionary War.  But Washington wanted to stay out of foreign conflicts.  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 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 grown out of hand, 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 obvious and justified irritation, he granted Genet's wishes.  Genet later married the daughter of the governor of New York, and became a normal farmer.

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.

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 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?  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.

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''.)

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.

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 that 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.

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.

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.  But this plan was not as successful as Hamilton's other efforts.

In 1793, President Washington issued "Washington's Neutrality Proclamation,"

In 1793, President Washington issued "Washington's Neutrality Proclamation,"