The year 1791 brought an end to the Revolutionary War, and a new nation was born. This was not the end, but just the beginning. The founding fathers had a large task ahead of them. Not only did they need to draft a new Constitution with rules and regulations for the federal government, but they also had to establish who would lead the country. The obvious people were the superstars of the Revolution--those who were leaders at the Constitutional Conventions and state delegates. Most of the delegates had gained national-level experience during the Revolution by becoming leaders in the military, serving in Congress, or working as diplomats.
It is important to note who was involved in the first government. It was a mixture of Federalists, who were proponents of a stronger national government, and Antifederalists, who supported a more limited government.
Read the information below and take notes on the first presidential administration.
U.S. President George Washington (center) being inaugurated in New York City, with Vice President John Adams to the right, on April 30, 1789
At age 57, George Washington had been once more looking forward to a peaceful retirement as a gentleman farmer in Virginia. He had served the new nation as the commander-in-chief of its military during the Revolution. Then, after a short retirement, James Madison drafted him to help give the Constitutional Convention legitimacy, and then he was chosen to head the assembly. Now, he was on his way slowly toward New York City, then the nation’s capital because his fellow citizens elected him to the highest office in the land. On April 30, 1789, Washington took the oath of office as the first president of the United States under the federal Constitution. John Adams became vice president.
Perhaps no office in the new government created more suspicion among the people than the office of president. Many Americans feared that a president would try to become king, but they trusted Washington - cautiously. They believed that his leadership had brought them victory in the Revolutionary War. Washington was aware of the difficulties he faced. He knew that the precedents, or traditions, he established as the nation’s first president would shape the future of the United States. One precedent he established concerned the way people should address him. Vice President Adams supported “His Highness the President of the United States,” but ultimately it was decided that “Mr. President” would be more appropriate.
Washington and the new Congress also had many decisions to make about the structure of government. For example, the Constitution gave Congress the power to establish executive departments, but it did not state whether the department heads would report to the president or to Congress.
A portrait of Thomas Jefferson, by Rembrandt Peale
During the summer of 1789, Congress set up three departments in the executive branch of government. The State Department would handle relations with other nations, the Treasury Department would deal with financial matters, and the War Department would provide for the nation’s defense. Congress also created the office of attorney general to handle the government’s legal affairs and the office of postmaster general to direct the postal service.
To head the departments, Washington chose prominent political figures of the day – Thomas Jefferson as secretary of state, Alexander Hamilton as secretary of the treasury, and Henry Knox as secretary of war. He appointed Edmund Randolph as attorney general. Washington met regularly with the three department heads and the attorney general, who together became known as the cabinet. Congress created the executive departments, but opinion was divided on how much power the president should have over them. For example, should the president be able to replace an official that he had appointed, and the Senate had confirmed? Senators were evenly divided in voting on the issue.
Vice President Adams broke the tie by voting to allow the president the authority to dismiss cabinet officers without the Senate’s approval. This decision strengthened the president’s position. It also helped create a greater separation between the legislative and executive branches of government by establishing the president’s authority over the executive branch.
The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C
The first Congress also had to decide how to set up the nation’s court system. The Constitution briefly mentioned a supreme court, but it had left further details about the courts to Congress. Disagreements arose between those favoring a single, national legal system and those favoring state courts. The two groups reached a compromise in the Judiciary Act of 1789. With this act, Congress established a federal court system with 13 district courts and three circuit courts to serve the nation. State laws would remain, but the federal courts would have the power to reverse state decisions.
The Supreme Court would be the final authority on many issues. Washington nominated John Jay to lead the Supreme Court as chief justice, and the Senate approved Jay’s nomination. With the Judiciary Act, Congress had taken the first steps toward creating a strong and independent national judiciary.
Now see if you can match the person with his political post in the first presidential administration.
