U.S. History / Unit 3: The Early Republic and Expansion
3.1 Washington and the First Political Parties
Notes
George Washington became the first president in 1789. Almost everything he did set a precedent (an example for later leaders).
- He created a cabinet of advisers and stepped down after two terms.
- Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton wanted a strong national government: pay off war debts, create a national bank and use tariffs to support industry.
- Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson opposed the bank, arguing the Constitution did not allow it (a strict reading). Hamilton used a loose reading based on the necessary and proper clause.
- These disagreements created the first parties: Federalists (Hamilton) and Democratic-Republicans (Jefferson and Madison).
- The Whiskey Rebellion (1794): Washington sent troops to stop farmers protesting a whiskey tax, showing the new government could enforce its laws.
- In his Farewell Address (1796), Washington warned against political parties and permanent foreign alliances.
| Federalists | Democratic-Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Leader | Hamilton | Jefferson |
| Government | strong national | stronger states |
| Constitution | loose interpretation | strict interpretation |
| Economy | trade, banks, manufacturing | farming |
Practice
Hamilton argued that Congress could create a national bank even though the Constitution does not mention one. This view is called:
Hamilton read the necessary and proper clause broadly to allow powers not listed.
How did Washington's response to the Whiskey Rebellion differ from the government's response to Shays' Rebellion?
Under the Articles, Congress could not act; under the Constitution, Washington could.
In his Farewell Address, Washington warned Americans against:
He feared parties would divide the nation and alliances would drag it into European wars.
Ready for more? Take the Unit 3 test.