George Washington's presidency shaped the American government in several key ways: 1) It saw the growth of the Supreme Court and establishment of the federal court system through the Judiciary Act of 1789. 2) Washington helped develop the structure of the executive branch by creating the first Presidential Cabinet comprised of department heads and advisors. 3) During his tenure, the first political parties - the Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties - arose, delineating the philosophical divisions within the government over states' rights and federal power.

1. AIM: How did George Washington’s
Presidency shape the American
government?

2. Washington’s Presidency Saw…
• Growth of the Supreme Court
• Judiciary Act of 1789 created the federal court
system
• Creation of a Presidential Cabinet
• Secretaries would serve as department heads
and advisors to the President
• Rise of political parties
• Development of the Federalist and
Republican parties

3. Washington’s Presidency Saw…
• Establishment of a National Bank
• D.C. become the capital
• Adoption of “Mr. President”

4. GEORGE WASHINGTON
• Foreign Issues and Policies
–Neutrality – declared when
French Revolution broke out.
–Democratic Republicans wanted
to support Jacobins
–Federalists wanted to support
Brits

5. GEORGE WASHINGTON
• Domestic Issues and Policies:
Government
– Increased the power of Federal
Courts (especially Supreme Court –
Judiciary Act of 1785
– Whiskey Rebellion – Proved that
our government (1) had the power
to enforce the law, and (2) had the
power to tax.

6. GEORGE WASHINGTON
• Domestic Issues and Policies: Economy
– National Bank
– 1789 Protective tariff = import tax on European
products – meant to encourage U.S.
production
– Excise tax = tax on products produced for sale
or distribution (i.e. Whiskey)
– Whiskey Rebellion – federal government sent
in troops
• Showed off power of the federal
government

7. GEORGE WASHINGTON
• Domestic Issues and Policies: Society
– Land
• Signed treaty of San Lorenzo (Pinckney’s
Treaty) with Spain – established 31st parallel
and Mississippi River
• Treaty of Grenville – acquired most of Ohio
from Native Americans
• Jay’s Treaty (1794)s – got the British out of
forts in US (fixed some problems of the
Treaty of Paris)

8. GEORGE WASHINGTON
Party Federalists Democrat-Republics
Leaders Hamilton/Adams Jefferson/Madison
Supporters Elite, Educated, Merchants,
Landowners, investors,
manufacturers
Farmers, trades people
Political Platforms Power with Federal Republic
Should be run by well educated
elite
Power with states
Limited national
government
Democracy w/virtuous
farmers
Economy Industrial: based on shipping and
manufacturing (North)
National Bank =loose
constitutional interpretation
Agrarian/Agriculture:
Based on farming
Unconstitutional=strict
Foreign Policy Supported Brits Supported French and
Republic = ideals of
Revolutions