George Washington Turning Point Analysis
April 30, 1789 was great turning point in our country. George Washington had been inaugurated in New York City as the first president of the United States. During his years of being president, he set an important precedent by setting the standard of 2 terms for a president when he stepped down in 1796. After being elected, the first Congress created 5 executive departments to help Washington carry out his duties, which was also known as the first Cabinet. Washington set a precedent by choosing very influential and well-known leaders to serve in his cabinet. Two of the most influential, were the Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson, and the Secretary of Treasury, Alexander Hamilton. Washington had faced many problems and challenges during his
…show more content…
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand sent three agents to offer a deal instead of directly confronting the Americans.Talleyrand wanted $250,000 for himself and a $10 million loan to France, which was outrageous because this was considered bribery, so Adams declined. Many Americans were outraged when they heard about this, so Adams did not reveal the names of the agents while referring to them as X, Y, and Z. This then was called the XYZ Affair. While many Federalists wanted war, Adams made sure that war would not occur, by sending diplomats to France again, but this time, when they arrived, they found an ambitious young army officer named Napoleon Bonaparte in charge. Napoleon said that they did not have time to have war with the United States, so he signed an agreement to stop seizing American Ships. Like Washington, Adams kept the nation out of war, although it cost him support of the Federalists and weakened the party before the election of 1800. In 1798, several laws were passed through Congress, and these laws were known as the Alien and Sedition Acts. Under the Alien Act, the President could expel any alien(foreigner) who is thought to be dangerous to the country. Under the Sedition Act, citizens could be fined or jailed for criticizing the government or its officials. Republicans protested that the Sedition Act violated the Constitution, because the first Amendment, they argued, states that it protected freedom of speech and of the press. There had been many arguments against this, such as the resolutions written by Jefferson and Madison, the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions. These stated that if a state decides a law is unconstitutional, it has the power to nullify that law within its borders, and raised the issue of states’
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand sent three agents to offer a deal instead of directly confronting the Americans.Talleyrand wanted $250,000 for himself and a $10 million loan to France, which was outrageous because this was considered bribery, so Adams declined. Many Americans were outraged when they heard about this, so Adams did not reveal the names of the agents while referring to them as X, Y, and Z. This then was called the XYZ Affair. While many Federalists wanted war, Adams made sure that war would not occur, by sending diplomats to France again, but this time, when they arrived, they found an ambitious young army officer named Napoleon Bonaparte in charge. Napoleon said that they did not have time to have war with the United States, so he signed an agreement to stop seizing American Ships. Like Washington, Adams kept the nation out of war, although it cost him support of the Federalists and weakened the party before the election of 1800. In 1798, several laws were passed through Congress, and these laws were known as the Alien and Sedition Acts. Under the Alien Act, the President could expel any alien(foreigner) who is thought to be dangerous to the country. Under the Sedition Act, citizens could be fined or jailed for criticizing the government or its officials. Republicans protested that the Sedition Act violated the Constitution, because the first Amendment, they argued, states that it protected freedom of speech and of the press. There had been many arguments against this, such as the resolutions written by Jefferson and Madison, the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions. These stated that if a state decides a law is unconstitutional, it has the power to nullify that law within its borders, and raised the issue of states’