American Presidents
CRITICAL PERIOD: 1788-1815
01. George Washington [1789-1797] No Official Party Affiliation – sympathetic to Federalist Party policies Vice President – John Adams – Federalist MAJOR DOMESTIC AFFAIRS: Adoption of the Bill of Rights 1791 (first ten amendments) Judiciary Act of 1789 establishes federal courts and attorney general Establishment of the Bank of the United States Hamiltonian Fiscal Policies Assumption of State Debts from Revolution Establishment “full faith and credit” of the United States by paying off domestic and foreign loans for Revolution Centralized bank for unified currency, loans, and savings Whiskey Rebellion (Pennsylvania farmers against 1791 federal tax on whiskey; first test of Federal enforcement power) 1794 Farewell Address 1796 warns America to avoid “permanent alliances” MAJOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Tariff of 1789 (revenue and protectionism) Proclamation of Neutrality 1793 to keep America out of European wars Jay Treaty with England (resolution of Treaty of Paris) 1794-95 Pinckney Treaty with Spain (free navigation of Mississippi) 1795 French Revolution Storming of the Bastille 1789 Storming of the Tuileries 1792 Execution of Louis XVI 1793 Reign of Terror 1793 and Fall of Robespierre 1794 Failed insurrection of the sans-culottes 1795 The Directory 1795-1799 Genêt Affair 1793 saw French ambassador attempt to gain public support for the French Revolution; remains in America for fear of execution there 02. John Adams [1797-1801] – first President to live in the White House Federalist Vice President – Thomas Jefferson – Democratic Republican MAJOR DOMESTIC AFFAIRS: Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions 1798: “compact” idea of Federalism Alien and Sedition Acts 1798 Alien Friends Act (deportation of citizens of friendly nations) Sedition Act (no resistance to Federal Laws or criticism of the national government) Naturalization Act 1798 establishes 14 year