President George Washington’s Inauguration Day
April 30, 1789 in New York City
The First Government
• Washington Established Cabinet -- 1789
• Washington Appointed Supreme Court Justices
and Federal Court System -- 1789
• Congress Passed the First Federal Budget -- 1789
• Established Tax System to Operate the
Government & Pay the War Debt – 1789
• Washington D.C became U.S. Capital -- 1790
• Ratification of the Bill of Rights by States -- 1791
Strife on the Western Frontier
• Whiskey Rebellion
– Uprising against the Federal Government over
taxes on whiskey
– George Washington sent troops to end the
rebellion
• Westward, ever westward…..
– Fighting Indians on the Frontier as the Population
moved Westward
Problems with France
• French Revolution in 1789
• People’s Uprising against the King and the
Noble Class
• Bloody France
• Went to War against England
– Tried to get America to join in against England
– America stayed neutral
Problems with England
• England was now scared of America
• English Ships Captured America trade ships
and IMPRESSED the sailors
– Forced Labor and harsh discipline
• Jay Treaty brought temporary cessation of
hostilities
Settling the Land Disputes with Spain:
Extending our Territory 1795
Pickney’s
Treaty
Line

America’s First Election 1796
The Significance of the 1796 Election:
Competing Visions & the Birth of the 2 Party System
– Federalists
•
•
•
•
Led by John Adams and Alexander Hamilton
Strong Central Government
Government led by “Qualified” Citizens
Industrial Nation with Diverse Economy
– Democratic-Republicans
• Led by Thomas Jefferson
• Favored States Rights over Central Government
• Rural and Agricultural Nation
The rules:
Popular Vote  The people vote for President
Electoral College Vote  Each ELECTOR votes for their top 2
70 votes needed to win
John Adams
Thomas Pickney
Oliver Ellsworth
John Jay
James Iredell
Samuel Johnston
Charles Pickney
Fed
Fed
Fed
Fed
Fed
Fed
Fed
Incumbent VP
Former Gov of S.C.
Supreme Court Justice
Governor of New York
Supreme Court Justice
Former Senator from NC
US Minister to France
Thomas Jefferson
Aaron Burr
Samuel Adams
George Clinton
John Henry
D-R
D-R
D-R
D-R
D-R
Former Secretary of State
Senator for New York
Governor of Massachussetts
Former Governor of New York
Senator from Maryland
Election
1796: The
Candidates
Election 1796: The Vote
Candidates in Order of Popularity
John Adams Fed
Thomas Jefferson D-R
Thomas Pickney Fed
Aaron Burr D-R
Sam Adams – D-R
Oliver Ellsworth F
George Clinton D-R
John Jay Fed
James Iredell Fed
John Henry D-R
Samuel Johnston Fed
Charles Pickney Fed
35,726
31,115
Election of 1796: The Results
John Adams received the most electoral votes
so he was declared President
Thomas Jefferson won the second-most electoral votes
and was declared Vice President
Question to Consider
Compared to today, where the president
and Vice-President are from the same
party and share the same vision for the
country: how do you think Adams and
Jefferson got along as the President and
Vice-president??
America Under President Adams: 1796-1800
• Unlike Washington, Adams was not popular and did
not have the trust of the nation or his colleagues
• His Presidency was marked by many issues and
negative affairs.
• Problems with France – almost going to War
• Alien and Sedition Acts –
– Keep foreigners out of America and restrict citizenship
– Censor unpopular speech against Adams or the
government as Seditious (Traitorous)
Jefferson vs Adams II – the Election of 1800
The Significance of the 1800 Campaign
• Introduced Negative Campaigning to America
– Adams was accused of wanting to be king and
starting a dynasty, and sucking up to England. He was
also accused of being overweight.
– Jefferson was accused as being godless and wanting
to spread the French Revolution to America. They
also said Jefferson’s supporters were “cut-throats
who walk in rags and sleep amid filth and vermin.”
Negative Campaigns
1800 vs 2016
Election 1800: The Vote
Popular Vote
Jefferson/
Burr
41,330
61.4%
Adams/
Pinckney
25,952
38.6%
Vote 1800:
Jefferson vs. Burr and The Tiebreaker