Washington’s
Ways
The Foreign and
Domestic Policies
of America’s First
President!
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Washington’s Ways
Copyright, 2012
Mr Educator
- An analysis of President Washington’s Domestic and Foreign Policies -
1.) This lesson can be used as an introduction to the domestic and foreign policies of George
Washington. It can also be used as the entire source of information for students.
2.) Distribute “Washington’s Ways” reading and explain to students what “Domestic” and
“Foreign” policy is (that every President has a ‘plan’ on how to handle these matters.) The
reading starts with a brief definition of each term.
3.) Distribute “Washington’s Ways” graphic organizer. This can be used as a complement to an
interactive student notebook. It can be also be whole-punched to keep in a binder.
4.) Review each section of the organizer, clarifying what students are looking for as they read.
Have students work individually or in pairs to complete the organizer.
5.) Debrief with the class to ensure all correct information has been attained.
6.) Wrap up with such questions like:
1.) What challenges did Washington face as President?
2.) Being that Washington was the FIRST President, what challenges did he face?
(to get students thinking that because he was first, he had
no guidelines to follow. He was in fact setting a “precedent”
for future leaders.)
3.) Do you think it was easy to be the first President?
4.) What is easier - being the First President or a President today?
Now includes an analysis that supports each perspective during the French Revolution. Should Washington
support the French or the British? These can be used as an alternative essay assignment or to complement the
current lesson!
Washington’s Ways
Domestic Policy
Foreign Policy
(a set of laws or policies set forth by a President
dealing with matters within a country’s borders)
(a set of laws or policies set forth by a President
dealing with matters outside a country’s borders)
The Whiskey Rebellion
Nearly twenty years after the Revolutionary War
began, the United States government faced a smallscale revolution by some of its own citizens. As in
the previous war, taxes were a central issue.
President George Washington and Treasure Secretary
Alexander Hamilton understood that putting down
this rebellion was critical to the life of the nation.
In order to create a self-supporting and effective
government, Hamilton knew he needed to find a
steady source of revenue. He proposed a tax on
whiskey produced in the United States, and
Congress instituted it in 1791. In general, the citizens
of that time felt negatively toward the idea of
taxation. The farmers of western Pennsylvania, many
of whom refined whiskey and profited from its sale,
proved outright hostile to the idea.
In July of 1794, a force of disgruntled whiskey
rebels attacked and destroyed the home of a tax
inspector. The rebellion grew in numbers and
threatened to spread to other states. Hamilton knew
that the presence of a large and potentially hostile
force in Pennsylvania could not be tolerated. If the
government were to survive, it would have to show
itself capable of keeping control.
Hamilton advocated the use of military force;
President George Washington instead put state
militias on the ready and sent in negotiators. When
talks proved fruitless, Washington agreed to
Hamilton's view. A force of 13,000 militia troops, led
by Hamilton and Virginia governor Henry Lee, marched
into western Pennsylvania.
By the time the federal force arrived, the rebellion
had collapsed and most of the rebels had fled. Two
men were convicted of treason and later pardoned by
Washington. Alexander Hamilton was elated. The
fledgling federal government had proven it could keep
order -- a necessity if the U.S. was to avoid
instability.
The French Revolution
The outbreak of the French revolution coincided
with the beginning of George Washington's first
administration, but by 1793, warfare had engulfed
Europe, pitting England, Prussia, Austria, and Spain
against the new French Republic. The French
Revolution began under the same principles that
Americans fought for years earlier – that a
government cannot restrict the basic freedoms of
its people.
In Washington’s cabinet, Thomas
Jefferson opposed any expression of neutrality
while Alexander Hamilton supported it. Washington
eventually sided with the Hamilton and issued
a proclamation of neutrality that barred American
ships from supplying war material to either side
(although some trade continued secretly since
many private sailors relied on this market).
The issue was very sensitive. The United States
had won the War of Independence largely through
the military and financial support of France, but
that was before the French Revolution. Hamilton
and his fellow supporters were not in sympathy
with the revolution. Their argument, which
ultimately persuaded Washington, was that France
had helped in a war in which they had an interest in
the outcome. France's new war was entirely of a
European nature and the United States had no
interest.
On the contrary, Jefferson and his followers were
inspired by the French Revolution and felt that
neutrality was a betrayal. Jefferson argued that
not only do the French people deserve American
support (because France had supported the 13
colonies in the American Revolution), but they were
also fighting for the same basic principles of
individual liberty the Americans had fought for.
In the end, there was nothing to gain and much to
lose for the United States to involve itself in a
European conflict, and whether from Hamilton's
logic or the clear national interest, Washington
opted to remain neutral.
Should Washington Support the French?
-
On February 6, 1778, America signed the Treaty of Alliance. The Treaty of Alliance made the
United States and France allies against Great Britain in the Revolutionary War.
-
France aided the colonists by providing military armaments and loans. France's support deepened
after the Americans beat the British in the October 1777 Battle of Saratoga, proving themselves
committed to independence and worthy of a formal alliance.
-
During the Revolution, France sent an estimated 12,000 soldiers and 32,000 sailors to the
American war effort, the most famous of whom was the Marquis of Lafayette. He became a good
friend with American commander in chief George Washington in the process.
-
Thomas Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans believed America had an obligation to
support France, both because France helped America and because the Treaty of Alliance was still
in effect.
The Treaty of Alliance1
(Alliance between France and America during the Revolutionary War)
ART. 1.
If War should break out between France and Great Britain, during the continuance of the present War
between the United States and England, his Majesty and the said United States, shall make it a common
cause, and aid each other mutually with their good Offices, their Counsels, and their forces, according to
the exigency of Conjunctures as becomes good & faithful Allies.
ART. 8.
Neither of the two Parties shall conclude either Truce or Peace with Great Britain, without the formal
consent of the other first obtain'd; and they mutually engage not to lay down their arms, until the
Independence of the United States shall have been formally or tacitly assured by the Treaty or Treaties
that shall terminate the War. (Britain still did not recognize American Independence; Britain still
occupied forts in the Northwest Territory.)
Did America have an obligation to support France during the French Revolution?
1
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/diplomacy/france/fr1788-2.htm#art2
Should Washington Support the British?
-
“Britain was the United States’ most important trading partner, and British trade was too
important to risk war.”
-
Since 90% of import duties came from British trade, Hamilton advocated pro- British policies,
which he saw as necessary for national economic survival.
-
Britain was also a buyer of many American goods. American merchants had been profiting from
the war by shipping sugar and coffee brought from the West Indies in the Caribbean to Europe.
-
The use of tariffs on imports was a major way Hamilton’s financial plan raised money to pay off
the war debt.
-
America benefited from both British exports and imports.
-
Alexander Hamilton and the Federalists opposed Jefferson. They believed that America did not
have an obligation to France. Hamilton wanted America to either remain neutral or side with the
British – this way, the American economy would continue to develop.
Would a war with Britain hurt the US economy?