George Washington 1789 1797 Washingtons Foreign Problems Thomas

George Washington 1789 -1797

Washington’s Foreign Problems • Thomas Jefferson was Secretary of State • Washington and Jefferson decided the US could not choose sides in the war between • Britain and France • Created the Proclamation of Neutrality 1793 • Stating US would remain neutral in foreign affairs • Jay and Pickney Treaties see reading

Washington’s Financial Problems • The US was $52 million in debt • Alexander Hamilton was Secretary of Treasury • In order to gain respect for US he planned to • Tax-see reading • Create a National Bank-see reading • Hamilton and Jefferson argued over • The constitutionality of the bank • This argument led to forming of Political Parties

• These parties still exist today with different names • Democratic-Republicans-Jefferson-Democrats • Federalists-Hamilton-Republicans

Washington’s Precedents • • Two Terms Mr. President’s Cabinet. Department of – Treasury-Hamilton – State-Jefferson – War-Henry Knox – Attorney General-Edmund Rudolph

Washington’s Warnings • Warned against political parties because • He said they are more concerned with their cause than the nation’s best interests • Also warned against Entangling Alliances • Trade w/other nations, no political alliances • Said would lead to unwanted wars • Led to a foreign policy of Isolationism