Washington's Precedents
This group of top advisors was established by Washington and became a lasting executive branch precedent.
What is the Cabinet?
This domestic uprising in Pennsylvania, sparked by a tax on a popular grain product, tested the federal government's authority.
What is the Whiskey Rebellion?
This European nation's resentment of the Jay Treaty led them to seize American ships.
What is France?
These controversial 1798 laws allowed the President to deport non-citizens and made it a crime to criticize the government or its officials.
What are the Alien and Sedition Acts?
This title, chosen by Washington instead of "His Highness," set a standard for the President's formal address.
What is Mr. President?
The emergence of the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans signified the rise of this political institution.
What is the party system (or two-party system)?
This diplomatic incident involved French agents demanding a bribe from American delegates before beginning negotiations.
What is the XYZ Affair?
This act raised the waiting period for an immigrant to become a citizen from five to fourteen years.
What is the Naturalization Act?
Washington choosing to step down after two terms, though not legally required, set this powerful precedent for future presidents.
This 1795 treaty with Spain granted the U.S. the right to navigate the Mississippi River and deposit goods at New Orleans.
What is Pinckney's Treaty?
This undeclared naval war between the U.S. and France was the military consequence of the XYZ Affair.
What is the Quasi-War?
Written secretly by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, these state resolutions argued that states could nullify or reject unconstitutional federal laws.
What are the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions?
The creation of this national bank was a key part of Alexander Hamilton's financial plan, which Washington supported.
This 1794 treaty with Great Britain attempted to resolve issues from the Revolution, but was highly unpopular with Democratic-Republicans.
What is the Jay Treaty?
The U.S. built up this part of its military, establishing a separate department in 1798, in response to hostilities with France.
What is the Navy?
Adams's appointment of these judges on his last night in office was an attempt to keep Federalist influence in the judicial branch.
Who are the Midnight Judges?
Washington set the precedent of presidential neutrality with this document in 1793, urging Americans not to take sides in the conflict between Great Britain and France.
What is the Proclamation of Neutrality?
In his Farewell Address, Washington warned the nation about the dangers of political parties and the risks of forming these long-term alliances.
What are permanent alliances (or foreign entanglements)?
Adams peacefully resolved the Quasi-War by signing this 1800 agreement, which was unpopular with his own Federalist party.
What is the Convention of 1800?
The election of 1800, which resulted in a peaceful transfer of power to Thomas Jefferson, is often referred to as this "peaceful" event, due to the shift in political party control.
What is the Revolution of 1800?