The First Administration
On April 30, 1789, this man took the oath of office as the first president of the United States under the new Constitution.
Who is George Washington?
As the first Secretary of the Treasury, he was tasked with managing the new nation's money and debt.
Who is Alexander Hamilton
This 1789 Act established a federal court system while allowing states to keep their own laws and courts.
What is the Judiciary Act of 1789?
Under the Articles of Confederation, the government was described as this, leading to the creation of a new Constitution with a strong executive.
What is weak and ineffective?
Alexander Hamilton faced the difficult task of paying off millions of dollars owed to American citizens and these entities.
What are other countries?
Washington knew his actions would set these "traditions" that would help shape the nation's future.
What are precedents?
Washington picked this leading political figure to head the State Department and handle relations with other nations.
Who is Thomas Jefferson?
To pay off wartime debts, the government issued these notes that promised repayment of borrowed money in the future.
What are bonds?
This document, added by Congress in 1791, was designed to guarantee civil liberties and limit the power of government
What is the Bill of Rights?
Southern states strongly opposed Hamilton’s plan because they had accumulated much less of this than the Northern states.
What is wartime debt?
This former Vice President broke a tie in the Senate to give the president the power to dismiss cabinet officers without approval.
Who is John Adams?
This group of top executive advisers, including department heads and the attorney general, is known by this collective term.
What is the Cabinet?
Washington chose this man to lead the Supreme Court as its very first Chief Justice.
Who is John Jay?
James Madison originally introduced this many amendments to Congress, though only 10 were eventually ratified
What is 12?
To build national credit, Hamilton proposed that the federal government take over and pay off these specific debts.
What are state debts?
James Madison introduced a set of amendments to fulfill a promise to protect these specific "civil liberties."
What is the Bill of Rights?
Washington chose Henry Knox to head this department, which was responsible for looking after the nation's defense.
What is the Department of War?
These people risk money in hopes of making a large profit later; many bought up old bonds for less than their value.
Who are speculators?
This was the primary job of the presidents who served under the Articles of Confederation before the new Constitution was written.
What is to lead Congress?
Hamilton argued that paying off the national debt would give states a "strong interest" in the success of this branch of government.
What is the national (or federal) government?
This specific amendment was designed to protect against a too-powerful national government by giving all unlisted powers to the states or the people.
What is the Tenth Amendment?
To address the government's legal affairs, Washington chose this man to serve as the first Attorney General.
Who is Edmund Randolph?
To win support for his debt plan, Hamilton agreed to support locating the nation's capital in the South along this river.
What is the Potomac River?
Many Americans wanted a Bill of Rights because they feared replacing one unjust government with another, specifically wanting protection from this.
What is a strong national government?
Critics claimed Hamilton's plan to pay bonds at full value would make these people rich at the expense of original bondholders.
Who are speculators?