7.1 Washington Leads a New Nation

• January 1789 delegates known as the electoral college unanimously selected George Washington as President.

• John Adams became Vice President

• Washington was well liked by the public for his leadership throughout the revolution.

• Martha Washington took on the role of First lady by hosting social events.

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The First President

• The new federal government had to create policies and procedures from scratch.

• Precedent- action or decision that later serves as an example

• Departments within executive branch were established.

• Washington met with members of the "cabinet" who advised him throughout the presidency.

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Organizing the Government

Secretary of Treasury: Alexander Hamilton
Secretary of State: Thomas Jefferson
Secretary of War: Henry Knox
Attorney General: Edmund Randolph
Postmaster General: Samuel Osgood

• created 3 levels of the federal court system

  • District courts

  • Court of Appeals

  • US Supreme Court

• defined the powers of each level

• President nominates candidates to the federal judgeships which then have to be approved by the Senate

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Judiciary Act of 1789

• 1790- 4 million people lived in the US

• Many Americans had high expectations for the new country

• wanted improved trade with little restrictions

• wanted the government to protect them and keep a stable economy

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American Expectations for the Nation

• 95% of the population lived in rural communities and farms at this time

• Farmers wanted

  • rights to begin settling on western lands

  • little government interference

  • fair tax laws

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Urban vs. Rural Populations

• 5% of the population lived in urban communities

• they worked as craftspeople, laborers or merchants

• most wanted government help to support business

• at this time cities were small

• New York and Philadelphia were the largest with a population of 25,000

• New York City was named the first capital of the United States due to it's bustling economy and international trade.

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Urban vs. Rural Populations