Contributions of Washington and Jefferson

    The internal political debates about the structure of new government, the war debts and socio-political and economic differences among the states were the major challenges of the United States after the adoption of the Constitution. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, the first and the third presidents of the United States contributed to institute a stable government through international affairs and internal affairs. The actions of administration of Washington and Jefferson resolved the challenge of guiding the new country.

George Washington, the first President of United States contributed to the stability of the government through internal affairs establishing an ingenious piece of government administration with his mediation skills, spirit of community, and role as leader through the Revolutionary War. Washington’s collaboration with his knowledgeable and experienced staff Thomas Jefferson, the head of the Department of State, Alexander Hamilton, Treasury Secretary, Vice-President Adams and Attorney General Edmond Randolph brought the Presidential Cabinet into existence and laid the foundation for the modern, more extensive Cabinet.  In 1790, the Hamilton’s Fiscal Plan to pay off pre-war debts at face value, assume the debts of the states and establish national bank helped to eliminate the nation’s massive war debts. Assuming the war debts not only gave the public confidence in the federal government, but also emotionally bonded them to the government out of a sense of loyalty and gratitude. The national bank implemented the Constitution’s decree that the government collect taxes, pay debts, and regulate trade. Washington played vital role in settling the Whiskey Rebellion, a rebellion against excise taxes on whiskey. Since the federal army was too small to be used he invoked the Militia Law of 1792 to summon the militias of Pennsylvania, Virginia and several other states which proved the new government could protect itself. Washington’s decision to sign Jay Treaty of 1794 helped normalize trade relations with Britain, remove them from western forts, and resolve financial debts left over from the Revolution. He signed Pinckney Treaty in 1795 with Spain which granted almost all the United States’ requests, including ownership of the previously disputed territory north of Florida and also gave American western farmers and traders the right of deposit at New Orleans.