George Washington's Presidency Dbq

During the eighteenth century, the American Revolution ended and the Constitution was born. Before the Constitution, the failed attempt of government, the Articles of Confederation, left the states with too much power and a weak central government. Following the formation of the new government, George Washington took office as the United States’ first president. Prior to this he was a general who fought in the Revolutionary War. Having been a successful general, he was elected into office. Washington had to closely monitor his actions because everything he did set a precedent for future leaders. In his eight year presidency, George Washington faced a multitude of hardships such as economy, foreign policy, and political parties.

To begin, economic

While fighting the Revolution, the United States borrowed large sums of money from France, the Netherlands, and Spain to fund their struggle for independence. This debt totaled over 52 million dollars. The government believed that America had to reimburse those nations in order to gain their respect. Alexander Hamilton’s Financial Plan suggested various ways in which government could collect money from Americans so that they could pay back for the goods and services provided to the government during the war. Tariffs, taxes on imported goods that American’s had to pay, were put in place to raise funds. This strengthened the economy, as an additional form of income was prevalent, also relieving some stress from Washington. Moreover, the assumption of state debt became a prominent problem for Washington to deal with. In December 1790, Virginia’s

His citizens split against each other, defending different sides of a pressing issue. People took sides on how to view the Constitution, where the majority of power should go, and involvement in the war between the French and the British. When it came to viewing the Constitution, one party favored strict interpretation while the other faction wanted a loose interpretation. Strict interpretation meant that if something wasn’t written specifically in the Constitution, it was illegal. Loose interpretation opposed that and believed that the only rules one has to follow are those written in the law. This was caused by Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton disagreeing on this topic and each gaining followers. Another issue that divided the citizens were those who defended more state power and those who wanted a stronger federal government. Some people wanted a stronger central government and were previously called Federalists. Others, however, did not and were formerly named Anti Federalists. This separated the population in half, yet again, due to beliefs on a certain topic. Washington recognized the possible obstruction to the nation from political parties. In his Farewell Address, President Washington informed his people of the danger that comes with them. “I… warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects [of political parties].” (Document 6). He was referring to his first