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Cody Turnow George Washington No political party Born- February 22, 1732 Died- December 14, 1799 Terms of Presidency 1789-1793, 1793-1797 Vice President- John Adams, 1789-1793, 1793-1797 George Washington was an archetypical president, not only in political affairs but also in his character. His presidency and administration deserves an A+ because of the critical precedents he set as well as his foreign policy. No man was better suited to be the first president of such a nation. Washington had several goals for his presidency, one being to set presidential standards that would ensure the preservation of the republic. Washington succeeded in this, setting the precedent that a president should serve no more than two terms. Later this would be added to the Constitution via an amendment. Washington also established neutrality in foreign affairs, as he chose not to become mired in European and global affairs that did not directly affect the U.S. He signed the Jay Treaty which resolved affairs with Britain over unpaid debt left over from the Revolution. The Washington administration also abstained from the Britain-France conflict. Washington set a precedent in using military force to squelch rebellion during the Whiskey Rebellion. He led the armed response during his presidency, one of only two U.S. presidents to personally command military in the field. He also set precedents such as being addressed as “Mr. President”, rather than something more majestic to distinguish himself from a monarch-like position. Another goal of Washington and his administration was to restore the nation financially. After the American Revolution, the U.S. economy was in rough condition. Washington worked closely with Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton and created a financial plan to get the nation out of debt. He established the first national bank, a national coinage system, and signed the Tariff Act of 1789 which enabled the government to raise revenues through taxes on trade. Washington and his administration laid out clear goals for the nation and met these goals successfully.

George Washington had a relatively good relationship with Congress. Within his first term as president, members of Washington’s cabinet: Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, held strong oppositions towards each other. Hamilton supported a more nationalistic form of government, while Jefferson opposed a national bank and supported a more republican form of government. This created factions in Washington’s cabinet, and led to the creation of the Federalist and Democratic-Republican political parties. While Jefferson and Hamilton led a heated rivalry, Washington made an effort to separate himself from political factions, though he did side with Hamilton and the Federalists on the majority of issues. During Washington’s presidency the Senate was largely Federalist, and the House of Representatives was as well except for part of Washington’s second term. The majority of legislation passed by Washington was heavily Federalist, thus putting Washington on one side of the see-saw regardless of his attempt to stay out of a political party. Of the legislation Washington passed, the Tariff Act of 1789, the Jay Treaty, the Judiciary Act of 1789, the Bank Act of 1791 and the Coinage age of 1792 were some of the most important. The Jay Treaty, which resolved the debt issue with Britain, was a major dividing line between Federalists and Democratic-Republicans, and caused considerable discontent among Jeffersonians. Washington and his administration passed legislation in favor of a more Federalist view, but Washington still made a noble effort to not associate himself with one party. He worked well with Congress and strived to pass legislation to better the nation, not just to further a personal agenda.

The establishment of the Judiciary Act of 1789 was one of the most positive things to come out of Washington’s presidency. It established a federal judiciary system, the third branch of U.S. government. During the debates over the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, the idea of a separate federal judiciary was a fervent topic. Anti-Federalists strongly opposed the idea and thought it would lead to too much government power. The institution of the federal judiciary was a huge step in our nation’s history. It set up the federal court system as well as the position of attorney general. This system has been amended over the years but the basic structure is still intact today. One of the only negative actions of Washington’s presidency was the excise tax put on distilled liquor in 1791. Although the government needed the revenue badly, whiskey was not the appropriate item to tax. It focused on poor western farmers who turned their excess grain into whiskey. Many westerners were angered at this blatant attack and display of favoritism towards the aristocratic east. This sparked the Whiskey Rebellion, which was squandered easily by Washington and his militia but nonetheless was a large display of dissatisfaction with Washington and his administration.

The most influential piece of legislation to come out of Washington’s terms as president was the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the Constitution, giving the people of the United States their individual liberties. It restricts what the government can do in respect to the rights of the people. The Bill of Rights affects our daily lives, from what we see printed in the newspaper and on television, to the clothing we are allowed to wear and the things we can say. The Bill of Rights is an essential piece to what makes the U.S. so special. Without it, people would live in fear of the government and what it can do. This indisputably illustrates the genius of Washington and Congress during his terms.

In relation to any other president to take office, Washington was loved by his country, which he served humbly and wholeheartedly. He was a man of integrity and had a great love for his country. He set moral precedents and established a firm foundation for the U.S. His legislation and foreign policy kept the U.S. out of war in the infancy of its nationhood and created the government systems known today. He was a president for all others to be measured up to, and may be the most important man in the nation’s history. "George Washington." //infoplease//. N.p., 2007. Web. 1 Sep 2010. . John, Miller. "George Washington." //googleusercontent//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Sep 2010. . "American President: George Washington." //Miller// //Center//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Sep 2010. . Marshall, John. //The Life of George Washington//. Indianapolic: Liberty Fund, 2000. Print. Marshall, John. [Italics]The Life of George Washington[/Italics]. Indianapolic: Liberty Fund, 2000. Print.