Overview of George Washington's Administration

An Overview of George Washington's Administration

In February, 1789, members of the first Electoral College met in their own states and voted. At that time, each elector voted for two persons. The candidate with the most votes became President, and the runner-up became Vice-President. Washington was elected President with 69 votes -- the largest number possible -- from the 69 electors. John Adams was elected Vice-President with 34 votes.

George Washington took the oath as first President on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City on April 30, 1789. His second inauguration took place in Philadelphia. He was the only President to be inaugurated in two cities.

His Vice-President and Cabinet
Vice-President	John Adams
Secretary of Foreign Affairs (State)	Thomas Jefferson Edmund Randolph (1794) Timothy Pickering (1795)
Secretary of the Treasury	Alexander Hamilton Oliver Wolcott, Jr. (1795)
Secretary of War	Henry Knox Timothy Pickering (1795) James McHenry (1796)
Attorney General	Edmund Randolph William Bradford (1794) Charles Lee (1795)


U.S. Events During His Administration
Population in 1797 4,900,000
June 1, 1789	Washington signed the first act of Congress, concerning the administration of oaths.
1789	Congress established the Department of Foreign Affairs (now the Department of State).
July 4, 1789	Washington signed a bill that provided income to run the government by setting taxes on imports.
November 1789	North Carolina became the 12th state to ratify the Constitution.
February 1, 1790	The Supreme Court held its first session.
July 1790	Congress passed a law calling upon the United States to assume the wartime debts of the various states, authorizing the borrowing of $12 million from other countries, and paying interest on the public debts.
July 1790	Congress approved a bill to transfer the government to Philadelphia until 1800, after which it would be moved to a federal district on the Potomac River.
November 1790	Washington took up residence in Philadelphia.
1790	Rhode Island became the 13th state to ratify the Constitution.
1790-1791	The first national census was completed. It reported a population of 3,929,214 persons.
1791	The Cabinet held its first recorded meeting.
1791	Congress chartered the Bank of the United States.
1791	Congress established the District of Columbia.
December 15, 1791	The Bill of Rights became law.
1791	Vermont was admitted as the 14th state.
April 1792	Washington issued his first veto -- of a bill increasing the number of U.S. Representatives from 67 to 120.
1792	Kentucky was admitted as the 15th state.
February 13, 1793	The Electoral College ballots were counted and Washington was re-elected -- he received 132 votes, John Adams received 77.
April 22, 1793	Washington issued the Neutrality Proclamation to keep the United States out of the war between France and Great Britain.
September 18, 1793	Washington laid the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
1793	Eli Whitney invented to cotton gin.
1794	The Whiskey Rebellion was crushed by federal troops.
1795	Washington signed the Jay Treaty to maintain trade with Great Britain.
1795	The first hard-surfaced road was completed, extending 62 miles from Philadelphia to Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
1796	Tennessee was admitted as the 16th state.


World Events During His Administration
1789-1799	The French Revolution took place.
1791	The British Parliament passed the Canada Constitution Act.
1794	Aga Mohammed founded the Kajar Dynasty in Persia (now Iran).
1795	Austria, Prussia and Russia partitioned Poland among themselves.
1797	The French Army under Napoleon Bonaparte drove the Austrians from Italy.

John Adams
Thomas Jefferson
Alexander Hamilton
Department of State
Kentucky
Eli Whitney
Jay Treaty
Iran
Napoleon Bonaparte

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THE ROBINSON LIBRARY --> American History. --> United States: General History and Description. --> Revolution to the Civil War, 1775/1783-1861. --> Constitutional Period, 1789-1809. --> George Washington's Administration, 1789-1797.

This page was last updated on 09/15/2011.