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The Major Events of the First Three Presidents of the United States in Office
This is a timeline of the major events and accomplishments of the first three presidents of the United States while they were in office. -
The Hamilton Program
The Hamilton Program was Alexander Hamilton's financial program that he created to help the nation pay off its war debts and become economically stable. This plan was approved by Congress and meant that all states would help pay off the debts owed from the Revolution. The two ways they raised money to pay off the debts was by taxing imported goods and a tax was put on alcohol. Many Americans however did not like Hamilton's plan and the new taxes because of it. -
Foreign Policy Issues
During the 1790s the French Revolution broke out and the American people were torn about how to view it. Federalists looked at it as a democratic revolution gone wrong. While Jefferson supporters viewed it as an extension of the American Revolution. As the Revolution got worse Britain was now at war with France as well. While this fight happened the French minister Edmond Genét was sent to South Carolina to ask for support. Once Washington was re-elected the choice was made to remain neutral. -
The Whiskey Rebellion
In 1794 people in western Pennsylvania and the surrounding areas refused to pay tax on whiskey. The refusal became so strong that western Pennsylvania went into a state of rebellion against the federal government. President Washington and Secretary Hamilton saw it as a way to show the power of the United States government. In the summer of 1794 Washingtons army of 12000 men marched to Pittsburgh and quickly dissolved the rebellion, showing that the government was committed to enforcing its laws. -
Jays Treaty
Washington and Hamilton believed that avoiding war with Britain would be best for the country in the long run. So in 1794 Washington sent Chief Justice John Jay to London to create an agreement with Britain. The result of the agreement called the Jays Treaty meant Britain agreed to leave the forts they occupied in the northwest. The treaty also wanted to expand trade between the two countries. This treaty angered Americans and many viewed it as a sellout to the British. -
The Election of 1796
By the end of George Washington's second term, he decided to not run for a third. The election was now between Washington's Vice President, John Adams who was the Federalist candidate, and Thomas Jeffersons who was the Republican candidate. Adams won the close race with 71 electoral votes to Jeffersons 68. In a farewell address by George Washington, he offered to give his advice to the nation for the years to come. -
John Adams as President
Since Adams was elected President the United States drifted towards war with France as the French were angry about Jays Treaty. Adams sent officials to Paris to negotiate with the French and prevent a war. The officials were met by secret agents from the French foreign minister who demanded a bribe of $250000 and a loan of $10 million before they could see the minister and would be known as the XYZ affair. The officials refused to pay and by 1798 the United States and France were in a naval war. -
The Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 gave the President the power to arrest and deport citizens of other countries living in the United States. Under the Sedition Act anyone who wrote, published, or said anything false about the American government or its officials could be fined or jailed. Federalists used this to silence Republican opposition and as a result, ten Republicans were convicted and others were put on trial. -
The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and other Republicans believed that the Sedition Act violated the constitutional protection of freedom of speech. The Constitution however did not state who had the authority to judge whether an act of Congress went beyond the powers stated in the Constitution. Jefferson and Madison believed that the states should have that power. If a state decided that a law was unconstitutional it could declare the law "null and void" within the state. -
The Election of 1800
The election of 1800 resulted in a close win between Thomas Jefferson and his own vice presidential running mate, Aaron Burr. Neither of them won a majority of the electoral college so the election went to the House of Representatives and finally on February 17th, 1801 the House of Representatives elected Thomas Jefferson the third President of the United States. -
Jefferson's First Act as President
Thomas Jefferson in order to achieve his goals had to reverse most of what the Federalists did during their time. He started off by refusing to give speeches to Congress because it seemed too much like a king. He then resolved Congresses issue of what to address him as which he said, Mr. President. After that Jefferson and Congress went on to reduce the amount of taxes Americans paid and cut the size of the federal government and finally limited the army to just 3000 men. -
The Louisiana Purchase
When Napoleon took over as French leader he used his territory in America which controlled the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana and used it to charge American traders large sums of money to pass. In 1803 Jefferson sent James Monroe along with Robert Livingston to go to Paris to try and pay up to 10 million dollars for Louisiana. Instead, Napoleon wanted to sell all of the French claims, and rather than waiting for an answer they quickly offered 15 million which Jefferson approved. -
The Election of 1804
The election of 1804 was a landslide victory for Thomas Jefferson for a second term. After the Louisiana Purchase, Jefferson gained more support from Federalist Americans. The difference was 162 electoral college votes to 14. The support from Federalists and weakened Federalists Party led to Jefferson's victory. -
Increasing Tensions with Europe
After 1805 Jays Treated expired which was a peace treaty between the United States and Britain. Once it ended the French and British began interfering with United States trade ships. This led to the Embargo Act of 1807 where Congress outlawed trade from most foreign countries. This angered many Americans and pretty much ruined Thomas Jefferson's chances of winning another election. Jefferson retired and James Madison became president in 1808.
