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Washington's inauguration as the first President of the United States marked the beginning of the new nation's experiment with democratic governance.
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Under Washington's presidency, the Bill of Rights, comprising the first ten amendments to the Constitution, was ratified, guaranteeing fundamental rights and liberties to American citizens.
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Washington led federal troops to suppress the Whiskey Rebellion, a protest against the whiskey tax, asserting the authority of the federal government and demonstrating its ability to enforce laws.
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Washington's administration negotiated this treaty with Great Britain, resolving outstanding issues from the Revolutionary War and averting potential conflict, though it was controversial domestically.
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In his farewell address, Washington warned against the dangers of political factionalism, foreign entanglements, and sectionalism, advocating for national unity and political moderation.
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Adams's administration confronted France over its seizure of American ships, leading to the XYZ Affair, in which French diplomats demanded bribes for negotiations, escalating tensions between the two countries.
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Adams signed these controversial laws, which aimed to suppress dissent and limit immigration, sparking debates over freedom of speech and the limits of executive power.
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Adams's administration engaged in an undeclared naval conflict with France, known as the Quasi-War, which threatened to escalate into a full-scale war before diplomatic resolution
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Adams successfully negotiated a peace treaty with France, ending the Quasi-War and averting further hostilities, though it was criticized by his political opponents.
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In the final days of his presidency, Adams appointed a significant number of federal judges, known as the "Midnight Judges," leading to political controversy and the landmark Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison.
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Jefferson's administration acquired the vast Louisiana Territory from France, doubling the size of the United States and opening up new opportunities for westward expansion.
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The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice John Marshall, asserted its power of judicial review in this landmark case, establishing the principle that the Court could declare laws unconstitutional.
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Jefferson commissioned Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory and map a route to the Pacific Ocean, expanding knowledge of the American West.
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Jefferson's administration enacted this controversial law, imposing a trade embargo on foreign nations, particularly Britain and France, in an attempt to assert American neutrality and protect American interests, but it resulted in economic hardship and smuggling.
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A British naval vessel, the HMS Leopard, attacked the USS Chesapeake off the coast of Virginia, exacerbating tensions between the United States and Britain and contributing to the lead-up to the War of 1812.