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The first cabinet positions—treasury, war, state, attorney general
While the current presidential cabinet includes sixteen members, George Washington’s cabinet included just four original members: Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of War Henry Knox, and Attorney General Edmund Randolph. Washington set the precedents for how these roles would interact with the presidency, establishing the cabinet as the chief executive's private, trusted advisors. -
Judiciary Act
Established the structure and jurisdiction of the federal court system and created the position of attorney general. -
Tariff
This was the first major piece of legislation passed by the new Congress. It was particularly important because it gave the new national government a source of revenues to pay for its operations and to pay down the national debt from the Revolutionary War. -
Philadelphia as the nation’s capital
A mansion at 6th & Market Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania served as the executive mansion for the first two Presidents of the United States, while the permanent national capital was under construction in the District of Columbia. -
First Bank of United States , 1791-1811 (Report on Public Credit, Report on Manufactures)
Alexander Hamilton’s semi-public national bank was a crucial component in the building of the early U.S. economy. -
The Bill of Rights
First 10 amendments to the US constitioion -
Fugitive Slave law
Ambiguities present in previous legislation led the U.S. Congress to pass the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793. -
French Revolution - Citizen Genet
In April 1793, "Citizen" Edmond Charles Genet (1763-1834), a French minister, arrived in the United States and passed out letters authorizing Americans to attack British commercial vessels and Spanish New Orleans -
Eli Whitney granted patent for the cotton gin
In 1794, U.S.-born inventor Eli Whitney (1765-1825) patented the cotton gin, a machine that revolutionized the production of cotton by greatly speeding up the process of removing seeds from cotton fiber. By the mid-19th century, cotton had become America’s leading export. -
Whiskey Rebellion
First real test of the new United States Government's authority to enforce federal laws. In Western Pennsylvania, people used a lot of whiskey: both to use up extra corn and as money. The federal government passed a tax on whiskey in 1791. -
Jay’s Treaty with England
This treaty, known officially as the "Treaty of Amity Commerce and Navigation, between His Britannic Majesty; and The United States of America" attempted to diffuse the tensions between England and the United States that had risen to renewed heights since the end of the Revolutionary War. -
Pinckney’s Treaty with Spain
Spanish and U.S. negotiators concluded the Treaty of San Lorenzo, also known as Pinckney’s Treaty, on October 27, 1795. -
Farewell Address
In the 32-page handwritten address, Washington urged Americans to avoid excessive political party spirit and geographical distinctions. In foreign affairs, he warned against long-term alliances with other nations. -
XYZ Affair
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Naturalization Act
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Alien Act, Sedition Act
The Alien and Sedition Acts were passed by Congress in 1798 in preparation for an anticipated war with France. Interpreting the prominent participation of immigrants in the Republican opposition party as evidence of a relationship between foreigners and disloyalty, Federalists championed tighter restrictions for foreigners and critics of their policies. -
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions were primarily protests against the limitations on civil liberties contained in the Alien and Sedition Acts rather than expressions of full-blown constitutional theory. -
"Midnight Appointments"/Judiciary Act
The Judiciary Act of 1801 reduced the size of the Supreme Court from six justices to five and eliminated the justices’ circuit duties.
