1788
Sought to secure adoption of Constitution by the states. Nine out of the thirteen states were required for ratification.
1789
Unanimously declared President of the United States.
Said farewell to his mother, Mary Ball Washington, who died after his departure for New York.
Inaugurated April 30th in New York City.
Toured northeastern states.
First National Thanksgiving under the Constitution
1790
Site for the Federal City selected on the Potomac (Washington, D.C.)
Obligation for Revolutionary War debts accepted by new government.
Debates in Washington’s cabinet began to reveal deep differences.
1791
Toured southern states.
Gen. Arthur St. Clair defeated by Indian tribes near Wabash River
The Bill of Rights ratified during Washington’s first term and became part of the Constitution
1792
Elected to second term as president.
1793
Proclamation of neutrality—Washington sought to keep America out of European conflicts and wars, thus keeping all as trade partners.
Citizen Edmund Genet sought to gain popular American support for the new government in France. This was contrary to Washington’s views of neutrality and Genet was recalled to France.
Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, who bitterly disagreed with each other, both resigned from Washington’s cabinet as casualties of this debate.
Edmund Randolph assumed Jefferson’s position as secretary of state.
1794
James Monroe sent to France. Ultimately Washington deeply disagreed with Monroe’s views. Along with Jefferson’s resignation, this helped to create a new American political party that consciously distanced itself from Washington’s (and Adams’ and Hamilton’s) “federalist” policies, coming to full expression under the presidencies of Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and Jackson.
Randolph resigned, and Timothy Pickering took his place. Jay’s Treaty: Supreme Court Chief Justice John Jay negotiated with the British with the goal of forcing the British to leave western forts as required by the Treaty of Paris that had ended the Revolutionary War.
Whiskey Rebellion—conflict over the enforcement of excise taxes on distilleries. Washington, in military uniform, personally led the American Army to western Pennsylvania to quell the insurrection.
Gen. Anthony Wayne (“Mad” Anthony Wayne) defeated Indians at Fallen Timbers (Toledo, Ohio).
1795
Signed Treaty of San Lorenzo with Spain opening Mississippi River to American shipping and establishing America’s southern boundary.
Treaty of Greenville: Indian nations yield lands of what is today Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan.
Jay’s Treaty ratified.
1796
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney appointed minister to France, but French government refused to receive him, due to French anger over Jay’s Treaty with England that partly voided some of America’s agreements with France, resulting in American ships being seized by French privateers.
