Lesson 1: Organizing the Government

Lesson Focus

With the Constitution ratified, a government existed only on paper. This lesson explores how George Washington, as the first President, turned this blueprint into a functioning reality, establishing crucial traditions for the new nation's success.

People to Know

George Washington

Learning Objectives

• List the important precedents George Washington established as the first President, shaping the future of the executive branch.
• Describe how the first Congress operated and the essential laws it passed to build the new government.

The new U.S. government existed only on paper, lacking structure and public trust.
George Washington’s leadership from 1789 onward established crucial precedents, such as creating the presidential cabinet and guiding legislative action. He worked with Congress to pass the Judiciary Act of 1789, building out the court system.
Washington's actions transformed the constitutional framework into a functional government, ensuring its survival and setting the standard for future presidents.

The new nation needed a trusted leader to give the government legitimacy.
George Washington reluctantly accepted the presidency and was inaugurated in 1789, a journey met with massive public celebration.
As a revered hero, Washington became a symbol of national unity. His leadership provided a focus for loyalty, helping to ensure the new government's success and gain the people's trust from the very beginning.

The Constitution left many presidential duties undefined, creating uncertainty.
Washington made decisive choices, creating a cabinet of advisors for expert counsel, taking control of foreign policy, and actively proposing laws to Congress.
These actions established powerful precedents that expanded the president's role. Pay special attention to how he became a “chief legislator,” shaping a strong executive branch that future presidents would inherit and build upon.

The new government needed a legislature to pass laws, but it started slowly.
In 1789, Congress struggled to gather a quorum, or a majority of members. Once assembled, the formal Senate met privately, while the informal House of Representatives was open to the public.
This difference led the House to take the lead on important financial bills and the Bill of Rights, while the Senate acted as a more cautious, advisory body.

The government was just a plan and needed a real structure to operate.
The First Congress established three key executive departments: State, Treasury, and War. It then passed the landmark Judiciary Act of 1789.
This critical law created the Supreme Court and lower federal courts, completing the three-branch structure. Washington then appointed judges, bringing the judicial system to life and making the Constitution a functioning reality.

A key promise during the Constitution's ratification was to protect individual rights.
Responding to demands from Anti-Federalists, Congress debated and proposed 12 amendments in 1789. The states then began the ratification process.
By 1791, ten amendments were approved, officially becoming the Bill of Rights. Note that this action was essential for building public trust and safeguarding citizens' freedoms from government overreach.