George Washington 1789-1797

Appointments of the Secretary of State, War, and Treasury

Elizabeth Fortier-B

WHAT IT IS

• Positions in Cabinet today are not specifically laid out in the Constitution
• Article 2, Section 2 vaguely outlines that they can exist
• "He may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments..."(US Constitution)

APPOINTMENTS

• He chose: Alexander Hamilton as first secretary of Treasury, Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State and Henry Knox as Secretary of War

JEFFERSON & HAMILTON

• Jefferson-Democratic Rebublican
• Hamilton-Federalist
• Outlines nations first political party system

SUMMARY

• Set up first government under the constitution
• Set up precedence for how Cabinet would help President

George Washington 1789-1797

Appointments of the Secretary of State, War, and Treasury