American History: Beginnings to 1877: 5. The Early Republic, Lessons 1–3

A presidential inauguration is the ceremony in which the President officially takes the oath of office.

A precedent is an act or a decision that sets an example for others to follow.

The heads of these departments made up the President's Cabinet. Members of the Cabinet have Washington advice and were responsible for directing their departments.

A bond is a certificate that promised to repay the money loaned, plus interest, on a certain date.

His first act in government was to ask Congress to pass a tariff, or tax on imports, to pay for the government.

A speculator is someone who invests in a risky venture in the hope of making a large profit.

Hamilton's next challenge was to strengthen the faltering national economy. Accordingly, his economic plan was designed to help both agriculture and industry.

When two European countries, Austria and Prussia, invoked other rulers to help the French king regain his throne in 1792, France declared war.

Remaining neutral means not taking sides in a conflict.

Washington was able to unify Americans with different political beliefs.

Despite the President's warnings, factions, or opposing groups, grew up around two members of his Cabinet, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson.

He believed the government should subsidize the building of roads and canals to encourage commerce.

Jefferson opposed the law setting up the bank. He claimed that it was unconstitutional, or not permitted by the Constitution.

Hamilton and his supporters were called Federalists because they wanted a strong federal government.

They took up the slogan, "Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!" They were willing to spend money to defend their country, but they would not pay a bribe to another nation.

Under the Alien Act, the President could expel any alien, or foreigner, thought to be dangerous to the country.

Sedition means stirring up rebellion against a government.

He argued that the states had the right to nullify, or cancel, a law passed by the federal government.

Resolved, that the several states composing the United States of America, are not united on the principle of unlimited submission to their General Government; but that by a compact under the style and title of a Constitution for the United States and of amendments thereto, they constituted a General Government for special purposes...

Jefferson believed in an economic idea known as laissez faire, a French term for "let do," meaning letting people do as they please.

It gave the Supreme Court the power to decide whether laws passed by Congress were constitutional and to reject laws that it considered to be unconstitutional. This power of the Court is called judicial review.