An important turning point in the fledgling republic’s history was the foundation of the new federal government under the US Constitution in 1789. The presidency was formed as head of the executive branch under the Constitution, establishing a federal government system with a division of powers. The new country dealt with several urgent concerns as George Washington took the oath of office, such as building a stable government, developing a stable economy, and resolving the continuous battle with Native American tribes. This essay will examine the nascent republic’s most critical problems and how they were resolved in the first few years of George Washington’s administration.
Creating a stable government was one of the nascent republic’s most pressing problems. The country’s initial Constitution, the Articles of Confederation, had shown to be ineffective at upholding law and order and guaranteeing the efficiency of the executive branch. The goal of the new Constitution was to establish a more capable and reliable government that could efficiently run the country’s affairs (Locks. Et al. 434). The Constitution established a federal form of administration that split authority between the states and the federal government to achieve this. The Constitution also recognized a scheme of balances and checks to ensure that no one government division grew overly dominant.
To solve the issue of establishing a stable government, Alexander Hamilton was chosen as the country’s first Secretary of the Treasury by President Washington. Brilliant financial expert and economist Alexander Hamilton felt the federal government could efficiently handle the country’s finances. Hamilton proposed several ideas to fortify the federal government and encourage economic expansion. These actions included the founding national bank, the federal government’s assumption of state debts, and imposing a protective tariff to support domestic manufacturing (Locks. et al. 440). Even though there was opposition to these policies, they ultimately helped to stabilize the country’s finances and encourage economic growth.
Building a sound economy was another urgent concern for the developing country. The country was still recovering from the Revolutionary War and faced many economic difficulties, such as a lack of infrastructure, lack of capital, and restricted access to credit (Locks. Et al. 437). Hamilton made many recommendations to overcome these problems and advance stability and economic progress. These actions included the founding of a national bank, the imposition of a protective tariff, and the initiation of a program of internal upgrades to encourage infrastructure growth.
To foster economic stability and growth, the federal government supported westward migration. A system for surveying and selling western lands was established by the government’s passage of the Land Law of 1785. Following the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, the area north of the Ohio River was to be settled and governed orderly. The federal government also arranged treaties with Native American tribes to acquire land for European colonization (Locks. Et al. 446). These initiatives to encourage westward expansion contributed to economic stability and growth.
The continuous battle with Native American tribes was another urgent problem for the fledgling government. The United States government intended to enlarge its territory westward but endangered Native American tribes’ autonomy. To resolve this problem, the federal government entered into treaties with Native American tribes that called for the transfer of land to the government of the United States in exchange for various concessions, such as the assurance of monetary compensation and protection.
The federal government established a strategy of forced displacement since the conflict with Native American tribes persisted despite these attempts. This program, which came to be known as the Trail of Tears, drove thousands of Native Americans to leave their ancestral lands and move to set-aside reserves in the west (Locks. Et al. 444). Despite criticism and controversy, the strategy ultimately contributed to the conflict’s resolution and ensured the country’s westward development.
In conclusion, a crucial turning point in the young republic’s history was the founding of the new federal government under the United States Constitution in 1789. The country needed to build a stable administration, stabilize the economy, and deal with the continuous struggle with Native Americans, among other urgent challenges.
Work Cited
Locks, Catherine, et al. History in the Making: A History of the People of the United States of America to 1877. University Press of North Georgia, 2013.
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