Washington's Precedents

What is a precedent?

• something done or said that becomes an example for others to follow

• a tax on imported goods

• a political party that believes in a strong central government

• a settlement of a dispute where each side gives up some demands

Decisions that President Washington made that would influence the decision making of future Presidents are known as:

• Precedents

• Antecedents

• Amendments

• Predicates

What did George Washington consider to be a grave danger to the new nation?

• France's influence

• growth of political parties

• national taxes

• settlers moving west

Within the Executive Branch, what did the three department heads and the attorney general come to be known as?

• the Legislative Branch

• the High Council

• the Parliament

• the Cabinet

The quote below is from George Washington's farewell address.

"A passionate attachment of one Nation for another produces a variety of evils. . . . As avenues to foreign influence in innumerable ways, such attachments are particularly alarming to the truly enlightened and independent Patriot."

What message was George Washington delivering to his successors?

• Attempt to take as much as possible from foreign nations.

• Avoid forming alliances with foreign nations.

• Receiving foreign aid is vital to independence.

• The new nation has much to learn from the older nations.

President George Washington began the custom of consulting with his principal department heads, such as Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury, as a group. What did this practice eventually lead to?

• the creation of the Supreme Court

• the creation of the Cabinet

• the creation of the Senate

• the creation of the House of Representatives

For decades after, the United States generally followed the precedent set by George Washington in regard to foreign policy. Which of the following best characterizes that policy?

• a position of containment

• a position of neutrality

• a position of aggression

• a position of indifference

In what way did President George Washington set an important precedent?

• by recognizing Washington, DC, as the nation's capital

• by issuing the first pocket veto

• by stepping down after two terms

• by establishing the State of the Union address

Which of the following best paraphrases the foreign policy advice given by George Washington in his Farewell Address?

• The United States should avoid permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.

• The United States should give economic aid to needy countries anywhere in the world, but not military aid.

• The United States must work to prevent the growth of tyranny by any means necessary.

• The United States should take over other countries to help them become more like us.

In April of 1793, President George Washington issued a proclamation saying the United States would not take sides in the war between England and France. What was this known as?

• the Emancipation Proclamation

• the Proclamation of 1793

• the Washington Proclamation

• the Proclamation of Neutrality