French and Indian War
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George Washington helped to establish a stable central government for the United States of America during his presidency (1789-1797). He was the first president to create a cabinet, which were a group of men who advised Washington on situations concerning their areas, such as Secretary of War (Henry Knox), Secretary of Treasury (Alexander Hamilton), and Secretary of State (Thomas Jefferson). This development of a cabinet created stability in the federal government by having more people to address several problems in the country and in turn, they create quicker solutions to those problems.
Washington also accepted Alexander Hamiltons plan of economics to promote a stable government. Hamiltons plan consisted of paying off the U.S.s national debt in order to heighten its economy and ending any chaos that it may bring. Unfortunately, the plan also established a national tariff and taxes on whiskey, which started a revolt. Pennsylvanian frontiersmen used whiskey as a source of income in their region and were greatly outraged when it was taxed; this is known as the Whiskey Rebellion. This did not create stability until George Washington sent about 13,000 soldiers to end the rebellion, which did quickly.
Hamiltons idea also included a National Bank which brought both strength and weaknesses to the national government. Its strength was that the Bank protected stored the federal money, give loans to businesses, and print money which would strengthen the currency. The weakness it projected into the country was the argument of whether it was constitutional or not. Thomas Jefferson had a strict interpretation of the U.S. Constitution and believed that whatever was not directly stated in the document, it was then to be considered prohibited and unconstitutional. His logic also revealed that according to Amendment 10 (any power not granted in the Constitution is left to the states), the bank was to be given to the states since there was no mention of a National Bank of the United States. Despite the pros and cons on both sides, Hamilton won the argument and a National Bank was started with a charter for 20 years. Since George Washington approved of Hamiltons economic plan, it brought brief stability to the United States.
Washington was also concerned about America being involved in foreign affairs. When England and France become at war with one another, the United States split sides on which side America should support, causing some instability. Jeffersonian Democratic-Republicans said that America should side with France since they helped the U.S. during the American Revolution. In contrast, Hamiltons Federalists wanted to side with Britain because it would economically benefit the U.S. in regards to trade and such. In the end, Washington made the choice: he chose neutrality, which gave a sense of stability in regards of America not entering into war. George Washington believed that America could become