Editing George Washington (section)

===First term===

{{Further|History of Washington, D.C.|American School (economics)|Whiskey Rebellion|Northwest Indian War|Treaty of New York (1790)|Cabinet of the United States}}

Washington was [[First inauguration of George Washington|inaugurated]] on April 30, 1789, taking the [[Oath of office of the President of the United States|oath of office]] at [[Federal Hall]] in New York City.{{efn|There has been debate over whether Washington added "so help me God" to the end of the oath.{{sfnm|Henriques|2020|1loc=3: "I Cannot Tell a Lie"|Alden|1996|2p=236}}}}{{sfnm|Cooke|2002|1p=4|Chernow|2010|2pp=550–551|Rhodehamel|2017|3loc=10: "On Untrodden Ground"}} His coach was led by militia and a marching band and followed by statesmen and foreign dignitaries in an inaugural parade, with a crowd of 10,000.{{sfnm|Chernow|2010|1pp=566–567|Randall|1997|2p=448}} [[Robert R. Livingston (chancellor)|Robert R. Livingston]] administered the oath, using a [[George Washington Inaugural Bible|Bible provided by the Masons]].{{sfnm|Cooke|2002|1p=4|Chernow|2010|2p=568}} Washington read a speech in the Senate Chamber, asking "that Almighty Being ... consecrate the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States".{{sfnm|Randall|1997|1p=448|Alden|1996|2p=236}} Though he wished to serve without a salary, Congress insisted that he receive one,<ref name=anb/> providing Washington $25,000 annually (compared to $5,000 annually for the vice president).{{sfnm|Chernow|2010|1p=552|Rhodehamel|2017|2loc=10: "On Untrodden Ground"}}

Washington wrote to James Madison: "As the first of everything in our situation will serve to establish a precedent, it is devoutly wished on my part that these precedents be fixed on true principles."{{sfn|Unger|2013|p=76}} To that end, he argued against the majestic titles proposed by the Senate, including "His Majesty" and "His Highness the President", in favor of "Mr. President".{{sfnm|Bartoloni-Tuazon|2014|1pp=1, 9|Unger|2013|2p=80}} His executive precedents included the inaugural address, messages to Congress, and the [[Cabinet of the United States|cabinet form]] of the [[Federal government of the United States|executive branch]].{{sfn|Unger|2013|pp=236–237}} He also selected the first justices for the [[US Supreme Court|Supreme Court]].{{sfn|Banner|2024|p=13}}

Washington was an able administrator and judge of talent and character.{{sfnm|Ellis|2004|1pp=197–198|Unger|2013|2pp=236–237}} The old [[Confederation Period|Confederation]] lacked the powers to handle its workload and had weak leadership, no executive, a small bureaucracy of clerks, large debt, worthless paper money, and no power to establish taxes.{{sfn|Cooke|2002|p=5}} Congress created executive departments in 1789, including the [[United States Department of State|State Department]], the [[United States Department of War|War Department]], and the [[United States Department of the Treasury|Treasury Department]]. Washington appointed Edmund Randolph as [[United States Attorney General|Attorney General]], [[Samuel Osgood]] as [[Postmaster General]], [[Thomas Jefferson]] as [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]], Henry Knox as [[United States Secretary of War|Secretary of War]], and Alexander Hamilton as [[United States Secretary of the Treasury|Secretary of the Treasury]]. Washington's cabinet became a consulting and advisory body, not mandated by the Constitution.{{sfnm|Ferling|2009|1pp=281–282|Cooke|2002|2pp=4–5|Chervinsky|2020|3pp=4&ndash;5}} Washington restricted cabinet discussions to topics of his choosing and expected department heads to agreeably carry out his decisions.{{sfn|Cooke|2002|p=5}} He exercised restraint in using [[List of United States presidential vetoes|his veto power]], writing that "I give my Signature to many Bills with which my Judgment is at variance."{{sfn|Ellis|1999|p=133}}

Washington opposed political factionalism and remained non-partisan throughout his presidency (the only United States president to do so). He was sympathetic to a Federalist form of government.{{sfnm|Chernow|2010|1pp=696–698|Randall|1997|2p=478}} Washington's closest advisors formed two factions, portending the [[First Party System]]. Hamilton formed the [[Federalist Party]] to promote national credit and a financially powerful nation. Jefferson opposed Hamilton's agenda and founded the [[Democratic-Republican Party|Jeffersonian Republicans]]. Washington favored Hamilton's agenda, however, and it ultimately went into effect—resulting in bitter controversy.{{sfn|Cooke|2002|p=7}}
Other domestic issues during Washington's first term included the planning of a permanent capital,{{sfn|Bordewich|2016|pp=150–157}} the passage of several constitutional amendments including the [[United States Bill of Rights|Bill of Rights]], and continuing debates concerning slavery{{sfn|Bordewich|2016|pp=198–206, 213–220}} and expansion into Native American territory.{{sfn|Genovese|Landry|2021|pp=34&ndash;38}} Washington proclaimed November 26, 1789, as a day of [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]] to encourage national unity.{{sfnm|Chernow|2010|1pp=585, 609|Henriques|2006|2p=65|3a1=Novak|3a2=Novak|3y=2007|3pp=144–146}}