Page 190 - American Stories, A History of the United States

7Democracy and Dissent

The Violence of Party Politics 1788–1800

Force of Public Opinion
W hile presiding

over the first
meeting of the U.S. Senate
in 1789, Vice President
John Adams called the
senators’ attention to a pressing procedural
question: How would they address George
Washington, the newly elected president?
Adams insisted that Washington deserved
an impressive title to lend dignity and
weight to his office. The vice president
warned the senators that if they called
Washington simply “president of the
United States,” the “common people of
foreign countries [as well as] the sail-
ors and soldiers [would] despise him
to all eternity.” Adams recommended
“His Highness, the President of the
United States, and Protector of their
Liberties.” Some senators favored “His
Elective Majesty” or “His Excellency.”
Adams’s initiative caught many
persons, including Washington, by
surprise. They regarded the debate
as ridiculous. James Madison, a mem-
ber of the House of Representatives,

Learning O b J E c T i V E S

7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5

Why was Why did many How did Why was Why were
George Americans foreign it hard for some
Washington oppose affairs affect Americans to Federalists The hero of TrenTon Well-wishers
unable to Alexander domestic accept political willing to spread flowers in front of George Washington
as he rides through Trenton, New Jersey,
overcome Hamilton’s politics during dissent as a sacrifice on his way from Virginia to New York for his
division within blueprint the 1790s? part of political political inauguration as the first president of the United
the new for national p. 164 activity? p. 170 freedoms States in 1789.
government? prosperity? for party
p. 159 p. 162 advantage?
p. 171
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