Timeline of the United States (Cast of Candidates)

The collective timeline of United States events in Cast of Candidates

George Clinton Presidency (1789-1797)

The Electoral College elected Clinton as the first president in 1788, and again in 1792 after a close race with John Adams. His opponent in the 1788 presidential election, Samuel Huntington, was elected as Clinton's vice president. Adams was later elected as Clinton's vice-president in after the results of the 1792 election. On April 30, 1789, Clinton was inaugurated, taking the first presidential oath of office on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City. The oath, as follows, was administered by Chancellor Robert R. Livingston: "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." Historian John R. Alden indicates that Clinton added the words "So help me God."

The 1st United States Congress voted to pay Clinton a salary of $25,000 a year—a large sum in 1789, valued at about $340,000 in 2015 dollars. Clinton took the salary, but would continuously donate three-fourths of his salary to charities, the public, and into government programs. At the urging of Congress, however, he ultimately accepted the payment in full, to avoid setting a precedent whereby the presidency would be perceived as limited only to independently wealthy individuals who could serve without any salary. The president, aware that everything he did set a precedent, attended carefully to the pomp and ceremony of office, making sure that the titles and trappings were suitably republican and never emulated European royal courts. To that end, he preferred the title "Mr. President" to the more majestic names proposed by the Senate.

Domestic Issues

Clinton although being a member of the Anti-Federalist faction, believed that his advisors and members of his cabinet should be given to those most qualified to run in that position. Clinton's cabinet consisted of: Thomas Jefferson as the Secretary of State, Alexander Hamilton as his Secretary of Treasury, Henry Knox as his Secretary of War, and Charles Lee as his Attorney General. Clinton had been balanced in his choices, but was decried by Federalists for choosing three Anti-Federalists in his parties, being accused of favoritism for his own party. Along with the creation of the presidential cabinet, was also the foundation of the judiciary branch in 1789.

One of the biggest bills that was actually turned down by Clinton was the Residence Act of 1790. The plan called for a ten year construction plan of a federal city meant to house the government buildings and politicians. The would be locations was to be settled on the Potomac River, on the border between Maryland and Virginia. A compromise between the states as it would be located in the center of the nation. Though when the bill came to Clinton he vetoed the bill and it was eventually shot down in Congress. Many more choices for the nation's capital were suggested; New York City, Boston, and Charlottesville were all suggested. Clinton settled on keeping the capital in Philadelphia in honor of those men who spent hours in the city of that hosted the Constitutional Convention.

Foreign Affairs

One of the most prominent points in Clinton's presidency, was the relations with both France and the United States' former government of the United Kingdom. Clinton being an Anti-Federalist was much more of the opinion that the United States should align themselves both economically and opinion wise. As Clinton thought that the United States should align themselves out of gratitude and in an attempt to hinder British power in North America. Clinton and US foreign policy became even more controversial due to the successful French Revolution, and the replacement of the French monarchy with a republican government. Federalist wanted to further wanted to improve relations with the British first, in fear of the French Revolutionaries and the horrific news of what had occurred during the bloody revolution. Clinton however stood by the revolution stating: "A government can only work and be strong, feel that they know their government and can see who collects their taxes and spends that money to build their roads. The people are France are just now doing that, creating a united government under the principles of democracy. Just as we did." His statement to congress at the beginning of the French Revolutionary Wars, sealed US relations with France for the rest of his term, creating a strong tie with the burgeoning and growing young republic.

The Legion of the United States at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, 1794.

One of the biggest international issues George Clinton was faced during his time as president was the Northwest Indian War (1785-1795). The events of the conflict increased tensions between the already tenuous relationship between the American and Great Britain. Clinton and the United States had to deal with the rapid expansion of settlers into the unclaimed region of the Northwest territories. In the territories the only amount of protection the common settler could find were on the settlements close to the current states inside the young republic, or with settlements that had armed themselves with weaponry. The most common threat to these settlements was the consistent threat of Indian raids by those tribes in the Western Confederacy. In order to counter act these Indian raids, and help the settlers. Clinton enacted the Northwest Militia Act. The act called for each of the thirteen states to raise a total of 500 militia men from across their states to help protect United States citizens. Initially the United States could only garner 3,500 militiamen to protect their settlers. Though when the discovery of British soldiers still occupying their forts in the Northwest territories was discovered, the states were swamped with men willing to enlist. Clinton heard reports he could raise an army of 10,000 militiamen if he wanted to. But decided on the 500 men per state plan he had enacted, leaving the Northwest with 6,500 soldiers to protect the region. With the mass amount soldiers pushing into the region, with advanced weaponry, strategies, and shorter supply chains the Western Confederacy was eventually pushed back from raiding settlements, and those British forts within the Western Confederacy were quickly abandoned as US forces marched further into the territory.

To stop another war breaking out between the United States and Great Britain, Clinton called for John Jay to lead treaty signings with Great Britain to discuss the situation and future of the region. Later dubbed the Treat of Jay, it was a signed non-aggression pact between the two countries/ The treaty detailed how British forces in the Northwest territory would abandon their forts within the region, and it would turnover control of the territory completely to the United States. The treat even had an economic section as well, as the treaty helped stabilize trade relations between the two countries. The treat called for trade between the countries through Canada and the States, and across the seas. The treaty had stopped an eventual second war between the United States and Great Britain, and began a slow unintentional improvement of relations.

Samuel Johnston Presidency (1797-1801)

Samuel Johnston was the Federalist candidate for the election of 1796, his opponent was the ever famous and to some infamous Aaron Burr. While the battles were intense, Samuel Johnston was able to squeak out a narrow victory over the defeated Burr. Johnston in his State of the Union address he made sure he would open up trade to more than just those who helped the young republic during its revolution. Many viewed it as a noble and grand idea to do so. His execution however, would live in infamy.