In his final state of the union, George Washington turned to domestic policies. Today, many of us are aghast at the size of government and it's intrusion into our lives, but in Washington's time the central government was comparatively non-existent in the every day lives. Yet, Washington did believe in a strong central government. He proposed and enforced taxes. He wanted a strong military and Navy. And he wanted the federal government to play a role in encouraging manufacturing, agriculture, and education in both military and liberal arts. Washington and Jefferson were often at odds when it came to the role of government just as they had fought over the Constitution and the Bill of rights. It was a hearty debate and the two balanced themselves out in a very healthy way. In his final state of the union 1797, President Washington proposed his plan.
1. Use government agencies to procure essential goods and services during a time of war.
"when these are of a nature essential to the furnishing and equipping of the public force in time of war, are not establishments for procuring them on public account to the extent of the ordinary demand for the public service recommended by strong considerations of national policy as an exception to the general rule?"
2. Establish an Agricultural Board to promote the proper cultivation of the county's soil.
"It will not be doubted that with reference either to individual or national welfare agriculture is of primary importance. In proportion as nations advance in population and other circumstances of maturity this truth becomes more apparent, and renders the cultivation of the soil more and more an object of public patronage."
"Among the means which have been employed to this end none have been attended with greater success than the establishment of boards (composed of proper characters) charged with collecting and diffusing information, and enabled by premiums and small pecuniary aids to encourage and assist a spirit of discovery and improvement."
3. Establish a national university.
"I have heretofore proposed to the consideration of Congress the expediency of establishing a national university"
"True it is that our country, much to its honor, contains many seminaries of learning highly repeatable and useful; but the funds upon which they rest are too narrow to command the ablest professors in the different departments of liberal knowledge"
4. Establish a military academy
"The institution of a military academy is also recommended by cogent reasons."
"Whatever argument may be drawn from particular examples superficially viewed, a thorough examination of the subject will evince that the art of war is at once comprehensive and complicated, that it demands much previous study, and that the possession of it in its most improved and perfect state is always of great moment to the security of a nation."
"a thorough examination of the subject will evince that the art of war is at once comprehensive and complicated, that it demands much previous study, and that the possession of it in its most improved and perfect state is always of great moment to the security of a nation"
In the following year, a senate committee led by Senator Read of South Carolina followed through on some of Washington's plans. He recommended the creation of The American Society of Agriculture with a secretary paid by the government and headquarters at the National Capital. The Society was to hold annual meetings at which officers would be elected plus a board of no more than 30 persons. The society was to be incorporated and annual reports were to be made. The bill including this plan also carried a proposition for the establishment of a military academy. Jefferson openly opposed the academy on the grounds that it "none of the specific powers given by the Constitution to Congress would authorize it". Jefferson was a great supporter of agriculture, but he could not bring himself to support Washington's proposition for a federal agricultural society.
A history of agricultural experimentation and research in the United States by Alfred Charles True pages 19 - 22
what are some other domestic policies >.<
ReplyDeleteEstablishing a national bank.
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ReplyDeleteskibidi dope dope dope yes yes
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