First Secretary of the Treasury

George Washington became President in 1789, and named Hamilton secretary of the treasury. Many of Hamilton's conservative views were strongly opposed by Thomas Jefferson, secretary of state, who represented the liberal element in the new government.

In spite of sectional differences between the commercial North and the agricultural South, Hamilton succeeded in getting Congress to establish a tariff; to found the Bank of the United States; and to assume the debts of the Confederation and the individual states. He also introduced an excise tax and aided in suppressing the Whiskey Rebellion that resulted.

Hamilton had great influence with President Washington, and convinced him that the United States should remain neutral when the French Revolution brought on war between Britain and France. In 1795 Hamilton resigned from the cabinet for financial reasons and returned to his law practice, but continued to advise the administration. He wrote articles in defense of the unpopular Jay Treaty with Britain ( ), and assisted Washington in giving final form to his Farewell Address.