Which of the following were precedents that George Washington set during his presidency? Select two that apply.
(1 point)
He established a judicial system of nine justices that is still in place today.
He chose well-known leaders to run his executive departments and serve as his advisors.
He established a Tax and Tariff cabinet position.
He chose to not run for a third term.
- He chose well-known leaders to run his executive departments and serve as his advisors.
- He chose to not run for a third term.
The two precedents set by George Washington during his presidency were:
1. He chose to not run for a third term.
2. He chose well-known leaders to run his executive departments and serve as his advisors.
To determine which of the statements are precedents set by George Washington during his presidency, let's analyze each option:
1. He established a judicial system of nine justices that is still in place today.
To determine if this statement is accurate, we need to look into the history of the Supreme Court. George Washington did sign the Judiciary Act of 1789, which established the Supreme Court with six justices. While the Act did not specify the number of justices, it did establish a system that allowed for up to six justices. Therefore, this statement is not entirely accurate as Washington did not explicitly set the number of justices at nine, although he did contribute to the establishment of the Supreme Court.
2. He chose well-known leaders to run his executive departments and serve as his advisors.
This statement is accurate and is regarded as a precedent set by George Washington. As the first President of the United States, Washington selected trusted and capable leaders to serve as his advisors and heads of executive departments. These individuals, such as Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and Henry Knox, played crucial roles in shaping the early government and establishing its functions.
3. He established a Tax and Tariff cabinet position.
This statement is not accurate. George Washington did establish executive departments, but there was no specific department dedicated to taxation and tariffs during his presidency.
4. He chose to not run for a third term.
This statement is accurate and is considered an important precedent set by George Washington. After serving two terms as President, Washington voluntarily stepped down, establishing a tradition of two-term presidencies that lasted until Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency in the 20th century.
Therefore, the two correct statements concerning precedents set by George Washington during his presidency are:
- He chose well-known leaders to run his executive departments and serve as his advisors.
- He chose to not run for a third term.