Explain how historians would characterize the use of executive orders for the first 100 years of American presidential history. (1 point)
Historians would characterize the use of executive orders for the first 100 years of American presidential history as relatively minimal and sporadic. During this period, from the presidency of George Washington to Franklin Pierce, executive orders were used less frequently compared to later periods. The early presidents viewed executive orders as primarily administrative tools to implement laws or directives already passed by Congress, rather than as a means to shape major policy changes.
The limited use of executive orders in the early years can be attributed to a few factors. Firstly, the federal government was still relatively small, and Congress wielded most of the legislative power. Presidents typically relied on Congress to pass laws and set policies, minimizing their use of executive orders.
Secondly, the concept of executive orders was not as well-defined or widely understood during this time. There were no established protocols or legal frameworks dictating the use of executive orders, making their usage more ad hoc and case-specific.
Additionally, the strong influence of a decentralized federal system limited the scope of executive authority. The early presidents often needed to work with individual state governments to implement policies, which did not require the use of executive orders.
While there were notable instances of executive orders during this period, such as President Thomas Jefferson's controversial Embargo Act of 1807 or President Andrew Jackson's removal of Native Americans through the Indian Removal Act of 1830, they were comparatively infrequent and generally related to specific and tangible matters rather than broad policy changes.
In summary, historians would characterize the use of executive orders during the first 100 years of American presidential history as relatively limited and sporadic, often serving administrative purposes rather than as a primary tool for major policy changes. The understanding and practice of executive orders were still evolving, and the decentralized nature of the federal system also influenced their usage.