George Washington was first elected president in 1789 by an overwhelming margin. As a reluctant member of the Federalist party, Washington’s polices and administrative goals greatly favored northern industrialists and their predominantly white workforce.

The Federalist party favored industrial production and manufacturing over agriculture when they wrote economic policies. Thanks to the monetary genius of Alexander Hamilton, a system of banks and tariffs were instituted to help protect and expand American business, resulting in more manufacturing jobs in northern cities for workers. These jobs, while not requiring skilled labor, led to a general rise in wages, which increased consumer activity throughout the U.S. until conflicts between the U.S. and Britain on the open seas reduced trade.    

From a foreign policy standpoint, Washington made the pragmatic decision to remain neutral in European conflicts. The U.S. was far to weak and bankrupt to be drawn in to any conflicts and Washington knew a war could tear our fragile union asunder. Despite a rather unpopular treaty with the British, he did what he could to keep the U.S. neutral even going so far as to keep the nation from war when our shipping industry was under attack by the British and French during the height of the Napoleonic War.