• What important developments occurred during George Washington's tenure as the first "President of the United States"?
• How did they affect the future of the U.S. and the office of President?

After completing the lessons in this unit, students will be able to:

• List some of the precedents set during George Washington's term in office.
• Match an action of a President with a power or responsibility of the Chief Executive.

• Review the lesson plans in this unit. Locate and bookmark suggested materials and other useful websites. Download and print out documents you will use and duplicate copies as necessary for student viewing.
• Download the Master PDF file. Print out and make an appropriate number of copies of any handouts you plan to use in class.

• Activity 1. George Washington the Precedent President

Activity 1. George Washington the Precedent President

Gather a list of accomplishments of George Washington in his tenure as the first President of the United States from your textbook and other sources. Some EDSITEment-reviewed websites are:

• POTUS: George Washington, a link from Internet Public Library, featuring a brief chronology of significant achievements during Washington's two terms.
• A slide show of George Washington's Life and Times, designed for middle- and high-school students, on the Papers of George Washington (especially slides 7-9).
• The Washington Presidency: Domestic Affairs and The Washington Presidency: Foreign Affairs on The American President
• Washington's Presidency on Links to the Past

Match Washington's accomplishments with your class list of the powers and responsibilities of the President.

Now have each student write on one page, in large, neat letters, an executive power or responsibility. Then students should illustrate on another page a matching event from George Washington's Presidency, including an appropriate caption. These could be put together to make a book, but first they will be used for a game (see the Assessment section).

Guiding Discussion Questions:

Can students find statements about the powers and responsibilities Hamilton discussed?

Are any aspects of the Executive as described in the Constitution different from Hamilton's discussion?

Students can also read a summary of the powers and responsibilities of the President in Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids: The President, a link from the EDSITEment resource Internet Public Library.

Remind students that, as the first President under the Constitution, George Washington was constantly setting precedents. He did a lot to define in practice what was written in the Constitution.

• Put on display some or all of the illustrated events from Washington's Presidency. Then read aloud a power or responsibility of the President. Can students find the match?
• After teaching this lesson, as a homework assignment, ask students to locate in a newspaper, magazine, or Internet article about a current event involving the President. See if it can be matched with a Presidential power or responsibility from the Constitution. Return to the concept of Presidential powers throughout the school year

For more specific information on the role of President under the Articles of Confederation, consult the companion EDSITEment curriculum unit Lost Hero: Who Was Really Our First President?