Home > The Executive Branch > Nation Builder in Chief

Learning Objectives

  • Explain how actions of early U.S. presidential administrations established a strong federal government.
  • Identify actions that helped stabilize the early nation’s finances.
  • Identify actions that helped strengthen the early nation’s military.
  • Describe ways in which the early changes in leadership were peaceful transitions of power.
  • Understand both the importance of the central government to the early nation and the tension it created.

Overview

Starting a brand new nation was a tough job for America’s first presidents—and it didn’t help that many Americans were wary of the new central government. In this lesson, students learn about some of the decisions and actions the first presidential administrations took to make sure the United States would be strong enough to last.

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