US History - The New Nation: Presidency of George Washington

From LearnSocialStudies

EQ: Why was George Washington’s presidency important to the country today?

DQ: Why would government officials take an oath?

Do Now: Quiz: What is the importance of today's date?

1. Write your name.
2. What is significant about today's date in the History of the United States?

This Lesson Overview is provided as a quick and easy lesson plan format for teachers.
Lesson Procedures are located at bottom of lesson for individuals/groups/pairs. Print Lesson and complete as needed.

Lesson Overview
Utilized Activity Time Allocated Mode of Activity
____ Do Now _________ / 2-5 Min (Individual / Think-Pair-Share / Pair / Group #____)
____ Mini Lesson _________/ 15-20 Min (Individual / Think-Pair-Share / Pair / Group #____)
____ Activity _________ / 20-30 Min (Individual / Think-Pair-Share / Pair / Group #_____)
____ Discussion/Exit Ticket _________ / 5-10 Min (Individual / Think-Pair-Share / Pair / Group #____)
____ Assessment _________ / 10-40 Min (Individual / Think-Pair-Share / Pair / Group #____)
____ Conferencing _________ Min (Individual / Pair / Group #____ / Throughout Class Period)
Danielson Framework
Domain 1: Planning and Preparation Domain 2: Classroom Environment
1a Demonstrating Knowledge of Content and Pedagogy
1b Demonstrating Knowledge of Students
1c Setting Instructional Outcomes
1d Demonstrating Knowledge of Resources
1e Designing Coherent Instruction
1f Designing Student Assessments

Rubric: Domain 1

2a Creating an Environment of Respect and Rapport
2b Establishing a Culture for Learning
2c Managing Classroom Procedures
2d Managing Student Behavior
2e Organizing Physical Space
Domain 3: Instruction Domain 4: Professional Responsibilities
3a Communicating With Students
3b Using Questioning and Discussion Techniques
3c Engaging Students in Learning
3d Using Assessment in Instruction
3e Demonstrating Flexibility and Responsiveness
4a Reflecting on Teaching
4b Maintaining Accurate Records
4c Communicating with Families
4d Participating in the Professional Community
4e Growing and Developing Professionally
4f Showing Professionalism

Rubric: Domain 4

Inauguration of George Washington

The first inauguration of George Washington as the List of Presidents of the United States first President of the United States took place on April 30, 1789.

The United States presidential inauguration marked the commencement of the first four-year term of George Washington as President and John Adams as Vice President of the United States. Sworn in by New York Court Chancellor of New York Robert R. Livingston during this first presidential inauguration, Washington became the first President of the United States following the ratification of the United States Constitution.

Travel to the Inauguration

It was 1 p.m. at Mount Vernon on April 14, 1789, when Washington received official notification that he had been unanimously selected by the Electoral College (United States) Electoral College to be the nation's first president. The letter had been sent by United States Senate Senator John Langdon of New Hampshire, the first President pro tempore of the United States Senate. Washington replied immediately, and set off in the morning two days later, accompanied by David Humphreys (soldier) and a Mr. Thomson.

On his way to New York City Washington passed through Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria, Georgetown, Washington, D.C. Georgetown, present-day Washington D.C., and Baltimore, arriving to an elaborate welcome at Grays Ferry, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Gray's Ferry in Philadelphia just after noon on April 20. He left early the next morning for another welcome awaiting him in Trenton, New Jersey Trenton. On April 23 he took a small barge with 13 pilots through the Kill Van Kull tidal strait into the Upper New York Bay, and from there the city. A variety of boats surrounded him during the voyage, and Washington's approach was greeted by a series of cannon fire, first a thirteen gun salute by the Spain Spanish warship Galveston, then by the North Carolina, and finally by other artillery. Thousands had gathered on the waterfront to see him arrive.

Washington landed at Murray's Wharf (at the foot of Wall Street), where he was greeted by List of Governors of New York New York Governor George Clinton (vice president) George Clinton as well as other Congressmen and citizens. They proceeded through the streets to what would be Washington's new official residence, 3 Cherry Street (Manhattan) Cherry Street.

Inauguration Ceremony

The inaugural ceremony took place on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City, then the first US Capitol and the first site where the 1st United States Congress met.

Since nearly first light a crowd of people had begun to gather around Washington's home, and at noon they made their way to Federal Hall by way of Queen Street and Great Dock (both now Pearl Street (Manhattan) Pearl Street) and Broad Street (Manhattan) Broad Street. Washington dressed in an American made dark brown suit with white silk stockings and silver shoe buckles; he also wore a steel-hilted sword.

Upon his arrival at Federal Hall, Washington was formally introduced to the United States House of Representatives House and Senate in the then Senate chamber, after which already sworn-in Vice President of the United States Vice President John Adams announced it time for the inauguration. Washington moved to the second-floor balcony where he took the Oath of office of the President of the United States presidential oath of office, administered by New York Court of Chancery Chancellor of New York Robert Livingston (1746–1813) Robert Livingston in view of throngs of people gathered on the streets.

The George Washington Inaugural Bible Bible used in the ceremony was from St. John's Masonic Lodge No.1, and in haste it was randomly opened to Genesis 49:13. Livingston shouted "Long live George Washington, President of the United States!" to the crowd, which was replied to with cheers and cannon fire. The first inaugural address was subsequently delivered by Washington in the Senate chamber, running 1419 words in length.

At this time there were no inaugural balls for the day of the ceremony, though a week later on May 7 a ball was held in New York to honor the first president.

Oath of Office

In the Federal Government, in order for an official to take office, he or she must first take the oath of office; this is also known as a swearing-in ceremony. The official reciting the oath swears an allegiance to uphold the Constitution. The Constitution only specifies an oath of office for the President; however, Article VI of the Constitution states that other officials, including members of Congress, "shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation to support this constitution."

The following includes oath information for high ranking officials from each of the three branches of Government.

Executive Branch: President and Vice President of the United States

According to the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, a President's term of office begins at 12:00 p.m. (noon) on January 20th of the year following an election. In order to assume his or her duties, the President-elect must recite the Oath of Office. The Oath is administered by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The President-elect places the left hand on the Bible, raises the right hand, and takes the Oath as directed by the Chief Justice. The Oath, as stated in Article II, Section I, Clause 8 of the U.S. Constitution, is as follows:


"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."


The Vice President also takes an oath of office. Until 1933, the Vice President took the oath of office in the Senate; today, both the President and Vice President are inaugurated in the same ceremony. The Vice President's oath is administered immediately before the President's. The Vice President's oath may be administered by the retiring Vice President, by a member of Congress, or by some other Government official, such as a justice of the Supreme Court. The Vice President's oath is as follows:

"I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same: that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."

Legislative Branch: Members of Congress

At the start of each new Congress, in January of every odd-numbered year, the entire House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate takes an oath of office. For Members of the House, the Speaker will direct the Members to rise, and the oath is administered. A Senator-elect takes the oath of office from the presiding officer in an open session of the Senate. The current oath is as follows:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God."

Judicial Branch: Supreme Court Justices

According to Title 28, Chapter I, Part 453 of the United States Code, each Supreme Court Justice takes the following oath:

"I, [NAME], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as [TITLE] under the Constitution and laws of the United States. So help me God.''

Military Oath

Enlistment Oath.—Each person enlisting in an armed force shall take the following oath:

“I, ____________________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”

Oath of Office facts and figures:

  • The original oath for members of Congress included the words, "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States." * The oath was revised during the Civil War, when members of Congress were concerned about traitors.
  • In 2009, when Chief Justice John Roberts swore in President Barack Obama at his first inauguration, the Chief Justice made a small mistake in reciting the oath; the next day, the oath was privately administered without incident.

Classwork & Homework

Lesson PowerPoint: George Washington Part 1

Lesson Video:

Lesson Activity:

Special Education Modifications

  • Teaching Model: Co-Teaching
  • Special Education Teacher will work with All students General Ed and Special Ed.
    • Special Ed Students:
      • Teacher will read-aloud to students when necessary.
      • Teachers will break down assignments into smaller tasks.
      • Teachers will work with students on vocabulary acquisition by breaking down words into prefixes/suffixes and etymology.
      • Teachers will group students according to learning style inventory as a homogeneous group.
      • Teachers will keep students on-task by managing distractions and on-task behavior.
      • Teachers will modify note-taking by modeling notes from PowerPoint to chalkboard/whiteboard.
      • Teachers will differentiate lessons by using; verbal cues for auditory learners, graphic organizers for visual learners, and hands-on cues for tactile learners.
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