Who did Washington choose to lead the State Department?

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History

Arabella

16 December, 19:06

Who did Washington choose to lead the State Department?

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Answers (2)

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Bruce Norton · Answer 1

Thomas Jefferson

Explanation:

Chosen by President Washington, Thomas Jefferson was America's first Secretary of State (March 22, 1790, to December 31, 1793). Jefferson managed to balance the country's vulnerable geopolitical situation, combining caution towards expanding federal powers, and advocating for territorial and commercial development. In the war between Britain and France, Jefferson supported France, but his strategy was restrained by Washington's inclination to neutrality.

Norton · Answer 2

In selecting the four members of his first cabinet-Thomas Jefferson as secretary of state, Alexander Hamilton as secretary of treasury, Henry Knox as secretary of war, and Edmund Randolph as attorney general-Washington balanced the two parties evenly. But he leaned with especial weight upon Hamilton, who supported his scheme for the federal assumption of state debts, took his view that the bill establishing the Bank of the United States was constitutional, and in general favoured strengthening the authority of the federal government.