in 1789, washington was elected the first president. he defined how a person should act as president and retired after two terms. during washington's term, there was a whiskey rebellion, where country farmers tried to stop the government from collecting taxes on whiskey. in 1795, congress passed the jay treaty, which allowed for increased trade with britain in exchange for the british giving up their forts on the great lakes. however, great britain was still doing things that hurt the u.s., such as impressment (making american sailors join the british royal navy).