George Washington (1788-1815)[]
- No political party
- VP: John Adams
- Secretary of State: Thomas Jefferson
- Secretary of Treasury: Alexander Hamilton
- Major items:
- Judiciary Act, 1789
- Tariff of 1789
- Whiskey Rebellion
- French Revolution
- Jay Treaty, 1795
- Pickney Treaty, 1795
- Farewell Address, 1796
- First Bank of the United States, 1791-1811
John Adams (1797-1801)[]
- Federalist
- VP: Thomas Jefferson
- Major items:
- XYZ Affair, 1797
- Alien Act, Sedition Act, 1798
- Naturalization Act
- Midnight Judges, 1801
- Kentucky (Jefferson) and Virginia (Madison) Resolutions, 1798
- Quasi-War with France
Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809)[]
- Democratic Republican
- VP: Aaron Burr, George Clinton
- Secretary of State: James Madison
- Major items:
- Marbury v. Madison, 1803
- Louisiana Purchase, 1803
- Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1804-1805
- 12th Amendment, 1804
- Embargo Act, 1807
- Non-Intercourse Act, 1809
James Madison (1809-1817)[]
- Democratic Republican
- VP: George Clinton, Elbridge Gerry
- Secretary of State: James Monroe
- Major items:
- Macon Act, 1810
- Berlin and Milan Decrees
- Orders in Council
- War Hawks, 1811-1812
- War of 1812
- Hartford Convention, 1814
- First Protective Tariff, 1816