George Washington served as the first U.S. president from 1789 to 1797, establishing many constitutional practices and federal precedents. He established the president's cabinet, asserted executive authority, and employed the veto for the first time; his neutral stance policy during the French Revolutionary Wars and leadership during the Whiskey Rebellion also influenced early U.S. governance. He backed Hamiltonian programs, contributed to establishing the nation's capital site, and guided the Bill of Rights' early implementation. He directed the Northwest Indian War and won the Jay Treaty and the Treaty of San Lorenzo, fortifying frontier security. The Navy was re-established under the Naval Act of 1794 to protect commerce.