George Washington acted as the first U.S. president from 1789 to 1797, setting many constitutional practices and federal precedents. He created the president's cabinet, asserted executive authority, and employed the veto for the first time; his neutrality policy during the French Revolutionary Wars and his leadership during the Whiskey Rebellion also defined early U.S. governance. He supported Hamiltonian programs, helped establish the nation's capital site, and oversaw the Bill of Rights' early implementation. He directed the Northwest Indian War and secured the Jay Treaty and the Treaty of San Lorenzo, strengthening frontier security. The Navy was re-established under the Naval Act of 1794 to protect commerce.