Introduction
George Washington is often referred to as the “Father” of
United States, as he played an important role in fighting for
United States of America.
Washington led the colonial forces in the revolutionary war.
Washington was a very respected Army General.
There was a time when the soldiers were not paid by the congress and the
soldiers rebelled against the congress. Washington convinced them that the
nation needed their help in fighting. He did not take any payment until they won
the war. The soldiers could understand the importance of the war at that time
and did not talk about revolution any more.
As an individual, Washington was a man of great humility. Washington did not
want to be seen as a King, he wanted to establish a different kind of
government. The country elected Washington unanimously as their President in
the 1789.
Washington believed in a strong federal government and served for eight years.
Eventually he returned to his plantation in his native land
Background
Career before the Presidency:
In 1749, Washington was a surveyor for Culpepper County, Virginia in the Blue
Ridge Mountains. He was in the military from 1752-1758 before being elected
to the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1759. From 1774-1775 he attended both
Continental Congresses. He led the Continental Army from 1775-1783 during
the American Revolution. He then became the president of the Constitutional
Convention in 1787.
George Washington's Military Career:
Washington joined the Virginia militia in 1752. He created and then was forced to surrender Fort Necessity
to the French. He resigned from the military in 1754 and rejoined in 1766 as an assistant to General
Edward Braddock. When Braddock was killed during the French and Indian War, he managed to keep the
unit together as they retreated.
Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army - 1775-1783:
Washington was unanimously named Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. This army was no
match for the British Army. He led them to significant victories such as the capture of Boston along with
major defeats including the loss of New York City. After the winter at Valley Forge (1777), the French
recognized American Independence and the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781.
Election as the First President - 1789:
Despite being a member of the Federalist Party, Washington was immensely popular as a war hero and was
an obvious choice as the first president for both federalists and anti-federalists. He was unanimously
elected by the electors. His runner up, John Adams, was named Vice President.
**John Hanson was elected President of the Continental Congress in 1781, and became the first president
to serve a one-year term under the provisions of the Articles of Confederation
Washington Crossing the Delaware River
December 25th, 1776
Painting by the German Artist
Emmanuel Leutz
President
Washington's administration was one of precedents with many standards
that are still followed. For example, he relied on his cabinet for advice. Since
his cabinet appointments went unchallenged, presidents are generally able
to choose their own cabinets. He chose a successor for Chief Justice John Jay
from outside the bench instead of based on seniority.
Domestically, Washington was able to stop the first real challenge to federal
authority with the suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794.
Pennsylvania farmers were refusing to pay a tax and he sent troops to
ensure compliance.
In foreign affairs, Washington was a huge proponent of neutrality. He declared the Proclamation of
Neutrality in 1793 which stated that the US would be impartial toward belligerent powers currently in a
war. This upset some who felt we owed a greater allegiance to France. His belief in neutrality was
reiterated during his Farewell Address in 1796 where he warned against foreign entanglements. This
warning became part of the American political landscape.
Washington signed Jay's Treaty which gave away the United States' right to neutrality of the seas
allowing the British to search and seize anything they found on American ships traveling into ports of
Britain's enemies. In return, the British withdrew from outposts in the Northwest Territory. This
forestalled further conflict with Great Britain until 1812.
In 1795, Pinckney's Treaty helped relations with Spain by creating a boundary between the United States
and Spanish held Florida. Further, the US was allowed to travel the entire Mississippi for the purpose of
trade. In the end, George Washington should be considered one of our most important and influential
presidents of all time whose legacy still lives on today.
George Washington Takes the Oath of Office
Political Philosophy
As a framer of the U.S. Constitution, the first U.S. president, the conquering leader who
severed U.S. ties with her imperial leader, To put it simply, Washington’s politics are the
ideals of America. In more complicated terms, Washington was an Enlightenment
politician. He drew inspiration from the political and social philosophies of Hume, Locke,
Voltaire, Rousseau, and was on par with other American Enlightenment thinkers like
Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin.
To say that President Washington was entirely non-political is not true. While he
Washington's political allegiances was obvious in his political decisions. The two most
important members of his cabinet were political opposites.
Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, was a Federalist. In favor of a strong national bank he had been one of the
chief proponents of the newly accepted constitution.
Thomas Jefferson, on the other hand, was a founding member of the Democratic - Republican Party - opposed to the bank
and a strong proponent of states-rights over the federal government.
With these two men working in the same cabinet during these first formative years with the first cabinet, disagreements
were sure to arise. The most famous of these, perhaps, is the disagreement over the establishment of Hamilton's proposed
national bank.
Both men made their arguments and Washington, as was his tendency, sided with Hamilton, thus setting in place the
precedent of establishing a national bank.
On another occasion, Washington sided with Hamilton and fellow Federalist John Jay in designing the Jay Treaty, which
renegotiated trade with Great Britain
Jefferson's party, on the other hand, was resoundingly pro-French and thus strongly opposed the treaty.
George Washington became a great administrator of the American government, and is quite deserving of his place near the
top of the list of greatest Presidents.
Domestic Policy
Washington, being the first president of the United
States, placed him in a decision to unparalleled decisions.
At the time he was in office, the thirteen states were not
united and were trying to understand what it meant to
be an independent nation.
Washington increased the power of the United States by using the
Federal government and used The Judiciary Act of 1789 to establish a Court system.
When problems began to arise with money during the war for independence, Washington
sought help from Hamilton. The United States owed money to foreign countries and its citizens.
Hamilton formed a plan to create a bank in America. The bill passed congress and was then
signed by Washington. The first bank was opened in 1791 with the support of the Federalists.
Those opposed to the bank became known as the Democratic Republicans.
Hamilton implemented another plan to help increase revenue to pay. He imposed an excise tax
on whisky. When this went into effect, riots broke out and which started the Whisky Rebellion
began.
Washington eventually took charge and sent an army to end the rebellion.
Washington's time in office help the United States gain some source of stability.
Foreign Policy
Although United States had established peace from Great
Britain from The Treaty of Paris of 1783 it was still very
unstable.
Washington set about to bring stability to the United
States
Washington first act was to send Thomas Pinckney to Spain in order
for the United States to be able to send ships to the Mississippi river, which was south of
the border created by the Treaty of Paris.
Once Pinckney returned, he had accomplished to create a treaty that allowed the U.S. the
right to use the Mississippi river and the right to drop off items at New Orleans known as
the Pinckney Treaty.
At the same time, John Jay was sent to talk to the British. Great Britain had stated that it
would not obey the Treaty of Paris until the United States paid all of its debts to Britain. Jay
returned with a Treaty, which stated that British agreed to leave the post, but U.S. ships
were not allowed to trade for sugar or molasses with the West Indies. Washington wanted
to avoid war with Great Britain to all extent.
He denied the French help during the French revolution. By avoiding war, Washington was
able to make the U.S. government grow strong and obtain stability.
Farewell Speech
"They serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and
extraordinary force; to put in place of the delegated will of the
nation, the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising
minority of the community; and, according to the alternate triumphs
of different parties, to make the public administration the mirror of
the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the
organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common
counsels, and modified by mutual interests."
This is what some would argue that we see in today’s politicians. They are more interested in represent the
rich and powerful not the majority of Americans, and not national unity.
Washington believed that political parties would be the down fall of our country.
As he neared his resignation, George Washington wrote a letter to the nation. He warned of the danger of
political parties, and how they would turn the government from a group of people interested in their
nation's future to a rambling mob of power hungry professional politicians. In short, he opposed political
parties.
However, near the beginning of the election of the second president, two parties, the Democrats and the
Federalists emerged.
When the seventh presidency began, two new parties gained prominence, the National Republicans, or
Whigs, and the Democrats. These two political parties are still the most popular today.
Legacy
George Washington was able to rise above the
politics of the day and carry every electoral vote
from the states.
George Washington's Post-Presidential Period:
Washington did not run a third time. He retired to
Mount Vernon. He was again asked to be the American
commander if the US went to war with France over the XYZ affair. However,
fighting never occurred on land and he did not have to serve. He died on
December 14, 1799 possibly from a streptococcal infection of his throat made
worse from being bled four times.
Historical Significance:
Washington's significance cannot be overstated. He led the Continental Army to
victory over the British. He believed in a strong federal government which greatly
influenced the nation during his eight years in office. He did not allow others to
trap him as royalty. He worked on the principle of merit. His warning against
foreign entanglements was heeded by future presidents. By declining a third
term, he set up the precedent of a two-term limit.