George Washington Founding Father
First Virginia planter, commander of the Continental Army, and first president of the U.S. Light-Horse Harry Lee eulogized Washington as first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen. But as Brookhiser and Wood have shown, Washington is no longer in longer in the hearts of Americans. Washington defined the American presidency and set the standard for executive leadership. Moreover, without Washington the nation and the presidency as we now know it may not exist at all. As the first president, Washington faced circumstances and crises no other American leader would ever face. Quite possibly, no other leader was capable of meeting the challenge of forging a nation and maintaining its independence during a critical period. He was the only man the nation could unite around.
More than any single man, Washington was responsible for bringing success to the American Revolution. As Edmund S. Morgan explains, Washingtonʼs greatness lay in his understanding and use of both military and political power. Washingtonʼs mastery of power in an emerging republic enabled America to win the Revolution and placed the new nation on the way to achieving the international and domestic power he had sought for it. He founded the presidency and preserved Americaʼs experiment in selfgovernment without sacrificing the countryʼs republican character. In a letter to Jefferson, Monroe stated: Be assured. His influence carried this government. Washington possessed the dignity, character, leadership, restraint, judgment, and civic virtue to help the nation survive its infancy. Greatness
Born (1732) the son of Virginia planter of modest wealth When his father died, George lived with his brother Lawrence. Worked as a surveyor In 1754 Washington led an expedition to maintain Virginiaʼs claim to Ohio lands against the French. In a battle fought in the wilderness he and most of his men were forced to surrender. After his release, Washington became the head of Virginiaʼs militia on the frontier. In 1759 he married Martha Custis, a wealthy widow. Marriage and the responsibility of running plantation helped Washington develop emotionally and intellectually. By 1770 he was an experienced leader. Delegate to the First and Second Continental Congresses Natural leader of the Continental Army Youth
Commander-In-Chief Washington contributed more to American independence than anyone else. He held the Continental Army together and maintained armed resistance. Although he suffered many defeats, his leadership and sense of strategy made him a great military commander. Washington preserved civilian control over the military. Although he could have become a dictator, Washington remained disinterested and uncorrupted by power. When the war ended, Washington resigned as commander-in-chief and retired to his plantation Mount Vernon.
Washington Resigns As Commander-In- Chief
Constitution Convention Washington feared that the nation was verging fast toward anarchy and confusion. He was called out of retirement to serve as president of the Constitution Convention. His prestige and influence helped with ratification. Washington understood that the government had to be strong and centralized but answerable to the people.
Complex Character Washington possessed a complex and contradictory character. He suffered from low self-esteem, struggled to overcome feelings of worthlessness, and had a strong need for the admiration and affirmation of other people. Washington was very courageous. He was also honest and reflective. He tried to improve himself. He was an excellent organizer. He loved his family. His aloofness and silence made him a difficult man to get to know.
National Character Washington won every electoral vote to become the first president. He understood that the U.S. had to establish a national reputation and character. As early as 1783 he wrote, We are a young nation and have a character to establish. It behooves us therefore to set out right for first impressions will be lasting, indeed are all in all. Washington believed that the way for the nation to grow strong was to exploit Americaʼs vast land and resources, curb internal dissension and sectionalism at home, and maintain neutrality abroad.
President No one did more to make the presidency a powerful national office. His virtuous concern for the welfare of the nation enabled him to overcome his reticence and strong desire for retirement at Mount Vernon. Without any models to follow, he invented the presidency, while respecting the republican character of the nation and resisting those who wanted him to turn the office into an elective monarchy. He created an executive government and its institutions, offices and practices. Washington was a meticulous and energetic administrator. He tried to remain above party politics. Also he promoted a sense of Union. He installed the Cabinet system, delegating powers to talented and ambitious young men. He selected Alexander Hamilton (Secretary of the Treasury), Thomas Jefferson (Secretary of State), Henry Knox (Secretary of War), and Edmund Randolph (Attorney General). Washington consulted with James Madison on legislative and judicial matters as well. But he made sure that his advisers answered to him, and once he made up his mind Washington acted decisively. Washington convinced enough Americans that their future depended upon maintaining a union with strong central authority.
The Cabinet When Hamilton and Jefferson disagreed over domestic and foreign policy, Washington backed Hamilton on most of the important issues the funding of the national debt, the assumption of state debts, and the establishment of a national bank.
Whiskey Rebellion Washington combined coercion and conciliation when dealing with this anti-tax civil disorder. He avoided using excessive bloodshed in crushing the uprising of farmers in western Pennsylvania.
Washington maintained the nationʼs neutrality and independence in a world at war. He issued the Proclamation of Neutrality (1793) despite Jeffersonʼs objections. He signed the highly unpopular Jayʼs Treaty (1795) to avoid war and because he thought that commercial relations with Britain would be worse with no treaty than with one. Pinckneyʼs Treaty (1795) secured the American right to navigate the Mississippi River. Washington expanded American strength and power. The Treaty of Greenville (1795) allowed for American expansion into the Ohio Territory after General Anthony Wayne defeated the Indians. Foreign Affairs
Washington And Slavery To be sure, Washington became a wealthy Virginia planter who held as many as 317 slaves. He shared the racial prejudice of most whites of his time. He later said that he regretted slavery ever existed and wished it could be abolished but was unable to do anything about it beyond providing for the manumission of his own slaves upon his death.
The first party system began to emerge during his administration. Washingtonʼs Farewell Address (1796) warned of the dangers of political parties, sectionalism, and passionate attachments or antagonisms to any foreign nation. Although many thought that Washington could serve as president for life, he retired to Mount Vernon in 1797, setting a precedent for two terms. Washington played a crucial role in creating the American republic. Without him it may not have been possible. He should be considered our greatest president. Farewell
Bibliography Alden, John R. George Washington: A Biography. Baton Rouge: LSU Press, 1984. Brookhiser, Richard. Founding Father: Rediscovering George Washington. New York: The Free Press, 1996. Ellis, Joseph J. His Excellency: George Washington. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2004. Middlekauf, Robert. George Washington. In: Readerʼs Companion To American History. Edited by Eric Foner and John Garraty. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1988. Morgan, Edmund S. The Genius of George Washington. New York: W.W. Norton, 1980. Wood, Gordon S. George Washington. In: To The Best Of My Ability : The American Presidents. Edited by James McPherson. New York: Dorley Kindersley, 2000.