Introduction

2. 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 unanimouslyas 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

3. 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

4. Washington Crossing the Delaware River December 25th, 1776 Painting by the German Artist Emmanuel Leutz

5. 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.

6. George Washington Takes the Oath of Office

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.