Flexner, James Thomas. George Washington. Little. 1967 George Wahington
George Washington was one of the founding fathers of the United States of
America. He served as commander-in-chief of the Continental army during the
Revolutionary War, and later served as the first president of the United States.
His thoughts and ideas helped mold the United States into the great country that
it is today. George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Westmoreland
County, Virginia. He was the eldest son of Augustine Washington and Mary Ball
Washington. He received no formal education, but he read geography, military
history, agriculture, deportment, and composition. Washington later developed a
powerful and convincing style of speech and writing. He enjoyed sports and
social occasions, and he later became a surveyor for landowners on the Virginia
frontier. George Washington was elected president of the United States in 1789,
and in New York City on April 30, 1789, he took the oath of office as President
of the United States at age 57. He was extremely influential in the initial
operation of the new government. After the ballot he wrote, My movements to the
chair of government will be accompanied by feeling not unlike those of a
culprit, who is going to the place of his execution. Washington's task was to
organize a government but also create a role for the highest officer of the new
nation. Both tasks earned him enemies. One of Washington's first duties of
office was establishing a cabinet.
He appointed Alexander Hamilton secretary of treasury and Thomas
Jefferson secretary of state. Washington allowed Jefferson to pursue a policy of
seeking trade with European nations. Hamilton proposed important ideas such as a
funded national debt and the creation of the Bank of the United States. The
first United States census was taken in 1790 which showed the population to be
four million. He created departments within the government, each with different
jobs. The government issued money that was good in all states. President
Washington also helped plan a new capital for the nation that was named
Washington in his honor. Also, Vermont and Kentucky were added as states in 1791
and 1792 respectively. George Washington reluctantly agreed to serve a second
term as president, even though he wanted to go home to Mount Vernon. An outbreak
of war in Europe plagued Thomas Jefferson's foreign policy design. Alexander
Hamilton formed a pro-British foreign policy during Washington's second
administration. Jay's Treaty of 1795 settled outstanding American differences
with Great Britain. This treaty was extremely controversial, although the treaty
was passed by a narrow margin in both the Senate and the House of
Representatives. The Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania against a federal
excise tax was his critical domestic challenge. He himself rode partway to the
field at the head of the militia that was raised to put down the rebellion.
Washington reorganized his cabinet in 1795, and Tennessee became a state in
1796. He was asked to return for another term as President, but he declined.
Washington carefully planned a farewell speech to mark the end of his
presidency, and issued his farewell speech on September 7, 1796. He was
succeeded by his vice-president, John Adams the following March 4. He then
retired to Mount Vernon, where he died two years later on December 14, 1799 at
the age of 67. George Washington remains one of the most important figures in
the history of the United States of America. Washington's accomplishments are
and will continue to serve as precedents for future Presidents. I feel that his
two terms in office as the President of the United States were the most
important periods in the history our country. He shaped the government that we
live under today, and if not for him, our government might be completely
different.
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