George Washington Dbq Essay

Jared Nielsen

Constitution Final

George Washington

George Washington was the first President of the United States of America. He was a great leader and he had a firm belief that the United States must insist on its national identity, strength, and dignity. His object, he wrote, was to keep the country “free from political connections with every other country, to see them independent of all, and under the influence of none.”

According to Stephen Knott a professor at the U.S. Naval War College, Lawrence, George's beloved half-brother and mentor, had commanded a local militia in the area near the Washington family home. Soon after returning to Virginia, George, barely out of his teens, lobbied the colonial government for the same post and

Jason Berggren, In 1789 George Washington was unanimously elected president of the United States. With 69 electoral votes, Washington won the support of each participating elector. Under the system then in place, votes for Vice President were not differentiated from votes for President. Behind Washington, John Adams finished with 34 electoral votes getting him the Vice President spot. Washington was both an obvious first choice for president and possibly the only true choice at the time. He was both a national hero and the favorite son of Virginia, the largest state at the time. Washington ascended to the presidency with practical experience, having served as the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and as president of the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. In 1792 George Washington was unanimously re-elected president of the United States for his second term. Washington received 132 electoral votes because there was more states in the union now and again he won by a unanimous vote. With 77 electoral votes, John Adams was re-elected. Washington considered retirement after one term, but Washington also feared that the country would irreparably pull and split apart, and was implored by his close associates to serve an additional four years. Despite policy differences, Jefferson argued that the Union would fail without Washington, pointing out that, "North and South will hang together if they have you to hang

After risking his life to lead the American Revolution—often bravely putting himself directly in the line of fire—Washington shocked the entire world by voluntarily returning all his powers to the American people and their elected representatives. It was a decision that even led his recently defeated foe, King George III, to comment that Washington was “the greatest character of his generation.” In 1790 a National Bank is Created by Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, with President Washington's support. They send Congress a controversial message (The Report on a National Bank) calling for the creation of an official Bank of the United States. After a hard-won approval by Congress, Washington signs the bill on February 25, 1791. In 1791 the Bill of Rights was Ratified the states officially ratify the first ten amendments to the Constitution, also known as the Bill of Rights. President Washington had called for their ratification in his first inaugural address. On November 19, 1794, American statesman John Jay signed the Amity, Commerce, and Navigation Treaty with Britain. The treaty, known as Jay's Treaty, was designed to resolve issues between the United States and Britain. Federalists supported and Democratic-Republicans opposed the treaty but it kept the US out of a war with Great Britain.

George Washington’s cabinet included just four original members.