“Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.” After taking office in 1789, George Washington proved to be one of the best US presidents by providing strong leadership and setting precedents for future presidents, laying the seeds for US prosperity as a country and democracy. President Washington set the role of the executive branch in order to have a limited government that would protect the citizens’ rights. By proving that the government would act firmly in times of crisis, Washington showed Americans the strong powers of the national government, only used to maintain peace, liberty, and economic prosperity. Throughout his career, Washington helped to shape the public’s perception of the government as organized, productive, and capable thanks to his amazing management and guidance.
George Washington set many precedents—limits, boundaries, and rights—for future presidents, in order to develop an operating government for the growing nation. George
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The Whiskey Rebellion, a protest to stop the taxing on liquor and whiskey, represented the first major test of the national government's ability to enforce laws within the states. Because the Whiskey Rebellion farmers threatened both “the just authority of government” and “the rights of individuals,” Washington used military force to show that armed rebellion was not allowed. Washington determined that the national government had the right to pass laws and the right to enforce these laws to keep the nation running smoothly. The military dominance of the Whiskey Rebellion established a precedent that United States citizens wishing to protest had to do so peacefully through constitutional means, not jeopardizing citizens’