nation escaped from the crushing grip of its mother country, and one man was there to lead the United States through the storm. That man was the Continental Army’s Commander and America’s first President, George Washington. Washington began his long and essential role America’s history when Virginia’s Lt. Governor ordered him to deliver an ultimatum to the French who had been moving into the Ohio River Valley. Washington later lead troops to attack the French in a skirmish that would lead to the French and Indian War, which made Washington well known in the Colonies and in Britain. Washington was also involved in the Battle of Monongahela and the capture of Fort Duquesne. After the war, Washington served on the Virginia House of Burgesses
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Washington was instrumental in creating a precedent for presidents to come by creating a cabinet, only taking two terms, and speaking out against the formation of political parties. Washington’s cabinet proved to be of considerable trouble to Washington as it contained Hamilton, a federalist, as the Treasury Security, and Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican, as the Secretary of War. Washington ultimately adopted a compromised version of Hamilton’s plan leading some to classify Washington as a Federalist, a denomination he would not appreciate due to his vehement disposition with the then forming political factions and parties that he felt would split the nation. Under Washington, the Union grew from 13 states to 16 states with the addition of Vermont, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Washington also showed the power of the Federal Government when he sent 12,950 militia troops to crush the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794, which was a rebellion in response to Hamilton’s excise tax. Even though Washington tried to solve the issue, which had been building since 1791 through diplomatic means, the situation devolved to violence. While Washington showed strength in pursuing the rebels, he showed a great deal of mercy to the rebels by pardoning those who were captured, tried, and convicted of treason. With the rebellion ending, Washington guided the nation trough the first real act of major violent defiance against the federal
Washington was instrumental in creating a precedent for presidents to come by creating a cabinet, only taking two terms, and speaking out against the formation of political parties. Washington’s cabinet proved to be of considerable trouble to Washington as it contained Hamilton, a federalist, as the Treasury Security, and Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican, as the Secretary of War. Washington ultimately adopted a compromised version of Hamilton’s plan leading some to classify Washington as a Federalist, a denomination he would not appreciate due to his vehement disposition with the then forming political factions and parties that he felt would split the nation. Under Washington, the Union grew from 13 states to 16 states with the addition of Vermont, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Washington also showed the power of the Federal Government when he sent 12,950 militia troops to crush the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794, which was a rebellion in response to Hamilton’s excise tax. Even though Washington tried to solve the issue, which had been building since 1791 through diplomatic means, the situation devolved to violence. While Washington showed strength in pursuing the rebels, he showed a great deal of mercy to the rebels by pardoning those who were captured, tried, and convicted of treason. With the rebellion ending, Washington guided the nation trough the first real act of major violent defiance against the federal