Washington's Contribution to Democracy and National Identity

George Washington

George? Washington (George Washington, 1732- 1799, 14 February), commander-in-chief of the continental army during the American revolutionary war 1775 to1783,65438. ), won the unanimous support of all electoral colleges in two consecutive elections, and served as president until 1797.

In his early years, Washington served as a colonial officer and supported the British Empire in the French-Indian War. Later, he led the Continental Army to win American independence in the American War of Independence. He rejected the proposal of some colleagues urging him to lead the military regime and returned to his manor on Mount Vernon, returning to civilian life.

1787 presided over the Constitutional Convention and formulated the present American Constitution. 1789, with the unanimous support of all electoral colleges, he became the first president of the United States. During his two terms in office, he established many policies and traditions that continue to this day. At the end of his two terms of office, he also voluntarily gave up his power and stopped serving, thus establishing the tradition that the term of office of the president in American history should not exceed two terms and safeguarding the development of the country. After that, he returned to civilian life again and retired at Mount Vernon.

Because he played the most important role in the American War of Independence and the founding of the country, Washington is usually called the father of the United States [1]. Scholars compare him to Abraham? Lincoln is tied for the greatest president in American history.

catalogue

[hide]

1 early career

2 France-India War: 1754- 1763

3 American Revolution: 1774- 1783

In Virginia:1783-1787.

President's term of office: 1789— 1797.

O 5. 1 Go

O 5.2 policy

O 5.3 Important bills during the term of office

O 5.4 cabinet members

O 5.5 appointment of the supreme court

O 5.6 States that joined the Federation during their term of office.

6 Retirement and death

7 after death

8 memorial

9 comments

10 reference

1 1 external link

[Editor] Early career

According to julian calendar, Washington was born in February of 173 1+0 1. According to the Gregorian calendar, which has been used since Washington's time, Washington was born on February 22nd, 1732. When he was born, the British New Year began on March 25th (God's Good News Day), so there will be different birthdays. His birthplace is a big farm in westmorland County. Washington's surname comes from Washington village in Tyne-Wilshire, not far from northeast England. /kloc-In 0/500, the Washington family moved to Northamptonshire. Washington's ancestors were somewhat famous. Once an ancestor was called a "gentry". Later, Henry VIII gave the family land, and the family members held various official positions. But with the Puritan revolution in England, family property declined, and Augustine's grandfather John? Washington immigrated to Virginia on 1657. Surgrave's ancestral home in Northamptonshire has been preserved as a Washington memorial to this day.

Washington is the oldest child in his father's second marriage. He has two half-brothers Lawrence and Augustine, and four younger brothers and sisters Betty, Samuel and John. Augustine and Charles. Are Washington's parents Augustine? Washington (1693- 1743 April 12) and Mary? Bauer. Mary Bauer Washington,1708-1789 April 25th) is of British descent. Washington's father, a slave owner in Virginia, also tried to develop iron ore mining. As far as a gentleman is concerned, he is not really rich compared with the farmers around him. He spent most of his childhood at the ferry farm on the Rapanok River opposite Fort fredericks. One of Washington's father's assets was a large manor, which was later renamed Mount Vernon.

Washington goes to school irregularly from the age of 7 to 15. At first, he went to school with the sexton of the local church. Later, he went to school with a teacher named Williams. Some of his exercise books are still kept. He is very proficient in practical mathematics, including measurement, several measurement methods and triangles useful for measurement. He studies geometry and a little Latin. At the same time, during that time, Washington also read some famous English books.

Washington's brother Augustine served as an officer in an infantry regiment commanded by a British general and participated in the battle of Jenkins. After the death of Washington's father, his family was in financial difficulties. Washington could not go to England for education like his two brothers, so he had to give up the opportunity originally arranged by Lawrence to become a trainee officer in the Royal Navy. So Washington has never been to Europe in his life.

Washington later became a fireman in Alexandria. 1774 because of its friendly relationship with a fire-fighting equipment company, it purchased a very advanced fire-fighting equipment at its own expense and donated it to the town for use. This kind of equipment can still be seen in the museum in Alexandria today. [2]

[Editor] France-India War:1754-1763

At the age of 22, Washington inadvertently became one of the fuses of the French-Indian war. The first war in which the colonies participated originated from 1753, and the French began to build many fortresses in the Ohio countryside which belonged to Virginia territory at that time. This is one of the strategies of France. The French, with the support of local aborigines, tried to prevent the British from continuing to expand their colonies in the United States to the west and prevent the activities of British troops in the colonies. The governor of Virginia is Robert? Dinwiddie, then a major, submitted an ultimatum to the French commander for him, asking the French to leave. Washington revealed the process to the local newspaper, and he became a legend. But the French army refused to leave, so in 1754, Dinwiddie sent Washington, who had just been promoted to lieutenant colonel, to lead the first Virginia army to attack the French army in the Ohio River basin. Washington led an army to ambush a reconnaissance team composed of French Canadians. After a short battle, Washington's Indian ally Tana Charisen tribe killed the French commander Lieutenant Youmonville, and then Washington built a fort called Fortnecesity there, but under the attack of more French and other Indian troops, the fort was quickly captured and he was forced to surrender. When Washington surrendered, it signed a document, admitting that it had "assassinated" Zhu Meng Ville, the commander of the French army (because this document was written in French, which Washington could not understand at all). This document triggered international events and became one of the causes of the French-Indian war. This war is also part of the seven-year war.

Washington was later paroled by France and released after agreeing not to return to the Ohio Valley for one year.

Washington was always eager to join the British army, and the colonists were not interested in it at that time. He finally got his chance in 1755, when the British launched an expedition to try to recapture the Ohio Valley. The expedition suffered disastrous results in the battle of Monongahela. Incredibly, Washington's coat was punctured by four bullets, but he remained unscathed and calmly organized the army to retreat under fire. In Virginia, Washington became a hero. Although the focus of the war had shifted to other places, he continued to lead the Virginia First Corps for several years. 1758, together with general John Forbes, he launched another expedition and successfully drove the French army out of Duquesburg.

The goal of Washington's initial military career was to become a regular British officer, not just an officer of the colonial militia. But he never got promoted, so 1759 resigned from the army and worked with Martha? Dandridge? Castis is married. She is a rich widow with two children. Washington raised two children with her: John? Puckle. Castis and Martha? Puckle. Custis, who later raised her two grandchildren, never had children of her own blood relatives. After getting married, they moved to Mount Vernon and lived the life of a gentleman farmer and slave owner. He was elected to the local House of Commons in Virginia.

[Editor] American Revolution: 1774- 1783

Main projects: American Revolution and American War of Independence.

1774, Washington was elected as the representative of Virginia to attend the first continental congress. Due to the Boston Tea Party, the British government closed Boston Harbor and cancelled the legislative and judicial power of Massachusetts. 1775 After the colonies fought the British in Lexington and Concord in April, Washington attended the Second Continental Congress in military uniform-he was the only representative who did so and expressed his hope to lead the Virginia militia to the war. Representative John from Massachusetts? Adams recommended him as the commander-in-chief of all the colonies and said that he had "the gift of being an officer" ... great talent and universal characteristics. Because Adams learned that the best way to ensure that the southern colony can successfully cooperate with the northern colony to form a continental army is to recommend a southern colony as the general commander. On June 1775 and 15, Washington became the commander-in-chief with the unanimous support of the general assembly election. Although unwilling to leave his beloved Virginia home, Washington accepted the position of commander, and declared, "I don't think I am qualified for the glorious position of this commander, but I will accept this position with the greatest sincerity." Washington also claimed that he didn't have to pay him any extra money except necessary expenses. In this way, Washington became the commander-in-chief of the entire colonial army in Cambridge, Massachusetts on July 3.

Washington attacked Boston at 1776, and used the artillery position captured at Fort Ticonderoga earlier to overlook the whole Boston harbor, and finally drove the British out of Boston. British commander William? Howe, Elias ordered the British troops to withdraw to Halifax. Washington then led troops to new york, expecting the British to launch an offensive. The British army with overwhelming military power launched an attack in August, but the retreat led by Washington was rather clumsy and almost completely annihilated. He also lost in the Battle of Long Island on August 22nd, but was able to withdraw most of his troops and return to the mainland. After several defeats, the army left New Jersey in a hurry, and the future of the American revolution was in jeopardy.

On the night of February 25th, 1776, 1776, distinguished conductors in Washington gathered. In this battle of Trenton, he led American troops across the Delaware River and raided the barracks of Hessian mercenaries. Then on the night of 1777 1.2, give it to Charles? The British army led by Cornwallis launched a surprise attack, which boosted the morale of the colonial camp supporting independence.

/kloc-in the summer of 0/777, the British army launched a three-way offensive, all the way to John? Burgoyne led an attack from Canada to the south, the route is William? He led the attack on Philadelphia, the capital of the colony at that time. Washington, on the other hand, retreated to the south, but it was defeated in the brandy battle of 1 1 in September. The battle of Germantown, which was launched to repel the British army, failed because of the dense fog and the chaos of the army. Washington and his troops had to retreat to the harsh environment of Ji Gu to spend the winter.

During the winter of 1777 to 1778, the war situation and morale of the continental army (and the political revolutionary movement) were the worst, and the continental army suffered great war damage and poor living environment. But Washington still firmly commanded the army and continued to ask the colonial congress in the rear for more supplies, so that the continental army could survive the cold winter and gradually restore morale. In February, an officer who served in the General Staff of the Prussian Army, Friedrich? Feng? Lester went to Ji Gu and volunteered to help train the Washington army so that they could compete with the British army on the battlefield. Steben's training in Fo Ji Gu improved tactics and operational discipline, greatly enhanced the fighting capacity of the colonial army, and became a watershed for the colonial army to get rid of thugs. By the time the training in Ji Gu was over, Washington's army had taken on a new look.

Washington then led an army to attack the British army from Philadelphia to new york in the Battle of Monmouth on June 28th, 778. The British army was leveled, but its attempt to split the colonial government failed. Due to the victory of this campaign and the defeat of the invading British army led by Bourgau in the Battle of Saratoga a a year ago, the situation gradually improved, and the British army obviously could not conquer the whole new country, so France decided to formally form an alliance with the United States.

George? John's Washington? Painting by john trumbull, 1780

After 1778, the British tried to separate the colony for the last time. This time, the British troops concentrated in the south. Washington's troops did not attack them directly, but went to the military base at West Point, new york. 1779, Washington ordered 1 of the five continental armies to launch a Sullivan expedition to attack four of the six tribes of the Iroquois Alliance, which had formed an alliance with the British and often attacked American frontline fortresses. There was no fighting, but at least 40 Iroquois villages were destroyed, forcing these Indians to leave the United States forever and move to Canada. 178 1 year, American army, French army and navy surrounded Cornwally's army in Yorktown, and Washington quickly went south. In 10, he took over the command of American and French troops in 17, and continued to fight siege until Cornwallis surrendered in 18+07, 10. Although the British were still active in new york and other places until 1783, this battle became the last major battle in the War of Independence.

Then 1783, with the signing of the Paris Treaty, Britain recognized the independence of the United States. Washington disbanded his army and gave a wonderful farewell speech to the soldiers who followed him for many years in Loki Hill, New Jersey [3]. A few days later, the British withdrew from new york, and Washington and the colonial government returned to the city. On February 4th, 65438, he gave a formal farewell speech in new york.

It should be pointed out that Washington's tactics are nothing special, neither pioneering nor having any influence on military history, and he often makes big mistakes in many battles. However, he is still regarded as a war hero, because his supporters believe that because of his revolutionary ideas, the US military also survived and continued to fight in the war, enabling the United States to remain independent to this day. Washington has always avoided direct conflict with the British army and the decisive defeat or surrender of the US military. He is quite aware of the weaknesses of the US military, and restricts them from taking too risky actions, and inspires the army with his brave personality, so that they can survive in the long and difficult war.

Washington chose the right strategy in the war, just like the ancient Roman general fabius? Maximus's strategy of delaying the enemy in the Second Punic War will make the British army "attack at the door" like Hannibal, but "enter at the door". Soon the British will understand that it is only a waste of resources to continue fighting. They can only pursue the American army for close combat, but they can't completely capture the main force of the American army. Washington understands that this war will be won by diplomacy, not by soldiers.

[Editor] Virginia Home: 1783— 1787

1783, 1783 On February 23rd, Washington resigned from the Confederate Congress, which later met in the House of Representatives in Annapolis, Maryland. This is a very important process for the new country, which sets a precedent, that is, officials elected by civilians, not soldiers, organize the government to avoid the emergence of militaristic regimes. Washington firmly believes that only the people have sovereignty over the country, and no one can seize power in the United States by military force or just because he was born into a noble family.

Washington then returned to Mount Vernon and arrived at his home on Christmas Eve in the evening. The telephone number was 1783. He hasn't had a chance to go home since 1775 left his beloved home because of the war. He was greeted at the door by his wife, who promised to return to China within eight years, and four walking grandchildren, all of whom were born when he left home. The war also claimed the life of his stepson John, who died of fever during a March in Yorktown in 178 1.

When Washington left the army, his last title in the Continental Army was "General and Commander-in-Chief".

1787, Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia. He didn't take part in the discussion, but his prestige maintained the leading position of the meeting and enabled the delegation to concentrate on the discussion. After the meeting, his prestige made many people, including the Virginia legislature, believe in the outcome of the meeting and support the US Constitution.

The manor in Washington covers an area of 8,000 acres (32 square kilometers). Like many other farmers at that time, although he owned a lot of land, Washington didn't have much cash and often borrowed money everywhere. Later, when he became president, he even had to borrow $600 to move to new york to take over government affairs.

[Editor] President's term: 1789— 1797.

[Edit] Start

1789, Washington was unanimously elected president (all electoral votes). He is the only president in history who was elected without objection (and reached it again in 1792). John, who won the second place with 34 votes? Adams was elected vice president. The first US Congress voted to pay Washington an annual salary of $25,000-a lot of money in 1789. Washington was probably the richest man in the United States at that time, and his land in the west had great potential value-but it was all empty land at that time. He refused the president's salary, which was part of his image as Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, a citizen hero in ancient Rome-a citizen who regarded handling government affairs as a civic duty. During the inauguration ceremony of the president, Washington was very careful to ensure that the scale and decoration of the ceremony were frugal, in line with American standards and would not exceed the royal families of European countries at that time.

Washington's wife Martha was very disappointed that he was elected president. She just wants to live a quiet life with Washington at Mount Vernon. However, she still assumed the duties of the first lady, opened the living room and arranged a weekly dinner with dignitaries to match the identity of the president.

[edit] strategy

In the early days of Washington's presidency, he only met with his advisers alone, but at 179 1, he began to attend regular meetings of all cabinets. Whenever Alexander. When Hamilton advocated the establishment of a national credit institution and a country with strong financial strength, Thomas? Jefferson and James? Madison is always against him, and Washington must always mediate between the two sides. Finally, Hamilton often won debates. When Washington accused Jefferson and Madison of the danger of the Democratic Republican Association, Hamilton was elected as the leader of the Federalist Party.

179 1 year, when Congress passed the increase of the commodity tax rate of distilled liquor, it triggered many protests. By 1794, after Washington instructed the protesters to go to the local court, the protests intensified into large-scale riots. So on August 7, Washington asked Pennsylvania, Virginia and other States to promulgate militia laws and recruit militia. After recruiting militia, he directly took the lead to the riot area and became the only American president who personally led the army. There was no fighting in the rebellion, but Washington's strong performance directly demonstrated the strength of the new government. This is also the first time that the federal government has used troops to maintain local order since the promulgation of the federal constitution.

Since the American War of Independence, it has often been called Northwest China. Indians living there often clash with whites. In the Northwest Indian War, the Indians defeated the whites until they were defeated by the whites in the deforestation campaign of 1794.

1793, the new French government after the great revolution sent a diplomat Edmund? Edmund Genet went to the United States, and Ginette tried to incite American public opinion to sympathize with France in order to fight against the British Empire. The French government even authorized him to issue licenses and judicial certificates to American ships, allowing them to arrest ships from other countries that are enemies of France. Ginette's behavior forced Washington to ask the French government to withdraw him.

1794 65438+On February 9, Chief Justice John was sent. After Jay went to London for negotiations, the United States and Britain signed the Jay Treaty in his name, trying to draw a clear line between the two countries since the War of Independence and the independence of the United States, so as to enhance the relations between the two countries. Jefferson and others who advocated pro-French strongly criticized the treaty, but Washington and Hamilton expressed their support, and then Congress passed the signing of the treaty. The treaty stipulated that Britain must evacuate their Great Lakes fortress, which also had an impact on the subsequent 18 12 war.

Alexander? Hamilton used his appointment power in the federal government to appoint many of his close friends to government posts, so the federal party he led became stronger and stronger. Later in 1796, John? Adams was also elected president. Washington itself is quite opposed to this kind of partisan politics, so it has never expressed its support for any political party. Although Washington was more inclined to support Hamilton's policies than Jefferson, he never made such remarks publicly. Therefore, it can be said that Washington had no partisan position at that time.

Washington's refusal to serve a third term was decided by Guibert? Gilbert Stuart painted it.

Despite Washington's reluctance, he was elected as the second president. But Washington insisted on refusing to serve as the third president, so he wrote that the term of office of the president of the United States will never exceed two. This convention was not broken by Roosevelt until 1940, but it was formally written into the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution after Roosevelt's death.

Washington's resignation speech became one of the most influential political speeches in American history. In his speech, he expounded the possible adverse effects of excessive partisanship on the country and called on people to abandon partisanship and unite to work for the public interest. He also advocated that the United States should avoid interference from other countries, because the United States should only put the interests of Americans first. He suggested maintaining friendship and trade relations with other countries in the world and avoiding getting involved in wars in Europe. He believes that long-term alliance with a certain country should be avoided, and points out that attention should be paid to the alliance between the United States and France at that time. Washington's resignation speech has become the norm in American politics, especially for future generations. Whenever there is a debate about whether American foreign policy should remain neutral, Washington's speech has become the most powerful introduction for those who advocate neutrality until 1949 when the United States began to form alliances with other countries.

In John? At Adams' inauguration ceremony, it is said that Washington even whispered to Adams, "Now that I have left my job, it's your turn to be president. Let's wait and see who likes this job better! " . Washington also refused to leave the Oval Office until Vice President Thomas? Jefferson also arrived, establishing the convention that the presidency can only be abandoned when both the president and the vice president are present. Then, Washington stepped out of the office and resumed his civilian status.

In terms of religious policy, the United States is based on religious freedom. Washington once declared: "America is by no means based on Christian dogma." [4]

[Editor] Important bills in the office

Signed the Judicial Act 1789, which established the laws of the federal court and the Supreme Court system.

Signed the American Indian Exchange Act, which stipulated that the Great Plains of Nebraska was Indian land, and the Act came into effect on 1790.

Signed the 1790 Residence Act and made Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the temporary capital of the federal government.

It signed the Banking Act of 179 1 and issued a license to the Bank of North America, becoming the first modern private commercial bank.

Signed the Coinage Act of 1792, which stipulated the standard of American coins.

Signed 1793 Slave Escaping Act to mediate the legal dispute between Pennsylvania and Virginia on the kidnapping case.

Signed the 1794 Navy Act and established the United States Navy.

Organized the first American cabinet.

[Editor] Cabinet member

Job title and term of office

president

George? Washington1789–1797

vice president

John? Adams

1789– 1797

Secretary of State

Thomas? Jefferson

1789– 1793

Edmund? Randolph (male name)

1794– 1795

Timothy. Pickering

1795– 1797

minister of finance

Alexander? Hamilton

1789– 1795

Little Oliver? Walcott

1795– 1797

Minister of war

Henry. compounds of nitrogen and oxygen

1789– 1794

Timothy. Pickering

1795– 1796

James. Mchenry

1796– 1797

attorney general

Edmund? Randolph (male name)

1789– 1793

William? Bradford

1794– 1795

Charles. plum

1795– 1797

Minister of postal services

Samuel? Osgood

1789– 179 1

Timothy. Pickering

179 1– 1795

Joseph? Harper, mt

1795– 1797

[Editor] Appointed by the Supreme Court

As the first president, Washington appointed almost all the Supreme Court judges, and the same number was reached only by Roosevelt, who served four terms (1933- 1945). Washington recommended the following judges to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States:

John? Jay-Chief Justice-1789

James. James wilson-1789

John? Rutledge-1790

William? William cushing-1790

John? Joho blair-1790

James. James iredell-1790

Thomas? Zhan Sen-1792

William? William Patterson-1793

John? Rutledge-promoted to Chief Justice, 1795( 1790 judges).

Samuel? Samuel chase-1796

Oliver. Oliver ellsworth)-Chief Justice-1796

[Editor] A state that joined the Union during its term of office.

North Carolina (1789)

Rhode Island (1790)

Vermont (179 1 year)

Kentucky (1792)

Tennessee (1796)

[Editor] Retirement and Death

Mount Vernon Manor in Washington

1797 After retiring in March, Washington returned to Mount Vernon with a relaxed mood. He set up a distillation room there and became the largest whiskey distiller at that time. By 1798, he had produced 1 1 0,000 gallons of whisky, with a profit of 7,500 yuan.

That year, as the war approached, Washington was defeated by the new president John F.? Adams was appointed Lieutenant General of the United States Army (then the highest rank in the Army). This is only a symbolic appointment. Washington didn't really serve.

The following year, Washington caught a cold, had a persistent high fever and a sore throat, which deteriorated into laryngitis and pneumonia, and died on 1799 12 14. The body was buried in Mount Vernon.

[Editor] After his death

After Washington's death, his former revolutionary war partner, Congressman Harry? Harry Lee's praise for him is quite famous:

He is a citizen. He is the first person in war, the first person in peacetime and the first person in the eyes of his compatriots.

Washington has set many precedents for the future America. He chose to peacefully cede the presidency to John F.? Adams, the precedent of no more than two presidents is regarded as the most important influence of Washington on the United States.

He is also called the father of America by many people and regarded as the most important founder of America. He has also become a typical image of the benevolent founder of the world. Americans always refer to him as the father of America when they talk about him. He is here, too. Mike. h？ Michael H. Hart ranks 26th among 65,438,000 celebrities who have influenced world history, and is regarded by most scholars as the most important president in American history.

Although Washington won the highest rank at that time-Samsung's Lieutenant General, as time went on, more and more generals (starting from Grant) won the same and higher ranks (four stars and five stars), and it seems that Washington's achievements were not as good as theirs. It was not until 1976 that Congress passed a bill to make Washington an American army general (equivalent to the rank of grand marshal in the Soviet Union and other countries) and officially declared him the highest rank in the United States, surpassing all marshals (five-star generals) and generals in the past and in the future.

[Editor] Commemoration