George Washington As Its First President example essay topic

On April 30, 1789, the citizens of the thirteen year old country, the United States, elected George Washington as its first president. This decision proved significant as a guide for future elections and assessments for all presidents. This essay will evaluate George Washington's presidency as the fore rusher of all who later held or will later hold office. George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, to the gentry. He was brought up as a proper, venerable, 18th century Virginia gentleman. He pursued two intertwined interests, the military arts and the Western expansion.

His interests led him to become a colonel in the French and Indian skirmishes and the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. During the American Revolution, George Washington realized the best strategy was to harass the British. He informed the Congress", We should on all occasions avoid a general action or put anything to the risk, unless compelled by necessity, into which we ought never to be drawn". After winning the war, Washington yearned for retirement to the fields of Mt. Vernon.

However, he soon inferred that the Nation under its Articles of Confederation was not operating well. Therefore, he became the prime mover in the steps leading to the Constitution Convention at Philadelphia in 1787. When the constitution was sanctioned, the Electoral College unanimously elected Washington for president. In this assessment, his moral authority and his pursuit of equal justice for all, will be evaluated. In a historian survey, Washington was graded as having a ninety-eight point one percent in moral authority. He was also ranked first compared to other presidents.

This result is correct because moral authority stands for", the power to exercise authoritative or dominating control or influence over standards of behavior based on a sense of right and wrong, delegated from one person to another". Basically a person with moral authority has a clear sense of what is wrong or right. Washington was the perfect example of moral authority. This statement was proven by his thoughts on the issue of tyranny for a president. Washington stopped the people from calling him", Your excellency", and instead preferred to be called Mr. President. George Washington also reinforced the Whiskey Rebellion.

The Whiskey Rebellion was an uprising of the westerners about the tax on alcohol. Washington put on his uniform and took twelve-thousand men and overcame the revolt. This was right because drinking was poisonous and the tax on alcohol was an effective way to pay for the war debts. Also, this past event can be related to our nation taxing cigarette companies. As a weakness, it must be admitted that George Washington's flaw was a fifty-two point four percent and the ranking of twelfth in the pursuit of equal justice for all. George Washington owned many slaves and did not fight against abolition.

By the time of his presidency, it has been acknowledged that he seemed to believe that slavery was immoral and against the principles of the new nation. Nevertheless, Washington took no action for his belief. His reason might have been that fighting would completely tear apart the new nation. While mindful of this, at a later time his conjecture proved correct for the south of the 1800's was completely against abolition. George Washington did not receive a zero from others on this evaluation because, after his death, he had arranged for all his slaves to be freed. Furthermore, his wishes were expressed by a letter to Lafayette saying, "There is not a man living, who wishes more sincerely than I do, to see a plan adopted, for the abolition of it.

But there is only one proper and effectual mode by which it can be accomplished, and this is, by legislative authority". He was prudent in trying to avoid natural division so quickly after the Revolutionary War. All in all, Washington was evaluated overall as the third greatest American president. I believe this is an appropriate and accurate ranking. I deem this because, Washington had great moral authority, made respectable decisions, and was a good president.

Yet, I believe he was not ranked number one because of his fear of fighting for freedom. I think this because Abraham Lincoln fought for what he assumed as right. Abraham was also efficacious in his beliefs. Of course this brought on upon the Civil War, but in the end, it was worth the outcome. Since, the outcome is the present US, a united nation with complete freedom of religion, race, and speech. However, overall without George Washington's moral authority and weaknesses the country would not be the same.

Bibliography

1. The Man Who Could Be King. The American President. 2000 web 2.
President Bill Clinton, Moral Authority, and other non-related topics. Dan Kase. 21 September 1998.
web 3. The Whiskey Rebellion: Taxing 'Sin' -- Then and Now. Bruce Kauffman. 1996 web 4.
George Washington. C-SPAN Survey of Presidential Leadership. March 1999 web.