George Washington :: essays research papers

Find in this articlePrint article sling us feedbackMore Media (11 items)Article OutlineIntroduction, Early Life, Early Career, General of the Continental Army, Return Home, President of the United States, Second Term as President, destruction Years I. IntroductionPrint sectionWashington, George (1732-1799), first president of the United States (1789-1797) and one of the most important leaders in United States history. His role in gaining freedom for the American colonies and later in unifying them under the new U.S. federal government cannot be overestimated. Laboring against great difficulties, he created the Continental Army, which fought and won the American renewal (1775-1783), out of what was little more than an armed mob. After an eight-year struggle, his design for victory brought final defeat to the British at Yorktown, Virginia, and forced Great Britain to grant independence to its overseas possession.With victory won, Washington was the most revered cosmos in the Unite d States. Advertisement A lesser person might have use this power to establish a military dictatorship or to become king. Washington sternly suppressed all such attempts on his behalf by his officers and act to obey the weak and divided Continental Congress. However, he never ceased to work for the union of the states under a strong central government. He was a star influence in persuading the states to participate in the opusal Convention, over which he presided, and he used his immense prestige to help gain ratification of its product, the Constitution of the United States.Although worn out by years of service to his country, Washington reluctantly accepted the presidency of the United States. Probably no other man could have succeeded in welding the states into a lasting union. Washington fully understood the significance of his presidency. I walk on untrodden ground, he said. there is scarcely any part of my conduct which may not hereafter be drawn in precedent.