George Washington had many roles throughout his life: planter, army general, statesman, and husband. In the end, however, his time as President of the United States proved to be his most challenging role. Although Washington had little desire to govern the new republic and continuously doubted his ability, he also knew that he was the only person the American people trusted enough to act as their leader. During his time as president, George Washington encountered many challenges, including establishing a new system of government, facing enormous financial debt from the War of Independence, and disagreement about how to proceed with regards to foreign policy and domestic conflicts. The first momentous task facing the president was establishing …show more content…
The most heated arguments of Washington 's presidency revolved around the extent of presidential power. The first matter of debate centered around the president 's ability to remove as well as appoint appointees. The Congress was cautious and several members argued that while some powers could be securely entrusted to Washington, his predecessors might not be so honorable. James Madison, among others, disagreed. He reasoned that if the president did not have the power to remove appointees, without the consent of the Senate, they had the potential to serve for life, as the only other way of removing them was through the impeachment process.4 In the end, the independent removal power of the president passed the House, albeit …show more content…
After discussing it at length, the Congress decided that three main departments were needed, although more would ultimately be added: The Department of Foreign Affairs (later renamed The State Department), The War Department, and the Treasury Department.7 For secretary of war, Washington appointed Henry Knox, a fellow general from the Revolutionary War. As Secretary of State, he ultimately chose Thomas Jefferson, although his first choice was John Jay, who would become Chief Justice. Finally, as secretary of the treasury, he chose Alexander Hamilton.8 Washington 's choice of Hamilton was particularly crucial, as he was entrusting him with the major task of resolving the new republic 's
A man who stood about 6 feet tall with teeth made of wood and hippopotamus ivory does not even begin to describe the extraordinary man who is George Washington. George Washington, the father of the United States, was the first President of the USA and served as president from 1789 to 1797. He is aptly called the father of his nation due to his key role in the formation of the United States. Many look up to George Washington due to his various accomplishments throughout his life. Winning the Revolutionary War, becoming the first President of the United States, and shaping the way the Constitution was written and how the federal government was formed are all extraordinary accomplishments for any man, especially one who did not go to college.
Jefferson’s best friend and closest ally, James Madison, was appointed Secretary of State. Madison supervised the Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson and Madison were very similar in both their political and private lives. Albert Gallatin was named Secretary of Treasury and vowed to decrease the debt that had been incurred by the Federalists. He did this by decreasing money spent by the armed services and reduced the size of the government.
Presidential Courage, written by Michael Beschloss, takes the reader through a series of events over 200 years involving 9 different presidents and how America grew to highly respect them. Out of the 9, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Harry Truman were the top 3 most revered Presidents. Beschloss uncovers the troubles each and every single one of the president’s moment of crisis and how they all overcame these problems while risking the stability of the country. George Washington had faced his biggest challenge in the political field and surprisingly not the battlefield in 1795 when he attempted to turn away from a new war against Great Britain that he knew the United States could not succeed.
President George Washington set the foundation for the United States of America with the careful judgement towards a Proclamation of Neutrality as an act of foreign policy while a more controversial Whiskey Rebellion served as an act of domestic policy during the late 18th century. The presidency further developed from John Adams and extended down the early 19th century with Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe. The early presidents all faced different foreign and domestic challenges which either met up with the views of Washington or were changed from his ideas into the current presidents own following towards a successful United States. George Washington developed a major responsibility with his position as the first leader
In 1783 Washington resigned as commander in chief and tried his hardest to resume life as a farmer. Although, he was very upset with the curent affairs of the country. With much hesitation and a large crowd of supporters, Washington was roped back into government. He was soon elected the first president of the United States of America. As president, Washington set many precedents including two terms of service, which was kept in place until President Roosevelt.
However, since Congress did not object Washington’s consultations nor the removal of any representatives, due to respect which created the tradition of the president being able to choose their cabinet. Washington also set the standard for two presidential terms, which was practiced until the year of 1940.When chief justice of supreme court John Jay resigned, George selected his replacement from outside the bench, and also disregarded the seniority privilege, Which in turn allowed future presidents to pick from a diverse selection of talent beyond the Court’s members. In 1795, the House of Representatives hunted records related to negotiations surrounding the Jay treaty. Washington denied to give all the documents regarding this case. In addition to, he formed the precedent that became known as the executive
He made use of the veto power against 12 bills this was more than the total of the 6 presidents before him. Abraham Lincoln also made many changes; he suspended the writ of habeas corpus, expanded the army, closed the U.S mail to treasonable correspondence and, ordered a blockade of southern ports. Contrast the role of the modern presidency to that of other aspects of history In the past, most decisions would have been most likely left to congress. The image of the president has also dramatically changes.
Olufemi Baruwa Mrs. Schummer Honor US History 3 March 2023 What challenges did George Washington face as president? George Washiington was the first president of the United States, and he faced many challenges during his time in office. He was tasked with building a new government and setting precedents for future presidents. He had to keep peace within the country so it would not fall apart.
The role of the President of the United States of America is defined by those who have held the office. The vagueness of the Constitution has allowed the power of the office to grow and shrink with the personal differences of the men who have held the position. The presidency is not just effected by those who hold the position, the institutional environment and the society of the time also take a massive role in determining the power and effectiveness of the presidency. Theodore Roosevelt and Andrew Jackson are two of the most influential presidents because they were adored by the people. Roosevelt and Jackson both stretched the power of the presidency in ways that were never envisioned by the framers of the constitution.
Washington had to closely monitor his actions because everything he did set a precedent for future leaders. In his eight year presidency, George Washington faced a multitude of hardships such as economy, foreign policy, and political parties. To begin, economic
George Washington was a very wise and smart man. he is most commonly seen as the father of the united states. with his thoughts and beliefs of creating a nation that does not have a political party and that believes in the freedom of others. In today's standards, however, If George Washington was able to see the American nation we have become he would be mortified.
“He was involved twice in Germantown 's contribution to American history” (George Washington, 2013). Washington stopped the decimation of the nation’s capital by coming up with a permanent place safe from attacks, favoritism, and disease. “One challenge came from the national debt. Fighting and for and gaining independence did not come cheap and the amount of debt that the new nation faced was staggering” (George Washington, 2013). He faced many challenges during his presidency from paying back war debts.
Although unrelatable and underappreciated in the eyes of modern history, George Washington shows his greatness through his character. Contemporary culture often neglects to recognise Washington’s greatness. Sadly, he has become a figure so far removed from the ideals and lives of modern Americans, that his name often provokes boredom. Nonetheless, his character proved to be perfect for what America needed during his life. His greatness was largely due to chance.
Historical Background Before Mr. Washington was even elected into presidency, he was a politician and a soldier. However,
Henry Knox • Attorney General- Edmund Randolph Today, our cabinet is made up of 16 departments and being served by the following individuals: • Vice President of the United States-Joseph R. Biden • Department of State-Secretary John Kerry • Department of the Treasury- Secretary Jack Lew • Department of Defense- Secretary