George Washington the "Indespensable Man"? Term Paper

Its effects would have impact on the political decisions of all future generations; any mistake could have had disastrous consequences for the ones to come. Regarding the matter, the president at some point wrote to James Madison that given the historical circumstances and precedents his presidency constituted, he preferred that all decisions be made on a moral basis.. Washington couldn't have been more right; for instance, his refusal to serve a third term, in 1797 became common practice until today. The norm states that no other president could seek power for more than two terms.

His huge burden derived not only from the great amount of social changes that were to take place and not only from the laborious political measures and laws that had to be adopted; as first president of the newly-born nation, he was also to become the symbol of the ones he presided over.

People have always felt the need to use symbols as a means to reinforce their belief in being an integrated part of a community. As Edmund Morgan explains in his book "The Meaning of Independence," "the creation, manipulation and recognition of symbols has been central to human history and seems somehow essential to the formation of human community. Coats of arms have helped kin recognize each other as part of a unity transcending their families and themselves." George Washington later gained the name of Father of the Nation, immortal symbol of the people and nation that were then born. He is also one of the three most influential and acknowledged presidents that the United States have had.

Systematic and brisk, the president held regular cabinet meetings and made decisions only after having thoroughly analyzed and discussed every aspect and issue of a matter.

Although he has never been a member of any political party and neither did he support the idea of the creation of such political gash, Washington has always somehow embraced the Federalist principles. Secretary of Treasury James Madison was one of Washington's most trusted acquaintances.

The Treaty of Paris in 1783 stated the independence of the United States of America and from then on things would take on a different turn.

Although largely criticized by Jeffersonians for the Jay Treaty with the British, Washington stayed true to his beliefs.Given the freshly-won freedom of his people, he was wise enough to avoid a new military confrontation with the Empire. He thus chose to set the foundation of a strong new nation, one capable of standing on its own feet. The stake was huge: having just come out victorious from the Revolutionary War, the newly-acquired freedom was something most did not know how to handle or manage.

He has always insisted that the United States sign no treaty of alliance with any other country. He lead a pacifist policy and when the French government sent diplomat Edmond-Charles Genet to America to try and involve the United States in their war against the British, Washington denounced Gent's societies and demanded the French that they recall their man. Washington has always insisted on the importance of the moral duty of the United States that they mind their internal affairs and not interfere with any external political and military inconsistency. His advices quickly set the American values in respect to foreign affairs, and America has kept its beliefs until the middle of the twentieth century.

The fist president of the United States has remained in the hearts and minds of his people as Father of the Nation and one of the most influential politician of all times in the history of the nation. Charismatic and courageous, impartial and modest, George Washington was a man of vision and character. He lead the Americans into a new era and always followed the cause of his people rather than his. For all these and a plenty more he can deservingly be called "The indispensable Man."

Bibliography:

Gregg, Gary L. II and Spalding, Matthew. "Patriot Sage, George Washington and the American Political Tradition." Wilmington, Delaware: ISI Books,1989

Middlekauf, Robert. "The Glorious Cause, (The American Revolution, 1763-1789)." London:Oxford Press, 2005

Morgan, Edmund. "The Meaning of Independence." Charlottesville:University of Virginia Press, 1976

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