The Father of America: George Washington James Butler, a founding father of America, stated during the first Presidential elections, that “many of the members cast their eyes towards General Washington, as President, and shaped their ideas of the powers to be given a President, by their opinions of his virtue” (“George Washington” 127). In saying this, he meant that George Washington was a man that, in the eyes of all the chair-holders, fit all the characteristics that a President should have. For over 150 years before George Washington’s time, America was a colony of the British Empire that controlled the do’s and don’ts of the people living there. However, with the accumulation of laws and acts set forth by the distant British Empire, the …show more content…
Long before the American Revolution had begun, Captain Washington, not yet popular, was assigned by the British army to observe Fort Duquesne, a heavily guarded French fort (Ingram 19). The British needed any intelligence they could attain about the camp for a possible surprise attack. Washington completed his task, and did an outstanding job in recreating the fort through the use of pictures, writings, journal entries, and neat sketches. His work was impressive to the British that the reports were printed in the Maryland Gazette as well as in the London Magazine (Ingram 19). This was the first time that Washington’s name was known positively in both the colonies and England. In addition, Washington gained tremendous amounts of popularity, power, and wealth by marrying the widowed Martha Custis. Martha Custis was the wife of Daniel Custis, who was one of the richest plantation owners in the colonies (Ingram 31). Daniel Custis died, and the marriage gave Washington control of Daniel Custis’s property and wealth, which included 15,000 acres of land and nearly a million dollars, in addition to the land that Washington owned prior to the marriage (Ingram 31-32). This caused Washington to have immense amounts of wealth, and in Colonial America, money always led to power in the government. Washington, having the popularity, power, and wealth, was one step closer to becoming the …show more content…
He gained power and wealth by marrying Martha Custis, and therefore acquired a seat at the House of Burgesses, which was the state government of Virginia (Ingram 31-32). He made many brave statements opposing British rule, including speaking out against the Stamp Act that was imposed by the British to tax the Colonists. He said the British government “hath no more right to put their hands into my pocket, without my consent, than I have to put my hands into yours for money” (qtd. in “George Washington” 127). During his career here, his agenda for American freedom was revealed. The House shaped him into a strong candidate to run for President. Washington wrote a letter to the people of Colonial America. Within it, he said he knew that British ships and soldiers were landing on the East Coast, and urged the people to fight the invaders in order to create a “free, peaceful, and happy country” (qtd. in “New-York. June 29”). In this letter, Washington directly addressed the topic of British rule in America. In the Continental Congress, the political leaders of Colonial America came together to discuss the war efforts against England. Washington, being the only man with both a political and military background, was chosen as the Commander in Chief (Young 7). This promotion made his chance of becoming President significant because he adapted to giving orders and