...George Washington and John Adams were the first two presidents of the United States. They played vital roles in creating the American Republic, and had it not been for them, our current American Republic would be very different or possibly even nonexistent. Yet, despite the hard work they put into our nation’s beginnings, they were also very different. Both men came from the same era, but could one be considered better than the other? George Washington, born on February 11, 1732, in Westmoreland Country, Virginia was our nation's first President. Washington and his ancestors were quite influential in Virginia “The patriarch of the family, John Washington, had come over from England in 1657 and established the Washingtons as respectable, if not...
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...After serving in Europe as a diplomat, John Adams left London (without any immediate commitments) and returned to America in 1788. He was uncertain whether to return to his practise of law or continue on with politics, however after the unexpected reception in his home country showing public admiration and support he opted for the latter. He made a crucial, life-changing decision within the following few weeks: to run for Presidency. George Washington and John Hancock were his friendly, but serious, competition. Although he was popular in his native state of Massachusetts, John Hancock only got four electoral votes and Washington received sixty-nine of the total one hundred and seven Electoral College votes. Adams was content with being elected...
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...George Washington is well known as the general who helped the colonies gain their freedom from the British. As the first president of a young country, he helped form the government and laws that still exist today. How he acted as president would affect the office from that time on. Washington was born February 11, 1731 in Virginia, which at the time was a British colony. According to the New World Encyclopedia, “Washington was the oldest child from his father’s second marriage. Washington had two older half-brothers: Lawrence and Augustine, Jr and four younger siblings: Betty, Samuel, John Augustine and Charles.” (2) Washington’s parents were of British descent and his father was a plantation owner, which included slaves....
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...As the second president of the newly independent United States, John Adams faced many trials both in political dilemmas and in gaining the trust and respect of the population. As the successor George Washington, Adams was challenged by the judgement and criticism of his citizens, because he and his decisions were constantly compared to that of Washington, who was universally admired as a leader. Adams also faced challenges with foreign countries such as France, which tested the United States foreign policy of neutrality as the country developed its international identity. Similarly, Adams contended with the balance of power of political parties at the end of his Presidential term. These trials defined Adams’ presidency as they demonstrated...
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...Fast Facts on George Washington * Born: February 22, 1732 Pope’s Creek, Virginia * Children: no natural children (Adopted the children of Martha Custis) *Grandfather by marriage of Confederate General Robert E. Lee * Military Service: Commander General, Revolutionary War * Profession: Surveyor/Planter * Political Party: Federalist * Home State: Virginia * Political Offices: Chairman of Constitutional Convention * Died: December 14, 1799 (Age- 670 Last Words: “I die hard, but I am not afraid to go. “Tis well.” Buried: Mount Vernon, Virginia * Term of Office: April 30, 1789 – March 3, 1797 * Number Of Terms Elected: 2 Terms * Nickname: “Father of Our country” * First Lady: Martha Dandridge Custis * George Washington quote: “I walk on untrodden ground. There is scarcely any part of me conduct which may not hereafter be drawn into precedent.” * Major Events While In Office: * Elected to first term with a unanimous electoral vote. (1789) * First United States census(1790) * District of Columbia Established(1791) * States Entering Union While in Office: * Vermont(1791) * Kentucky(1792) * Tennessee(1796) Childhood and Education Washington was born on February 22, 1732. He lost his father at age 11 and his half-brother, Lawrence, took over that role. Washington’s mother was protective and demanding, keeping him from joining the British Navy as Lawrence wanted. Lawrence owned Mount Vernon...
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...In his piece titled “The Greatness of George Washington”, Gordon S. Wood is trying to show the reader that George Washington was great not because of his intellect or his military genius, but because of his virtuous character. When you look closely at George Washington’s life, it is evident that he was not a prominent scholar, especially when compared to some other Founding Fathers. Although he was brilliant at running his plantation, Washington never went to college, and, as Jefferson said, his “‘colloquial talents were not above mediocrity” (Oates 135). For these reasons, it is hard to imagine Washington “expressing his views on Plato in the Jefferson and John Adams did” (Oates 135). Also, even though his role as general during the Revolutionary...
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...Commander in chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, George Washington was the first president of the United States (1789-1797). In the battlefield, Washington managed to provide motivation and guidance for the troops which led to a signed peace treaty between Great Britain and the U.S. After this, despite the fact that he intended to go back to his life as a family man, he was asked to attend the Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia and head the committee that was in charge of drafting the new constitution. His leadership skills were tested in both, the battlefield and the convention, where he was able to prove his qualifications and, therefore, become the nation’s first president. He was born in February 1732 and died 67 years later in 1799. Despite the fact that he didn't belong to any party, he did not lacked popularity and his term lasted for 8 years. Back then, the United States was made up of 11 states and over four million people...
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...The person I have selected is George Washington first president of the united states. My paper will be about his life and what he accomplished during his presidency. George Washington was born on February 22, 1732. He Married Martha Dandridge Custis on January 6, 1756. Martha Was a widow with 2 children, he had no children of his own so he later adopted martha’s 2 children. Washington was born and raised in westmoreland county virginia. Growing up Washington was a planter and a soldier. He had no formal education and he was taught by his family and tutors, and he did not go to college. In 1752 Washington inherited Mount Vernon estate. Washington served in the virginia house of burgesses and was chosen as a delegate to the first continental congress and the second continental congress. Washington was...
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...president, they would need to come up with a plan of action. This action would sometimes create tension and cause conflicts between the president and the people. George Washington and John Adams both served as presidents of the United States who played key roles in developing plans of action. Washington served a two year term as president from 1789 to 1797, while Adams followed after Washington and served only one term from 1797 to 1801. President Washington played a part after the Whiskey Rebellion broke out during his presidency. During Adams presidency, he contributed to producing the...
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...explanation of how America successfully achieved their independence from Great Britain, declaration of Independence, and established the United States Constitution. Ellis takes the reader back into American history to view how these founding fathers (Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and James Madison) contributed to the American Revolution.Alexander Hamilton “was [the] secretary of treasury”(48). He was described as an ambitious man, he had developed a financial plan to pay off the state debts. Part of his plan was to collaborate a National Bank. He wanted Congress to charter this bank that would provide stability to America's economy by establishing loans to merchants, handling government funds, and issuing...
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...large in American history as George Washington. His powerful leadership, determination, and endless patriotism was essential for winning the Revolutionary War, the creation of the United States Constitution, and the establishment of a new government. There are three defining events that happened to George during his life in colonial America. His proper childhood upbringing, his military leadership in the revolutionary war, and his election as the First President of the United States were the 3 most powerful events that took place in his life. As time passed, his legend has continually grown. He was made up of honesty, strength, and humbleness. We are told he could never tell a lie. We are told he could throw a coin across the Potomac. He was offered an American crown, but turned it down for democracy. Time may have turned great myths out of small truths, but the contributions this one man gave to the creation of the American nation is denied by no one. George Washington was born into a prosperous and strict family that owned a plantation in Virginia. George was 11 when his father died. George's mother, Mary, a tough and driven woman, struggled to keep their home together. George never received more than an elementary school education. Young George held a gift for mathematics. This skill for numbers combined with his confidence and ambition caught the attention of Lord Fairfax who was head of one of the most powerful families in Virginia. George started to work as a surveyor...
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...Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation was written by Joseph J. Ellis and published by Vintage Books in February 2002. According to josephellishistorian.com and mtholyoke.edu, Joseph J. Ellis is a very accomplished historian, author, and professor, currently teaching in the Leadership Studies Program at Williams College. He studied at Yale University (Ph.D., M.Phil., M.A.) and College of William and Mary (B.A.). Specializing in the history of the American Revolution, Presidents and the roots of American foreign policy. His works include American Sphinx, His Excellency: George Washington and Revolutionary Summer: The Birth of American Independence. As well as essays and book reviews that appear in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times, The New Republic, and The New Yorker. Founding Brothers is a Pulitzer Prize winning book that discusses the prominent men in the political atmosphere of America after the Constitutional Convention and the issues that they faced. The book starts off with the infamous duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton on July 11, 1804. The outcome of this duel is that Burr shoots Hamilton and...
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...APUSH Study Guide 8 A weak Confederacy and the Constitution, 1776-1790 Themes/Constructs: The federal Constitution represented a moderately conservative reaction against the democratilizing effects of the Revolution and the Articles of Confederation. The American Revolution was not a radical transformation like the French or Russian revolutions, but it produced political innovations and some social change in the direction of greater equality and democracy. The American Revolution did not overturn the social order, but it did produce substantial changes in social customs, political institutions, and ideas about society and government. Among the changes were the separation of church and state in some places, the abolition of slavery in the North, written political constitutions, and a shift in political power from the eastern seaboard toward the frontier. The first weak government, the Articles of Confederation, was unable to exercise real authority, although it did successfully deal with the western lands issue. The Confederation’s weakness in handling foreign policy, commerce and the Shays Rebellion spurred the movement to alter the Articles. Instead of revising the Articles, the well-off delegates to the Constitutional Convention created a charter for a whole new government. In a series of compromises, the convention produced a plan that provided for a vigorous central government, a strong executive, the protection for property, while still upholding republican...
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...Foreign Policy Essay American History Kyle Scott 2-16-16 In 1793, George Washington issued his proclamation of neutrality saying that the United States should pursue a conduct friendly and impartial toward the belligerent Powers. He did not feel that the United States should put themselves in the affairs of Europe. The United States should try to remain neutral at all times. The United States did not always follow these ideas though and began to get involved in Europe's problems. By 1794, relations with England had began to worsen. Washington sent John Jay to London to try to solve some of the problem issues with England. Since the revolution tension had been building up over many issues including British occupation of western ports and the failure of England to honor clauses of the peace treaty of 1783 such as the interference with American neutral shipping and impressments of American seamen. The treaty John Jay came home with resolved almost none of the problems. England agreed to vacate the western posts, but not before the first day of June 1796. This was a year away, and England also demanded access to the fur trade on American Soil of the Great Lakes. The British would not offer guarantees against the future impressment of American seamen. Perhaps most importantly, England refused to compromise on the issue of neutral rights, declaring that it would decide what America's rights would be. The United States was outraged by the treaty that Jay brought...
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...trying to overwhelm the colonists of New America with many acts, such as the Stamp Act, the Sugar Act, and the Intolerable Acts, all of which were deemed illegitimate by the colonists and in violation of the rights as Englishmen. For the most part, colonists were trying to reject the oligarchies that were common in Europe and started to believe in Republicanism based on the Enlightenment. Many leaders took part in this Revolution; one of the most important of whom was General George Washington. His role was vital in the victory for Americans and their freedom from the power of Britain. As the war for independence approached, Washington was known throughout the American Colonies for his courage and military exploits. In Virginia, he had established a reputation as a man of principle and a man who could be trusted. (Alden 94) INTRODUCTION The Continental Congress appointed Washington as commander-in-chief of the newly-formed Continental Army on June 15, 1775. The Massachusetts delegate John Adams suggested his appointment, citing his "skill as an officer... great talents and universal...
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