Q.David Bowers
In March 1775 his fellow Virginians elected him to represent the colony at the second Continental Congress. Meeting in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775, the main topic was the conflict with British troops which had occurred at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, April 19, 1775. Seeking to establish a military force, the Continental Congress unanimously voted to name Washington as its head. Delegates were impressed by Washington's courage, intelligence, abilities, and experience in many different areas. From July 1775 until the British evacuated Boston in March 1776, Washington commanded a disorganized army which at its maximum strength numbered about 20,000 men. On March 4, 1776, Washington seized control of Dorchester Heights, south of Boston, a site which overlooked the city at the harbor and was the main strategic position in the area. The British general, Sir William Howe, planned to take Dorchester Heights, but a storm foiled his plans, and on March 17th he evacuated the city, leaving behind 200 cannons and many other military supplies. The Revolutionary War thus started with a victory for Washington.
During the next two years Washington's fortunes declined as the war see-sawed back and forth between the American and British forces, with the British eventually controlling New York, Philadelphia, and other strategic areas. The low point came in the autumn of 1777 when Washington, driven from the Philadelphia area, set up winter headquarters in primitive facilities in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The troops were poorly housed, had few comforts, were short of food, and had inadequate clothing.
In the spring of 1778 an alliance was made with the French. The British troops, which had occupied Philadelphia during the winter of 1777-1778, retreated to New York City, believing that a French invasion via the Delaware River was imminent. By the summer of 1778, French troops and the Continental Army had isolated a large segment of the forces in the New York City area. Another group of British troops, under the command of Lord Cornwallis, was to the south. Strengthened by the French forces under Comte de Rochambeau, Washington prevailed upon Adm. de Grasse to assist the French fleet in an attack either on New York City to the north or the Cornwallis forces to the south. The French opted for the southern campaign, for they felt that the Chesapeake Bay provided more latitude for naval maneuvers.
Leaving a detachment of 4,000 men to fortify West Point on the Hudson River above New York City, Washington and his troops marched south to New Jersey, boarded ships in the Delaware Bay, and landed at Williamsburg, Virginia, on September 14, 1781. Cornwallis' force of 7,000 troops was concentrated at Yorktown. On October 19th of the same year Cornwallis surrendered, following a seige conducted by 3,500 Virginia militia men, 5,500 Continental Army troops, and 5,000 French troops.
The surrender of Yorktown brought the Revolutionary War to a close. Washington returned to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia to help form a new nation and to complete certain aspects of the war, important among them being claims for pay presented by army troops. When Col. Lewis Nicola suggested that he use his position as leader of the army to establish himself as king, Washington became very angry. In later years he was to show the same displeasure at similar suggestions given by others. All aspects of a monarchy were against his thinking. Later, when as president Washington was proposed for the motif on coins, he rejected the idea as being "too monarchial."
Washington, on December 23, 1783, resigned his commission and returned to his Mount Vernon home. His precise accounting of 24,700 pounds for personal expenses during the Revolution, not including any compensation for salary, was presented to Congress.
For the next several years Washington busied himself with affairs on his plantation. There were many problems to overcome. Mount Vernon had been neglected, and additional problems were caused by losses due to depreciation of the value of paper money. Soon, however, things were back to normal, and Mount Vernon was prospering once again. Washington, being socially inclined, constantly received visitors at Mount Vernon.
Washington corresponded with many leaders of the various colonies in an effort to implement the Articles of Confederation and to "form a more perfect union. " Opinion at the time was divided. Some leaders preferred each colony to remain independent. Others wanted a close national union. In the spring of 1785, delegates from Virginia and Maryland met at Mount Vernon to discuss problems arising from navigation on the Potomac River which divided the two states. From this meeting came the suggestion for a convention to be held in May 1787 in Philadelphia to "render the Constitution of the Federal Government adequate to the exigencies of the union." Subsequently, Washington was chosen as one of Virginia's five delegates to this meeting.
On May 13, Washington arrived in Philadelphia.
The next day the Constitutional Convention opened. Washington was elected president of the meeting. During the next four months he skillfully worked with different factions to bring agreement and to promote harmony.
Washington selected Alexander Hamilton as his sec-retary of the treasury. Thomas Jefferson was named as secretary of state, Edmund Randolph as attorney general, and Henry Knox as secretary of war, thus forming the first cabinet. The relationship with Hamilton was especially important for at this time currency was in chaos and Hamilton's abilities were needed to establish the Bank of the United States and to restore order to the monetary system.
In 1792 Washington was unanimously re-elected president. His second term was marked by much bit-terness. The Jay Treaty, signed by Washington on June 25, 1794, was particularly hotly contested. The House of Representatives requested that Washington deliver all the notes, papers, and correspondence relating tothis treaty, and the president refused to comply.
In keeping with his family tradition, Washington maintained an active social life. So many requests were made for his time that Washington instituted a policy of advance invitations and arrangements, an exception being a weekly gathering open without prior appointment. Fine homes were rented in New York and in Philadelphia and were appointed with elegant furniture and other fixtures. Washington, seeking to establish a tradition, declined the hospitality in New York of Governor George Clinton, believing that the president should be the guest of no other person. It was stated that Washington would not return a call and would not shake hands with a visitor. He acknowledged greetings with a formal bow.
In 1796, Washington, feeling a desire to return to Mount Vernon, declined requests that he seek a third term of office. On September 19, 1796, he presented his Farewell Address, which contained advice pertaining to America's future, important among them being a philosophy of no entangling alliances with other countries.