When was gw born

At home, the president called out the militia to put down an uprising in western Pennsylvania against Hamilton's new excise tax on distilled spirits. Democratic-Republican criticisms that Washington had become the head of a party instead of the nation boiled over in reaction to the treaty that John Jay had signed with the British and the Senate ratified in In the face of growing newspaper attacks against him, which he tended to take personally, Washington handed the reins of government over to his successor, John Adams , in the spring of Only once more was the General called from his beloved plantation to serve the country.

As war with France appeared imminent in , President Adams appointed Washington as commander-in-chief of a new army, but the crisis passed before it was organized and raised. He had only a short time left to enjoy life at Mount Vernon. His end came suddenly on December 14, and the outpouring of grief over his death was widespread and sincere throughout the new nation.

Bibliography: Chernow, Ron. Washington: A Life. New York : Penguin Press, Dalzell, Robert F. New York: Oxford University Press, Ellis, Joseph J. His Excellency: George Washington. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Henriques, Peter R. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, Higginbotham, Don. George Washington and the American Military Tradition. Athens: University of Georgia Press, Lengel, Edward G. New York: Random House, But when the first presidential election was held, he received a vote from every elector.

He remains the only President in American history to be elected by the unanimous voice of the people. George Washington traveled far and wide during his lifetime. Our Washington's World Interactive Map will help you discover all the journeys and places that Washington visited. Washington served two terms as President.

His first term was occupied primarily with organizing the executive branch of the new government and establishing administrative procedures that would make it possible for the government to operate with the energy and efficiency he believed were essential to the republic's future.

An astute judge of talent, he surrounded himself with the most able men in the new nation. James Madison was one of his principal advisors. In his First Inaugural Address , Washington confessed that he was unpracticed in the duties of civil administration; however, he was one of the most able administrators ever to serve as President. He administered the government with fairness and integrity, assuring Americans that the President could exercise extensive executive authority without corruption.

Further, he executed the laws with restraint, establishing precedents for broad-ranging presidential authority. His integrity was most pure, Thomas Jefferson wrote, his justice the most inflexible I have ever known, no motive of interest or consanguinity, friendship, or hatred, being able to bias his decision.

Washington set a standard for presidential integrity rarely met by his successors, although he established an ideal by which they all are judged. During Washington's first term the Federal Government adopted a series of measures proposed by Alexander Hamilton to resolve the escalating debt crisis and established the nation's finances on a sound basis, concluded peace treaties with the southeastern Indian tribes, and designated a site on the Potomac River for the permanent capital of the United States.

But as Washington's first term ended, a bloody Indian war continued on the northwestern frontier. The warring tribes were encouraged by the British, who retained military posts in the northwest. Further, the Spanish denied Americans use of the Mississippi River. These problems limited the westward expansion to which Washington was committed. Growing partisanship within the government also concerned Washington.

Many men in the new government -- including Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and other leaders of the emerging Republican party -- were opposed to Hamilton's financial program. Washington despised political partisanship but could do little to slow the development of political parties.

During his first term Washington toured the northern and southern states and found that the new government enjoyed the general support of the American people. Convinced that the government could get along without him, he planned to step down at the end of his first term. But his cabinet members convinced him that he alone could command the respect of members of both burgeoning political parties.

Thomas Jefferson visited Washington at Mount Vernon to urge him to accept a second term. Although longing to return home permanently, Washington reluctantly agreed. Washington's second term was dominated by foreign affairs and marred by a deepening partisanship in his own administration. Washington assumed the Presidency on the eve of the French Revolution, a time of great international crisis.

The outbreak of a general European war in forced the crisis to the center of American politics. Washington believed the national interest of the United States dictated neutrality. War would be disastrous for commerce and shatter the nation's finances. The country's future depended on the increase in wealth and opportunity that would come from commerce and westward expansion. One of Washington's most important accomplishments was keeping the United States out of the war, giving the new nation an opportunity to grow in strength while establishing the principle of neutrality that shaped American foreign policy for more than a century.

Although Washington's department heads agreed that the United States should remain neutral, disagreements over foreign policy aggravated partisan tensions among them.

The disagreements were part of the deepening division between Federalists and Republicans. Opposition to federal policies developed into resistance to the law in as distillers in Western Pennsylvania rioted and refused to pay taxes. Washington directed the army to restore order, a step applauded by Federalists and condemned by Republicans.

Despite Washington's disappointment with the rise of partisanship, the last years of his Presidency were distinguished by important achievements. The long Indian war on the northwest frontier was won, Britain surrendered its forts in the northwest, and Spain opened the Mississippi to American commerce.

These achievements opened the West to settlement. Justice Kennedy talks about the vital role Washington played in establishing the office of the President…. Finally retired from public service, George and Martha Washington returned to their beloved Mount Vernon where they would spend their final years. On Thursday, December 12, , George Washington was out on horseback supervising farming activities from late morning until three in the afternoon.

The weather shifted from light snow to hail and then to rain. Upon Washington's return it was suggested that he change out of his wet riding clothes before dinner. Known for his punctuality, Washington chose to remain in his damp attire. Washington recognized the onset of a sore throat and became increasingly hoarse. After retiring for the night Washington awoke in terrible discomfort at around two in the morning. Martha was concerned about his state and wanted to send for help.

Lear also sent to Alexandria for Dr. James Craik , the family doctor and Washington's trusted friend and physician for forty years. Washington called for his two wills and directed that the unused one should be burned. Between ten and eleven at night on December 14, , George Washington passed away. He was surrounded by people who were close to him including his wife who sat at the foot of the bed, his friends Dr.

Craik and Tobias Lear, enslaved housemaids Caroline Branham , Molly, and Charlotte , and his valet Christopher Sheels who stood in the room throughout the day. According to his wishes, Washington was not buried for three days.

During that time his body lay in a mahogany casket in the New Room. On December 18, a solemn funeral was held at Mount Vernon and he was laid to rest in the family tomb. This document created a strong federal government: two chambers of legislators also called lawmakers , a federal court system, and a president.

The Constitution still serves as the foundation for the United States government today. Washington won the vote, making him the first-ever president of the United States. John Adams received the second most votes and became vice president. He worked out how the nation would negotiate treaties with other countries. He decided how the president would select and get advice from cabinet members.

He also established the practice of giving a regular State of the Union speech, a yearly update on how the country is doing. He appointed federal judges and established basic government services such as banks. As president, he also worked hard to keep the new country out of wars with Native Americans and European nations.

Although Washington helped plan a permanent national capital, his presidency ended before the federal government moved to the city later named in his honor: Washington, D.

After serving two back-to-back terms as president, Washington retired to Mount Vernon in He died two years later on December 14, Washington's Birthday, however, did not become a legal holiday until January 31, when Congress added February 22nd to the list of holidays to be observed by federal employees in the District of Columbia.

The act did not stipulate that employees were to be paid for the holiday - in fact, some government employees in the District of Columbia were paid while others were not.

In , Congress resolved this discrepancy with legislation that required federal employees to be paid for all federal holidays and made federal holidays applicable to all federal government employees, including those employed outside the Washington DC area. Washington's Birthday was celebrated on February 22nd until well into the 20th Century. However, in Congress passed the Monday Holiday Law to "provide uniform annual observances of certain legal public holidays on Mondays.