4.01First In Our Hearts George Washington was a . He had fought with the British in the French and Indian War. Commander of the Army during the Revolution, during which time he offered to serve in the Continental Army pay. Washington was brave and never asked his to do something he would not do. Many Americans thought that Washington would crown himself after defeating the British at the Battle of Yorktown, however, Washington believed the country needed a government and not a King.

In May 1787, delegates from all 13 states gathered in Philadelphia to discuss the Articles of Confederation at the . Virginia sent Washington to the Constitutional Convention as a . They elected him of the Constitutional Convention. Washington went on to become the country’s first President after the states ratified the Constitution.

As the first President of the United States, President Washington set several or examples for future Presidents to follow. President Washington was careful to make sure the office of the president would conduct itself with appropriate and . He avoided any actions that hinted of royalty. Additional precedents established by President Washington include the creation of a (a group of advisors), term limitation, and the giving of an and speech.

George Washington was a Federalist and believed in a strong government. President Washington recognized that the world was a dangerous place and he worked hard to reestablish a relationship with . Washington strongly supported the . This 1794 treaty helped begin a valuable relationship between the two countries. Although Washington sought a relationship with Britain, he was careful to avoid getting involved when broke out between Britain and France. The United States remained .

George Washington is perceived by many to have been an President. He saw as a way to serve the nation and not as a way to profit or better his personal position. He felt that the government should serve the instead of the people serving the government like it had been under Britain.