George Washington: The Father of his Country - Essay Example

George Washington: The Father of his CountryGeorge Washington is often called "The Father of his Country" for his crucial role in leading the United States of America. By inheritance, Washington was a planter based in Mount Vernon. His formal education was not extensive; whatever he learned was from his own experience of reading and surveying trade. Even at the time he joined the battlefield, he was working as a surveyor. Washington had the reputation, the military expertise, the appeal and military bearing.

His status of being a strong partisan, led him to command the Colonial forces in the Revolutionary War. He was in charge of troops who were inexperienced, badly equipped, and impatient of discipline but still, he held the Continental Army together and eventually led them to victory over the British. (White, 1948)He was the natural choice to serve as the Country's first President in 1789. Washington was the only President in Country’s history who got 100% electoral votes – a total of 69 votes out of 69 (World Book Encyclopedia, 2002).

Washington proved an able administrator and when he served as the military commander, his dealings with the Continental Congress and the state administration for the period of Revolution, Washington had grasped the importance of administrative skills. He used his knowledge to attain the public support of the army and the masses. As President, Washington applied the similar skill and expertise to gain the support for the new-fangled Federal government. Washington was also a great diplomat however he believed in the political, economical and social independence of his country from all other countries.

After his undisputed choice as President, Washington assisted in putting together the new constitution into a workable tool of government. By his efforts, the decision-making departments of State, Treasury, and War were merged together into an American Cabinet. Washington was the only. It was in his second term as a President when he chalked out the Country’s foreign policy. George Washington told Patrick Henry (1795) that his purpose was "to keep the United States free from political connections with every other country, to see them independent of all and under the influence of none.

In a word, I want an American character, that the powers of Europe may be convinced we act for ourselves and not for others."Washington marked himself as the standard of republican virtue in America. More than any American he is adorned for his great personal integrity, and a genuinely held sense of responsibility, respect and patriotism. Seemingly, Washington wanted only to serve his Country all the days of his adult life. In fact, one major complaint about Washington was that he allowed himself to become so devoted by his public duties that there was little space left for a private, personal side of the man.

It was Washington's strength of mind, leadership and denial to give up made the difference between victory and defeat on more than one occasion. And because of these virtues and merits, not only Washington today is known as ‘Father of his country’ but his face and image are time and again used as national symbols of the United States. (White, 1948)Works Cited1. The World Book Encyclopedia (2002), George Washington, World Book, Inc.: page 1642. George Washington to Patrick Henry (09 Oct, 1795) Available at , Retrieved on Jan 27, 2008 3.

White, Leonard D. (1956), The Federalists: A Study in Administrative History New York: The MacMillan Company