On June 15, 1775, George Washington was elected to lead the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, a position that would put him in a pivotal role during the conflict that would birth the United States.
According to History.com, Washington’s skill as a commander for the British army in the French and Indian War of 1754 led the Continental Congress to choose him for the role. Although he accepted the position, Washington wrote to his wife that he had not sought the role but “it was utterly out of my power to refuse this appointment without exposing my Character to such censure as would have reflected dishonor upon myself, and given paint to my friends.”
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He refused to take a salary for the work, and
according to the U.S. Army Center of Military History, his personal finances were in “shambles” by the time the war was over.
"Politically, Washington was a moderate revolutionary; a sober leader determined to defend colonial rights. Washington's presence also helped his cause; several contemporaries described his appearance as majestic,"
the Mount Vernon historical site said. "Benjamin Rush explained that, 'He has so much martial dignity in his deportment that you distinguish him to be a general and a soldier from among ten thousand people.'"
As the senior military officer, Washington adopted the strategy of preserving his forces. "He therefore bided his time, avoiding major defeats and acting decisively when the chance for surprise arose," the Military History site said. "Trenton and Princeton, in the winter of 1776, were memorable victories in a bleak campaign. …When French naval superiority off the Virginia Capes offered the opportunity for victory, Washington struck swiftly, defeating the British at Yorktown in 1781."
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Washington’s leadership decisions weren’t always popular, the Military History website said, with a “demanding Congress” on one side and difficult state governments on the other, he was often forced to overcome obstacles to his final goal.
“Only a soldier endowed with extraordinary foresight, personal integrity, and self-discipline could have provided the necessary leadership,” the website said. “The claim can be made that without Washington the Revolution would not have succeeded.”
Despite returning to his family’s plantation at Mount Vernon, Virginia, in 1783, Washington was soon called back to serve his country in another capacity. He had been a proponent of a stronger central authority for the 13 states, and Washington called meetings between Virginia and Maryland officials that eventually led to the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
He was unanimously elected president of the Constitutional Convention, a role that would lead him to serving as the first president of the United States. He was inaugurated in April 1789.
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