The Role Of George Washington In American History

The author believes that George Washington should be ranked as the best president in American history and that he attained his power through his readiness to give it up. He also believes that Washington was a classical hero because of his moral character and that the first president’s most significant achievement was his voluntary abandonment of power.

Wood argues that George Washington possessed moral characteristics that set him apart and made a better American president. However, no specific evidence is provided comparing the president's achievements and Wood makes no strong arguments as to why the actions of Washington were more important than presidents who abolished slavery our recovered America from the Great Depression. Also, the source for much of the

The Whiskey Rebellion occurred during the presidency of George Washington. Farmers who sold their corn in the form of whiskey had to pay a new tax which they strongly resented. The tax was a part of Alexander Hamilton's program to pay off the national debt. To quell the Whiskey Rebellion George Washington sent an excessive amount of 15, 000 troops to western Pennsylvania.

Wood also fails to mention the Proclamation of Neutrality George Washington created to force the United states to remain neutral between the affairs of Britain and France. The question as to whether Washington had the authority to issue such a statement further divided the Federalists and the Democratic Republicans.

The author believed that George Washington used his reputation of disinterestedness for the good of the country and yet his preoccupation of maintaining his reputation overshadowed his work, following his status as commander in chief. The extent to which Washington was willing to risk his reputation to significantly limited the actions and involvement he was willing to