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=George Washington   = ====February 22, 1732 - December 14, 1799   ==== ==Term One: 1789 - 1793   == ==Term Two: 1793 - 1797   ==

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">President Washington was born in Virginia. George Washington had no party designation. He held two terms in office: April 30th, 1789 until March 4th 1797. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">John Adams was the vice president of George Washington for both terms that he served, and he also had no party designation.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Presidential Evaluatio n
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">By becoming the first President of the United States of America, George Washington was a very respected man by his country. President George Washington deserves a letter grade of an A. The country needed a leader and he stepped up to the position. The country was new and not very stable. Also, America was in the middle of the French and Indian War; and with the help of George Washington was won. His goal of Western Expansion was also met when the Spanish decided to open the Mississippi River and let Americans pass. George Washington had goals, made good and bad decisions, and had ideas that are still in use today.

As the first president of a new country, Washington had to plan many goals in order to keep his country from collapsing. One if his goals was to lay a good foundation for America. They had a weak military, economy, and political system. Washington stated that if America could avoid war with Europe for at least a generation, they may be able to stand a chance against the European superpowers when the time came to break away. He wanted to construct an executive branch. With help from Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and Henry Knox, he accomplished this goal. His goal in this was that future presidents would have an executive branch as well. Washington, with the help of Alexander Hamilton, wanted to determine a permanent location for the new nation's capital. A capital was chosen but then later relocated. His two main goals in life were western expansion and military arts. Since the French and Indian War was currently taking place, western expansion was put on hold. Indian tribes were on the British side, so they did not let the Americans pass. The Spanish would not let the Americans use or cross the Mississippi River, so western expansion at this time was not possible. President Washington was very interested in the military. He was Commander in Chief of the American army during 1775 when the French and Indian War was going on. He had to retreat quite a few times during this war. Washington's army was defeated at Long Island and then again at the White Plains. He had to surrender Fort Washington in 1776 and he lost around 2,800 men. The country also needed a new form of government. America was currently running under the Articles of Confederation, but they had little effect. In Philadephia, Pennslyvania, George Washington oversaw the writing of the United States Constitution. The Constitution outlined the three government branches. The three branches were the Executive Branch, the Judicial Branch, and the Legislative Branch. This was the form of government George Washington used when he became President.

When George Washington became the first president of America, political parties had not yet been established. Neither him or John Adams had a political party; they were classified as "no party designation." George Washington had to develop a good relationship with the people chosen if he wanted the country to prosper. The descions that Congress would make was going to affect the entire country. He did not like the idea of political parties, but with so many different people believing in different ideas, political parties began forming. Washington generally had a good relationship with Congress because he did not take sides. He also visited governments under him in the North and in the South. The main issue that Congress had was to stay neutral or to start taking sides. This was the main reason the Republicans and the Federalist parties began to split.

The best decision George Washington made was being inagurated as our first President. Who knows where this country would be today if he had decided not to become President. George Washington was inagurated as the President of the United States of American on April 30th, 1789. As President, he had to make many decisions that would greatly affect the country. He formed a government called Congress. His goal in building an executive branch was that future Presidents would use the same structure. Although Washington formed Congress, he failed to see that the people he had chosen had very different opinions. This was the cause of political parties. The first two political parties were the Republicans and the Federalists. Because Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton had different ideas, people started to take sides. Washington tended to side with Hamilton on very controversials issues. For example, the issue of taxes and the Bank of America. President Washington became the target of the American people.

One of the decisions that George Washington made that has a positive affect on future Presidents was forming a Congress. He did not want all the power, and he wanted a strong executive branch. The First Federal Congress was the first congress of the United States. Washington divided his Congress into two sections: Representatives and the Senate. The Representatives were later called the House of Representatives. He appointed Thomas Jefferson as his Secretary of State, Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of Treasury, and Henry Knox as Secretary of War. Although some changes have been made to Congress since the late 1700's, this form of government is still used today. Every President since George Washington has had a Congress.

In conclusion, Washington was a very good President. The United States of America was better off with President Washington for many reasons. He helped a new nation in a time of great need. He had goals to expand to the west and lay a strong structure for an executive government. He not only had goals, but he achieved them. Washington formed Congress, and his idea is still in use today. Because of this, George Washginton deserves a letter grade of an A.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">Bibliography:
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">**Websites:** http://www.mountvernon.org/learn/meet_george/index.cfm/ss/21/ http://sc94.ameslab.gov/TOUR/gwash.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/pres/washington/ The American Pageant
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