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George Washington Born February 22, 1732 in Westmoreland, Virginia – December 14, 1799 in Mount Vernon, Virginia Political Party: None Terms April 30, 1789 – March 4, 1797 Vice president: First and second term - John Adams 1789-1797 The American Identity was mostly established in George Washington’s presidency because it was he who set the domestic and foreign precedents that would guide the country for years to come. Everything from the president’s inauguration to if the president would receive a salary, was set by George Washington and these traditions have stood the test of time to this day. It is these precedents that impacted the identity of America as they showed the world the resolve of the nation to separate itself from the practices that fostered corruption in Europe. The nation before Washington’s presidency did not know its own identity. Still reeling from the discourse of the Articles of Confederation, the precedents set by Washington gave the people solace in a stability they did not have before. The foreign perception of America was changing as nations began to realize the aptitude of the young nation and the potential gain that would come allying. It is from this that the second development within the theme occurs. Washington’s Proclamation of Neutrality in 1793 established America’s foreign identity as impartial and unwavering toward countries engaging in war. Washington saw that the nation was not prepared to engage in war once again and that the presumable course of action would be to remain neutral. From this decision separation and debate occurred in Washington’s cabinet and the domestic unity of the nation came in question. The American Identity at home was splitting into sects based on fundamental differences on how they viewed the country and their visions for it in the future. In the brief course of eight years the American Identity had been established at home and abroad by the Washington administration and the seeds for the debate on its future had been planted.
 * Thematic Context**

George Washington and his administration deserve an A for their efforts in office. After the adoption of the Constitution, the American people required a strong leader who they trusted and respected. Washington was that in spades, guiding policies off of moral value and sacrificing personal preference for the common good. Washington set the stage for a republic that would last more than 200 years, longer than any before it. Washington’s greatest downfall was always supporting Alexander Hamilton and neglecting the viewpoints of Thomas Jefferson. This intensified the partisanship Washington so desperately attempted to stop. The decisions he made established him as the father of our country and arguably the most influential president ever.
 * Thesis**

In Washington’s first inaugural address, the presence of God and the morals of the people were heavily stressed throughout. It was Washington’s intentions that the guiding light of the new nation be the morals and institutions provided by worship, “… so His divine blessing may be equally conspicuous in the enlarged views, the temperate consultations, and the wise measures on which the success of this Government must depend.” Washington also had the goal of establishing what the position of president meant to the people. He looked to ensure that the office of president be an equal and fair position not determined by the will of parties or private morale, but by the will of the people and the Lord. In some ways he failed this goal by frequently siding with Alexander Hamilton and perpetuating Federalist agendas. Contrary to the long and poetic first inauguration, Washington’s second inauguration was brief and only set the precedent that he was punishable by both the Constitution and the public for not achieving the duties of President. Washington’s main goal as President was to do whatever necessary for the good of the country. An example of this was the signing of the Jay Treaty which improved trade with Great Britain in 1794. Washington signed the Treaty even though he did not personally agree with the Treaty’s provisions; he felt it was the best way to avoid war with Britain. In a letter to Secretary of State Edmund Randolph, Washington wrote, "My opinion respecting the treaty, is the same now that it was: namely, not favorable to it, but that it is better to ratify it in the manner the Senate have advised (and with the reservation already mentioned), than to suffer matters to remain as they are, unsettled."
 * Goals**

Washington’s relationship with Congress shaped how the legislative and executive branches work today. Washington felt it was his responsibility to remain impartial and express no opinion on the affairs of Congress. Washington attended only one Senate meeting in his presidency. While he was there the senators refused to debate the provisions of a proposed bill. Washington became angered and cursed he, “would be damned if he went there again.” This helped establish the separation between the Executive and Legislative branch. He also made it so that he would only veto bills that directly violated the Constitution. His willingness to do whatever necessary while not sacrificing the powers guaranteed to Congress by the Constitution defined his presidency and served as a template for further generations.
 * Relationship with Congress**

A positive event in the administration of George Washington was Pinckney’s Treaty of 1795. Since the Peace Treaty of 1783 was proclaimed, the border of West Florida was hotly contested. Along with that tensions over Spanish control of the Mississippi River and the New Orleans created a hostile environment along the Gulf of Mexico. The treaty effectively addressed the qualms between the two nations with a very positive outcome for the Americans. Spanish controlled Florida agreed to stop inciting Native American Riots along the border as well as give the Americans Unrestricted access to the Mississippi River. This opened up much of the Ohio River valley for trade and settlement. Agricultural produce could now flow on flatboats down the Ohio and Cumberland Rivers to the Mississippi River and on to New Orleans and Europe. This treaty effectively secured domestic tranquility while also allowing for greater economic expansion and commerce. These results make it the administration’s most positive purely diplomatic decisions.
 * Positive Event**

The most negative event of the Washington Administration was the Jay Treaty of 1794. The Treaty was a failure that undermined America’s freedom to trade on the open seas. Along with no compensation for slaves captured by the British Navy, the Treaty also gave no solution to British impressments. Washington signed the treaty in hopes that war with Britain could be averted, but upon doing so he incited hostility from the French. Seeing the Treaty as an alliance with Britain, and a violation of Treaties signed during the revolution, France would threaten the US with punitive sanctions and harass sea convoys for years to come. Eventually French and American Warships exchanged gunfire on several occasions. The Jay Treaty also incited hostility domestically as Jeffersonians hurled insults at Washington through newspapers for succumbing to the terms of the treaty.
 * Negative Event**

Every decision made by the Washington Administration was an influential one. Washington was the first to hold the office and the things he did while there created the basis from which all American policy, enterprise, and strategy stemmed from. Washington invented tradition as he went along. His actions and decisions made a script from which all presidents after looked to for guidance. Washington picked his own cabinet of personal advisors, a process still done today. He evoked executive privilege on documents surrounding the 1795 Jay Treaty, a process still used today. Everything he did was influential because it had never been done before.
 * Influential Decision**

Once George Washington decided not to run for his third term (another precedent that lasted till 1940), the country was already moving in the right direction. His neutral policies had protected the young nation from the constant state of bickering and war in Europe. Positive actions like the Pinckney Treaty set the country up for further economic success and expansion. His tone setting presence in those first years of the nation set precedents that would stand the test of time. Washington’s selfless sense of public duty served as a moral compass for a country in transition. He was a man that could have been a king, yet chose to be a president instead, and for that he deserves an A.
 * Conclusion**

**Bibliography** "Miller Center." //American President: George Washington: Impact and Legacy//. University of Virginia, n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2013. "Primary Documents in American History." //Jay's Treaty: Primary Documents of American History (Virtual Programs & Services, Library of Congress)//. Library of Congress, n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2013. Washington, George. "George Washington: Inaugural Address." //George Washington: Inaugural Address//. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2013 Wikipedia contributors. "George Washington." //Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia//. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 26 Jan. 2013. Web. 2 Feb. 2013 Wikipedia contributors. "Pinckney's Treaty." //Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia//. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 11 Jan. 2013. Web. 2 Feb. 2013. Wikipedia contributors. "Proclamation of Neutrality." //Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia//. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 1 Feb. 2013. Web. 2 Feb. 2013.