When we think of the presidency today, it is hard to understand how much it has change since its inception. Many of the founding fathers disagreed on the role that the executive branch should play, largely because they feared a leader with too much power. It is safe to say that if not for the persona of one man the presidency would not exist in the way that it does today but there are many other who have transformed the role of a branch that had merely a skeleton of an outline of what the office’s role should be. In the beginning it was like playing a game where we were making the rules up as we went; today it is an institution that the Founders would not recognize. To begin such a study, it is only just that we start with the man who …show more content…
This period between the wars would shape Washington into the man that would become known throughout the colonies. His political views would be formed throughout the 1760s as he saw the need for resistance against the British Empire. When he was chosen to be the commander of the army by the Continental Congress it was the turning point of his life. Though he would be marked by failures throughout the war, his legend would grow as he was able to withstand the British army until the French entered the fray. With the help of the French Navy, Washington was finally able to defeat the British off the Chesapeake capes on September 5, 1781, leading Cornwallis and his troops to surrender on October 19, 1781. Though his military service had defined him, Washington would retire from the service in 1783, looking to recover his estate that had suffered greatly during the war. He would soon find out that his exit from public life would be short lived as the Articles of Confederation had established a state of politics that couldn’t exist without a strong leader. The tipping point may have been the Shay’s Rebellion. While the cause of the rebellion was a climate of unfair taxes that had caused many farmers to lose their lands, Washington saw these actions as a call for change. Washington would attend the convention, presiding as the president of the convention without participating in the
He has first gained public notice when he went to persuade the French the leave the Ohio Valley as they threatened to drive out the English (“George Washington”). This began to what is known as the Seven Year’s French and Indian War. After this war, many taxes were created to pay for the debt of Britain Protection. New Englanders felt the taxes were an abuse of power and began an American Revolution at Lexington and Concord in which Washington joined the Continental Congress and was named the Commander in Chief of the Continental forces. He led the forces to a moral boosting victory at Valley Forge against the British. After the war, he became the most important man in the country (“George Washington”). Washington retired from the army and became elected the first president of the United States after the new government was formed. When he retired from office he had given his ‘Farewell Address’ speech that included two main priorities for the success of America: no political parties and no foreign affairs (Williams). Although tensions between the French and British were inevitable, Washington was vital in the victory of the later Revolutionary War from the military knowledge he gained from the Seven Year’s War. Washington was extremely influential; thus, without him the ratification of the Constitution would not have been possible. The checks and balances system would not have been created resulting
The greatest event of Washington’s military career came on October 19, 1781 when he defeated Cornwall is at Yorktown. Cornwall is surrendered his entire army of more than 7,000 men. The fighting was finally over, although it would still take two years to form a formal peace treaty.
Even though Washington was used to commanding a small militia, he had an excellent strategy. His first move was to occupy Dorchester Heights where he brought supplies from Fort Ticonderoga and forced the British to evacuate Boston. Throughout the war for Independence, Washington continued to use his excellent strategies. His strategies he used on the Hessians in Trenton was the surprise attack. Most of the battles he fought, he planned out very well. He failed sometimes but that didn’t stop him from fighting. Washington was well organized, paid attention to details, and required hard work and effort from his troops. During every war Washington would visit his home ten times, he stayed in Valley Forge. During the wars he would also write letters to help his army by giving cattle to his army to feed them. Then, The Treaty of Paris ended the war for Independence and started The Revolutionary War.June of 1775, Congress ordered General Washington to lead the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War. During the Revolution Washington suffered more lost battles than he won.
June 1755, George Washington Became Commander in Chief but to many patriots he was much more than the Commander in Chief. He became the calm voice to those who needed it, George Washington was known to be strongly determined and held a heavy load of the patriotic duty to country. George Washington was the real backbone into the Revolution war and kept it from going under during the hardships and unexpected trials and tribulations that occurred during the long years of war. Without General Washington as the commander and chief, it’s believed that the unthinkable and imaginable could never have succeeded. His faith in the cause and his devotion to the ideals it embodied made him the symbol of America — the spirit of the Revolution. http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/washington/george2.html
Later on, in 1775 George was unanimously selected to be Commander-in-Chief of the Second Continental Congress, ("Primary Documents in American History"). Even though Washington was used to commanding a small militia, he had an excellent strategy. His first move was to occupy Dorchester Heights, where he brought supplies from Fort Ticonderoga and forced the British to evacuate Boston. Throughout the war for Independence, Washington continued to use his unique strategies. His strategies he used on the Hessians in Trenton was the surprise attack. Most of the battles he fought, he planned out very well. He failed sometimes, but that didn’t stop him from fighting. Washington was well organized, very attentive to details, and expected hard work and effort from his troops. During every war Washington would visit his home ten times, he stayed in Valley Forge. During the wars he would also write letters to help his army by giving cattle to his army to feed them. Then, The Treaty of Paris ended the war for Independence and started The Revolutionary War. In June of 1775, Congress ordered General Washington to lead the Continental Army in
We all know the president as the leader of our country, but we never really consider the many things that encompasses. He must be a Chief of State, a Chief Executive, a Commander in Chief, a Chief Diplomat, a Chief Legislator, and other various smaller roles. The President has many roles to take on and must act as all of them possibly in any given week or day. Taking a look at four random weeks in The President’s schedule I am going to identify examples of the president executing these roles, explaining why he was more active in certain roles, and why some roles are absent during these weeks.
Even though Washington was used to commanding a small militia, he had an excellent strategy. His first move was to occupy Dorchester Heights where he brought supplies from Fort Ticonderoga and forced the British to evacuate Boston. Throughout the war for Independence, Washington continued to use his excellent strategies. His strategies he used on the Hessians in Trenton was the surprise attack. Most of the battles he fought, he planned out very well. He failed sometimes but that didn’t stop him from fighting. Washington was well organized, paid attention to details, and required hard work and effort from his troops. During every war Washington would visit his home ten times, he stayed in Valley Forge. During the wars he would also write letters to help his army by giving cattle to his army to feed them. Then, The Treaty of Paris ended the war for Independence and started The Revolutionary War.June of 1775, Congress ordered General Washington to lead the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War. During the Revolution Washington suffered more lost battles than he won.
The presidency has been titled the most prestigious executive position in the United States of America, yet it is the most restricted. Presidents possess vast formal powers, nonetheless these powers are restricted due to constitutional check and balances. Article II of the constitution contains the constitutional powers of the government, which delivers the method of election, and provide a permanent four year term. When reading the 2nd Article of the Constitution, many are struck by how much attention is given to the process of the presidential election, and the slight attention paid to the powers of the president once in office. Factually, several presidents have taken a restrictive view of their duties, and the process through which a president is nominated and
At the age of 23 years old Washington would become commander of the Virginia Regiment, ( Ellis, Joseph J, His Excellency, 24) although his men both more experienced and senior sought after him as their leader. His character and patriotism led directly to his selection as Commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Army. As commander-in-chief George led his army to a number of very important victories to include the capture of Boston with few defeats such as the trouncing of New York City. George lost many battles, with only one surrender, he continuously and persistently fought the British with unrelenting tactics he conspired the general strategy of the war. He oversaw the training and the organization of the army. Being unanimously elected upon Washington began his first term as President in 1789. He went on to serve for a second term ending his presidency in 1796. All that being said George Washington sounds like a stand up guy and that is why many Americans consider him to be a hero, but there are limits to the stories that are told.
Abstract: This paper will speak to the duties of the cabinet that surrounds the President. In the text I will identify each cabinet position with a brief description of their role and importance to the president. The paper will prove that the president him/herself cannot do this job alone, an example from the Bush administration will also be included following the duties portion of the paper. All in all, the cabinet will be explored with their operational functions in the United States government.
The United States since its adoption of the Constitution in 1787 has accumulated total amount forty-five presidents over two-hundred and thirty years. These forty-five presidents as history and the United States continues, will be the subject of analysts throughout history, who will try to rank them from the best to the worst. The book written by James Taranto and Leonard Leo, ‘Presidential Leadership: Rating the Best and the Worst in the White House’ is one of these analytical books shoving the presidents into a ranking by using a survey of professors of history, law and political science to rate them. This book by Leo and Taranto focus on a handful of prime objectives for the readers to overserve while reading the book. The first is to
Later on, in 1775 George was unanimously selected to be Commander-in-Chief of the Second Continental Congress. Even though Washington was used to commanding a small militia, he had an excellent strategy. His first move was to occupy Dorchester Heights where he brought supplies from Fort Ticonderoga and forced the British to evacuate Boston. Throughout the war for Independence, Washington continued to use his unique strategies. His strategies he used on the Hessians in Trenton was the surprise attack. Most of the battles he fought, he planned out very well. He failed sometimes but that didn’t stop him from fighting. Washington was well organized, very attentive to details, and expected hard work and effort from his troops. During every war Washington would visit his home ten times, he stayed in Valley Forge. During the wars he would also write letters to help his army by giving cattle to his army to feed them. Then, The Treaty of Paris ended the war for Independence and started The Revolutionary War. In June of 1775, Congress ordered General Washington to lead the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War. During the Revolution Washington lost more battles than he won.
Before the Convention of 1787. George Washington was “Farmer, Slaveholder, General of the Continental Army, Lending and Investments, Real Estate Land Speculations, and Public Security Interests.” He had so many things going for him; therefore, one might suggest that those aspects may have been the reason why he hesitated to attend the Convention of 1787. In fact, he hesitated because he thought the convention would not change anything; however, he was convinced by his fellow attendee’s Benjamin Franklin, who said “your Presence will be of the greatest Importance to the Success of the Measure.” Therefore he attended.
Both the administration of Carter and Reagan were shaped by the Cold War in the aftermath of Watergate. Watergate created cynicism of the government, which in turn made governing difficult both intentionally as well as improvisational because the institution of the President was seen as acting in the best interest of itself. President Jimmy Carter and President Ronald Reagan both had their difficulties as President. Carter had terrible problems with economics as our country underwent high unemployment as well as many other economic problems. Reagan was one of the unfortunate Presidents that had to deal with assassination attempts. Both Presidents had great accomplishments both foreign and domestic. Carter
Although it is often said that the President of the United States holds the most powerful office in the world, this does not mean that he is able to decide very much for himself. The American Constitution, which was adapted in 1789, clearly states the Separation of Powers. Thus, the president makes up only one third of the government, namely the executive branch. He is also controlled by a complex system of checks and balances, which makes sure that he (or any of the other branches, for that matter) does not become too powerful. We will now have a look at the different problems which may be facing a recently elected president, and then discuss to what extent his powers are important.