What did Washington want to do after he resigned his military commission?
Washington wanted to return to his Mount Vernon estate as a private citizen. He was planning to retire as a country squire after his resignation from the military commission.
Why did Washington not participate in the discussion of the Constitution?
Washington refused to attend the discussion because he suspected that he would be made the leader of the convention and probably be proposed as the nation's first chief executive. He did not want to percieved as grasping for power and active participation in the constitution could be percieved as scuh by the general public. As a proud man, he did not want to lose the reputation gained during war.
How was Washington’s presidency important?
On domestic front he supported Alexander Hamilton's economic policies whereby the federal government assumed the debts of the state governments and established the First Bank of the United States, the United States Mint, and the United States Customs Service.
He appointed all the high ranking officials in the executive and judiciary branches, shaping numerous political practices.
To protect American ships from piracy he reestablished navy with the Naval Act of 1794
On foreign policy front he signed two important bilateral treaties: the 1794 Jay Treaty with Great Britain and the 1795 Treaty of San Lorenzo with Spain, both of which fostered trade and helped secure control of the American frontier.
The most important aspect of his presidency was his two terms from 1789 to 1797 after which he voluntarily gave up the seat.
How did Washington feel about the Constitution?
As the president of the Constitutional Convention, George Washington rarely participated in the debates. However, when the Constitution headed to the states for approval, Washington took an active role in the ratification process. He sent copies to Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette, hoping for their support.
At the same time, Washington knew that if the Constitution was adopted, he would most likely become the first President of the United States and be called away from his beloved estate.
How was his second term different than his first
Washington and the newly formed United States of America were thrust into their first major foreign affairs predicament with the outbreak of the French Revolution. He wanted to avoid another war with Great Britain at all costs. In an effort to be "unentangled in the crooked politics of Europe," President Washington issued a Proclamation of Neutrality in April 1793, thereby suspending the States' formal alliance with France and avoiding military conflict. Washington's intention in maintaining international neutrality was that he desired to see the United States focus first on their internal growth and development.
He wanted to retire on his farm.
He did not want to self-campaign as he was likely to become first President.
He was setting the precedent that would be followed by later leaders.
He wanted a strong, national government.
Jefferson and Hamilton had different beliefs and fractured his cabinet.
