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The thirteen new states sent men to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to plan a way to govern the new country. George Washington was a part of this planning. For many many months, these men worked very hard to find a way to govern the United States. Finally, they came up with a plan of making the Constitution of the United States of America. The Constitution said that each state would choose delegates to form a congress. The congressmen would make the laws for the country. It also said that there should be one man at the head of the Executive Branch of government. This man would be called the President. Every white man in the country was to vote who was to be President. The majority of the colonists voted to make George Washington President. George Washington became President for the next four years. |
| When George Washington started his first term, everyone admired him. As he once stated, "I walk on untrodden ground," which meant that everything that he did was new. During the first year of his term, there were about three hundred fifty clerks and secretaries, which meant that he had about as much help as he did back on the plantation. He had to do everything pretty much on his own. George Washington had to pick officers for the government. After that, he picked men for other jobs that affected the government. At the end of his term, he was ready to retire, but the voting people loved him so much that they persuaded George Washington to run again. | 
George Washington was admired for his leadership skills during the war, "First in War, First in Peace, First in the Hearts of his Countrymen." |
| The second time George ran for president, he was elected again. The first problem in his second term was the French Revolution. This sounds like it would not be a problem for the Americans, but it was a big problem. The French were in a war with Great Britain, and since France had fought for the Americans in their revolution, they wanted their help, too. George decided to become neutral. At first, people disagreed with him but then saw the wisdom in his decision. In one of his speeches, he stated that Americans would be ranked "among the happiest people in the world." When Yellow Fever struck, he led federal workers to Pennsylvania to escape. He helped people escape Indian attacks, also. He was so powerful that when he came to town, all crime ceased for a while. He was a very powerful man but longed to be in his home in Mount Vernon. | Little by little, the states learned to work together,
the country grew stronger, and George Washington showed that the new kind
of government worked. When his second term ended, he was asked to
be President for a third term. But President Washington didn't want
to be President again. He was too tired and had done his best for
his country, he had told the colonists. The people chose a new President.
They chose John Adams and George Washington went home to his family.
Before John Adams was President, he was George Washington's Vice President.
The Vice President supported the President and helped him decide on laws.
In this way John Adams had more experience being president than other candidates.
Now, he was President and had a higher role in the new government.
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www.surfaquarium.com/rollcall.htm |
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