Does George Washington deserve the title "Father of our country?"

Does George Washington deserve the title "Father of our country?"

George Washington led America's Revolutionary Army, kept peace after the war was over, and was our first president. He first came to notice as a soldier serving in the French-Indian war. He was a modest man and a successful Virginia farmer when he was elected the commander of the Continental Army. He united the country at the end of the fighting and kept the country together through his presidency.

To the people of America Washington was the only person they could trust. When John Adams nominated Washington to command the Continental Army he united the Congress, and it made the South more willing to join the Revolution because a Northerner had chosen a Southerner to lead the army. As President Washington had the support of both Southerners and Northerners, merchants and farmers, soldiers and civilians. He was the only person who could be trusted in the new position and though he wasn't the greatest general the world had ever seen, he preserved and improved the army and kept alive it's chances of winning.

After the war was won, American could have thrown their victory away by fighting over the spoils of war. Many people thought that Washington would make himself king. Washington saw the importance of maintaining an attitude of strength to be able to mold the peace, though few of his country men did. Washington also felt strongly about using the new Constitution to shape the nation, and he honored it's principles without having any idea of how a President should act.

Washington became the father of this country when he commanded our armies and won the war. No one can imagine the Revolutionary War without Washington leading the way. England may have given up and gone home eventually, but the possibility of thirteen states united and in control of half the continent would have been the least likely outcome. Because of him we were able to transition from war to peace without military intervention and that was the result of the armies loyalty to him and the peoples confidence in him.

George Washington was a great man and many people still look up to him today. Although praise poured down on Washington from all parts of the nation he somehow maintained a genuine sense of modesty and humility. Robert Frost was right in saying "George Washington was one of the few in the whole history of the world who was not carried away by power." He realized that serving his country was an honor like no other and many men and women have tried to follow and will attempt to follow in his footsteps. The life and legacies of Washington should inspire all presidents, and all Americans, for he was truly "Father of our country."